By Steve Flairty
NKyTribune columnist
When a group of war-weary Syrian refugees are welcomed by a small community inside an American town called Grand Forks, one of the elderly refugees, an appreciative soul known as “Uncle Ahmad,” makes special gifts to acknowledge the welcomers’ kindnesses. With his gifted craftsmanship, he creates wooden figurines with uncanny likenesses of individuals around town. Uncle Ahmad soon gains many admirers after a Black church displays his art in a fundraiser event that supports the refugees.
Sounds like a remarkable and uplifting “feel good” story, doesn’t it? But wait… not so fast.
In the larger area of Grand Forks, there are some people who aren’t so happy about such an intrusion into their daily lives from an outside source. There is suspicion, islamophobia, and fearmongering among locals having strong white nationalist sentiments, with some individuals being active members of Christian churches. There is fear among them that new industry might bring dozens more ethic families to Grand Forks, and they believe matters will worsen.
A resulting struggle brings episodes of violence to Grand Forks. The refugees are fearful, but the respected Uncle Ahmad maintains his sweet spirit in the middle of the turmoil. Will the forces of hatred or the traces of love and tolerance prevail?
In Uncle Ahmad’s Toys, Lexington author E. William “Eric” Fruge renders a haunting novel highlighting the worst of human nature in battle with the power of abiding love. It’s a work that compels its readers to examine the depths of their hearts deeply, demanding a diagnosis and prescription. And to be sure, courage might well be a necessary accessory along that path.
Seeking answers to some questions I had about his evocative book, I asked Eric to reflect on his offering.
SF: Your first two books were a sci-fi thriller and a somewhat sentimental Christmas tale. What brought you to the point of writing a particularly provocative novel—one about the inherent dangers of Christian nationalism– such as Uncle Ahmad’s Toys?
EWF: Fiction writers often weave tales that reflect the values and crises of their times. One of the worst human tragedies of our 21st century thus far is the Syrian Civil War. It’s produced millions of refugees, heartless terrorism, religious and political extremism, and authoritarian factions with take-no-prisoner mentalities. That war is the subtle backdrop to Uncle Ahmad’s Toys. Might civil conflict erupt in our country? The characters of Uncle Ahmad’s Toys experience white supremacist violence, the fanatical reproach of Christian Nationalism, and stern religious patriarchy, which is a form of male supremacy. I suppose I’m asking my readers to consider if we’re unwittingly cultivating our own highly polarized culture for a similar national fate. The witness of history is unflinching: Nationalistic religious fanaticism, wed to political authoritarianism, breeds repression of political and religious liberty. We must be vigilant.
SF: After writing the manuscript, you initially hesitated about sharing with any other than friends. What were the factors you considered and why did you finally decide to publish the book?
E. William “Eric” Fruge
EWF: I hesitated because the book is provocative. It’s meant to be. It’s not “Christian fiction.” It’s graphic in places. But the story is not an attack upon Christianity. In fact, I try to offer a depiction of true Christianity also. Still, the rhetoric and behaviors of racial and religious bigotry are woven throughout the story. Readers will recognize them. Religious nationalists seek prominence in politics in order to shape a nation’s culture. When white supremacy is a goal of Christian nationalists, you can be sure inequality will be the result if they succeed. To oppose them is to invite their scorn and enmity. It carries risks. I decided to publish anyway because even though my voice is small, perhaps it’ll awaken a few others to the dangers of White Christian Nationalism. Every voice for equality, no matter how obscure, matters.
SF: One reviewer called Ahmad’s “the right book for the right time.” Do you agree, and putting aside you natural modesty, can you explain why you would agree with that assessment?
EWF: I hope it’s the right book for the right time. Ahmad, a Syrian refugee, speaks no English, has few friends, and suffers from PTSD. He doesn’t know the politics of his subjects, but he uses his artistic talent to celebrate their acts of kindness. The arts are powerful because they speak to our heart His work wins the admiration of his community, but his influence is feared by Christian nationalists because he is Muslim. When Jesus taught to love your neighbor as yourself, he introduced the parable of the Good Samaritan, a man whose religion and race were despised by his audience. Uncle Ahmad is a kind of Good Samaritan. His art motivates people to be their better selves. If you read closely, you’ll discover examples of Good Samaritan behaviors throughout this book. To love our neighbors as ourselves is a necessary message for our times.
SF: You dealt with a generous variety of characters, some complex and some less so. Did you fear the risk of inadequately developing each of them because of the sheer number? Besides Uncle Ahmad, who is your favorite character and why?
EWF: I considered following the perspective of a single protagonist but the struggle for equality is about community, isn’t it? That’s not meant to undervalue the importance of individual leadership, but world changers rally communities. Likewise, one can’t escape the chains of social stigma and bigotry without the aid of community. A wider cast of protagonists seemed necessary to me. I also had to bear in mind the length of the book. Digging deeper into the backgrounds of all the characters risked making the story too cumbersome.
As for another favorite character of mine, I suppose I like Rajah Qureshi the best. Smart, daring, accomplished, defiant, wonderful mother and wife, yet haunted by her past. She doesn’t fit the stereo-typical image we have of refugees.
SF: What would you like the book’s abiding takeaway be for your readers?
EWF: One of the characters warns, “Monsters speak fluent religion,” and I include all religions in that warning. Hatred justifies itself with moral pretexts. Champions of inequality trumpet their religiosity and patriotism the loudest. Sanctimonious efforts to exalt political partisanship and social prejudices don’t honor God. We honor him when we recognize we’re all created in the image of God, and that loving our neighbors as ourselves, regardless of their race, national origin, religion, gender, wealth or politics is the true foundation of a moral society.
Uncle Ahmad’s Toys is available on Amazon.com, wingsepress.com, or through local bookstores.
