The Girl On Her Own Agenda:
By Natalie Holdahl
It is 2004 and Kathy Zeitoun is living in New Orleans with her husband Abdulraham and their four kids. Kathy Zeitoun lives her life for her. She has never done what anyone else has told her to do and lives by her own rules. She grew up in a Christian family and in her early 20's decided that she wanted to convert to Islam. That is a big change for a young woman.
N: So Kathy, what was your life like growing up?
K: I lived the stereotypical life of a white family living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but we lived in very small quarters with each other. There were nine kids sharing a one story, 1,400-square-foot home.
N: How did you manage to live like that?
K: We had three kids to a room and all of us shared one bathroom. We were very crammed into our house but it made us closer as siblings. When I was younger, we would always play with the many kids in the neighborhood. My siblings are a pain at times, and some I don't even talk to. Even though we fought a lot, without them, I don't think I would have had four wonderful kids of my own. Also, my family grew up very strongly christian. We went to church every sunday, said our prayers at night and always looked to God.
N: What was the hardest part of your life growing up?
K: My school, Sherwood Middle School was very multiethnic. I was one of only a handful of white kids in the school and got picked on a lot. They would push me and laugh at me. From a young age, I was always quick to fight and argue.
N: What was your outlet from your hectic life?
K: My friend Yuko. We became friends when she was only three years old, but age never stopped us from being best friends. I would run away from home and go straight to Yuko's house. Her mother, Kameko, always took me in and kept me safe.
N: What's the best thing Yuko has ever done for you?
K: Yuko has done infinitely wonderful things for me in my life but I would have to say the most important thing she has ever done for me is to introduce me to Islam.
N: What was your conversion to Islam like?
K: It was a long, very thought out process, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
N: What first made you want to convert?
K: I was in my early twenties when Yuko first started to research it. At the time, I thought she was crazy to convert, but I trusted Yuko's decisions so I thought I would look into it. I started to read a little more about it and I had a run in with the Pastor of my church and told him about the problems I was having with Christianity. He made me get up in front of the whole church and tell that that I was thinking about Islam. They all laughed at me and thought that that was a huge mistake and they were glad I was keeping my beliefs with their God. I was so angry. That was the day I knew that becoming a Muslim was the right choice for me.
N: Why do you think your Pastor laughed at you?
K: People are very misinformed about other cultures. Some strong christian believers think that Christianity is the only allowable religion to be a part of. I bet nobody in that church that day even knew that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God!
N: What does your family think about it?
K: I don't think that any of them are against it but it just seems like they haven't fully excepted the fact that I am no longer Christian. Like it hasn't set into their mind and that if they don't believe it, that it won't be true. Whenever I go to visit my family they tell me things like "you can take that silly thing off your head now. It's just family around." and they don't understand the culture. My mom is the worst, although there are some points that she seems to be slowly accepting of it.
N: Are you happy with your life?
K: Very. It may be a little crazy at times, but I couldn't be better. I have a great husband, four wonderful kids and something to believe in.
N: Well there you have it. Even when it seems like life may be tough, it will always turn out great in the end. Thank you so much for talking with me Kathy. It was great to have you.
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