"In
1995, Azim Khamisa’s 20 year old
son, Tariq, was delivering a pizza when he was shot to death by a 14 year old
gang member. Experiencing the pain,
grief, frustration, and anger that a parent would, Azim decided that the only
way he could better the situation was to use the tool of FORGIVE to ensure that
this type of tragedy happens less frequently in the future. After meeting with the grandfather of the boy
who shot Tariq, Azim decided that he would bring his message of forgiveness and
mutual respect to groups of young people all over the country. The foundation in his son’s memory, the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, raises
awareness and engages youth to resist a culture of violence and learn to live
in harmony with one another."
February 2016
A Wonderful Daughter
Who Takes a Stand for Her Brother
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Dear
Friend,
I
am a father of a daughter and a son. Both wonderful and beautiful souls.
Both work for peace and nonviolence in their own way. One is with us in
the physical and one is not. I am so proud of both Tariq and Tasreen, the
latter of which spoke so eloquently about the good works done by TKF, the
foundation named after her brother.
May we all contribute our good works for the good of all.
~ Azim N. Khamisa
QUICK LINKS
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QUOTES
OF THE MONTH
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"There are two ways of spreading light:
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
~ Edith Wharton
"Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them
is what makes life meaningful."
~ Joshua J. Marine
"The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the
will to try and the belief that it is actually possible."
~ Joel Brown
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AZIM'S
MONTHLY MUSINGS
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Tasreen:
A
Wonderful Light in my Life
I
am truly blessed to have a beautiful, compassionate, intelligent and a
kind daughter as is evident from a recent radio interview in which she
described in such clear and elegant style the story of her brother and
the background of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation www.TKF.org. (See
highlights and linkbelow.)
Tasreen now serves as the Executive Director of the foundation named
after her brother. I am in deep gratitude that Tariq was not my ONLY
child. I have met many parents who have lost an only child and my prayers
are with them.
Tasreen and I have always been on the same wavelength. Often at TKF Board
meetings she will say something about an issue which were exactly my
sentiments. She has also given the family three amazing grandchildren:
Shahin, Khalil and Miya. They are all healthy, good looking and very smart.
It is a pleasure to spend time with them which we are able to do often as
they live in Escondido, about 45 minutes from my home. I can truly say that I am extremely proud of her.
Every father should have the joy of a daughter like Tasreen. TKF is in
good hands with her as ED, and when I pass on I know she will continue
Tariq's legacy with someday the grandchildren being a part of TKF.
I am also blessed to have fathered Tariq. Although he was
with us for a short 20 years he touched more lives than most do in a
lifetime. For me he was the catalyst that helped me find the purpose of
my spiritual life. The work that I have done with Tasreen's help - in the
aftermath of the tragedy that took Tariq's life - has been very
meaningful and fulfilling for both of us. Tariq continues to change
hearts through the work done by TKF, Tasreen, and many others. This
legacy will live forever. So thank you Tariq and Tasreen from the bottom
of my heart.
Highlights of Radio ShowFreedom For All recorded
January 21, 2016, twenty one years to the day of Tariq's murder:
·
"I was in
Vancouver, BC. I was with my grandmother. And the phone rang, and my
grandmother answered the phone and she started screaming. I've never
heard anyone screaming like that in my life. I grabbed it and it was my
dad on the other end."
·
"Tariq was a
very old soul in a young body. He was the comedian. He was the risk taker
and always lived life to the fullest. The importance of time was really a
driving force in my brother's life. Even at a young age he would always
say we don't have much time on this earth. We have to make most of our
time while we are here."
·
"I feel he is
doing this work hand in hand with me and Azim. It's like we are carrying
on his dreams and what he wanted, and that makes it a little easier to
not have him here physically."
·
"I am ready to
meet Tony face to face, and I haven't been able to say that until
now."
·
"It has always
been my passion and my drive to work with the youth. The fact that I'm
doing it in my brother's name is truly rewarding on so many levels."
The entire interview is HERE!
Best Wishes,
Azim Khamisa
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QUESTION
OF THE MONTH
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LESSONS
IN LOVE IN MONTH OF LOVE
QUESTION:
Since it's Valentine's Day, do you have an update on your journey of
discovering some lessons in love?
ANSWER:
POPE
FRANCIS QUOTE: "There is
no perfect family. We have no perfect parents, we are not perfect, do not
get married to a perfect person, neither do we have perfect children. We
have complaints about each other. We are disappointed by one another.
Therefore, there is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the
exercise of forgiveness. Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and
spiritual survival. Without forgiveness the family becomes a theater of
conflict and a bastion of grievances. Without forgiveness the family
becomes sick. Forgiveness is the sterilization of the soul, cleansing the
mind and the liberation of the heart. Anyone who does not forgive has no
peace of soul and communion with God. Pain is a poison that intoxicates
and kills. Maintaining a wound of the heart is a self-destructive action.
It is an autophagy. He who does not forgive sickens physically, emotionally
and spiritually. That is why the family must be a place of life and not
of death; an enclave of cure not of disease; a stage of forgiveness and
not of guilt. Forgiveness brings joy where sorrow produced pain; and
healing, where pain caused disease."
As Pope Francis eloquently addresses, there is indeed no such thing as a
perfect family or a perfect relationship. When you are in a relationship,
the big lesson I have learned is you are paired with a partner who is a
perfect teacher to help you grow ... and vice-versa. I believe that
sometimes when that growth is complete, some couples do separate and
others get to a new plateau. The main thing to remember is relationships
are about growth, and the challenges in love and relationships are
"bardos"or "transitional states" taking us from one
state of being to another. These events in relationships can often be
very painful but upon further reflection and meditations there are hidden
gems to help us grow and become a better person! So when the arguments
subside, take time out to reflect and meditate on the lessons. And see
this as a blessing. Also it is important, as Pope Francis mentions, to
forgive. Holding on to resentment or guilt is not healthy. There are
plenty of resource, books, CDs and DVDs on how to forgive on my website www.AzimKhamisa.com.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OF THE MONTH, CLICK HERE
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