Celebrating Diversity With The Dallas Cowboys.



I've long enjoyed the work of his brother Joe, and now, we can all bask in the fine reportage of the Dallas Morning News' Steve Blow, as he serves up yet another reason not to root for what used to be known as America's Team.

Maybe the first thing you should know about Hujefa and Insiyah Vora is that they stood and cheered enthusiastically when U.S. soldiers were shown on the big screens at Texas Stadium the other night during a "fan of the game" contest.

A few seconds later, the Voras were thrilled to see themselves on the video screens at the Cowboys game as the final contestants in the fan popularity contest.




"We were so excited," Hujefa said. "I'm a huge Cowboys fan. And to get your picture up on the Jumbotron – man, that's every Cowboys fan's dream."

But that dream was soured when some in the crowd that night booed and hissed the Voras because of their Muslim appearance.

"It hurts. It really does," 30-year-old Hujefa said this week.

Hujefa wore a head covering and his beloved No. 59 Dat Nguyen jersey. ("My absolute favorite Cowboy.") Insiyah wore a rida (ree-DAH) as she always does in public – a long skirt and hooded shawl.

But you couldn't exactly call this a "traditional" rida . It's blue and white with silver stars and "Cowboys" imprinted on it.

"Hujefa bought this material, and I made it just for Cowboys games," Insiyah said. "He even bought these stars," she said, showing off the star-shaped buttons on the skirt.

"I was really in touch with my feminine side," Hujefa clowned.

Though their appearance may be a bit different, a few minutes of conversation reveal that this is a very typical, immensely likable young couple.

Hujefa grew up in Fort Worth. He went to Austin College in Sherman as a theater major, then decided on a career in medicine and graduated from UT Southwestern in Dallas. "We left the game that night absolutely elated," Hujefa said. "We had been on the Jumbotron!"

The cold slap in the face came the next morning when he listened to his favorite radio station, the all-sports "The Ticket" (KTCK-AM).

"They were talking about this Muslim couple at the game that was oblivious to the fact they were being made fun of," Hujefa said. "And I knew they had to mean us."

Later he heard all about the boos from friends who were at the game. The heartache still shows on Hujefa's face as he talks about it.

"I guess in a way they were right on the radio. We were oblivious," he said. "But part of me still wants to believe the best. Part of me wants to believe the Cowboys showed us just to show the wonderful diversity of Cowboys fans."

When I talked to a Cowboys spokesman last week, he apologized and said contrasting soldiers against the then-unidentified Muslim couple was unintentional and a lapse in judgment.

But now I have to wonder how sincere that apology was. Hujefa said he called the Cowboys office to discuss the incident, just hoping to understand what happened. Twice he called, in fact, identifying himself each time as the booed fan. Neither call was returned.

I guess public apologies are easier than personal ones.

Posted: Mon - September 13, 2004 at 10:47 PM      

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