An Arab-American's Thoughts on America's Tragedy

Top 9. Sep 14, 2001 7:39 PM

» mka0513 - Re: Re: The Effect from the Attack on World Democracy and Freedo

In response to message posted by Terrie_Bittner:

Whoa, are you on the wrong track! What are suicide attacks about except the hope--more than the hope, the guarantee--of eternal life in paradise. About hope for this life, most are young, have been raised in fundamentalism (not all fundamentalist supporters or perpetrators of terrorism are poor, witness bin Laden, who was raised in wealth and luxury.)These men have been taught a hate so ingrained, so bitter, by those who are training them and manipulating them for whatever purpose, that they are beyond hope. One of the reasons they hate us so is because we are different, not just in religion, but in the freedom our way of life permits, and the excesses that that freedom permits. They have grown up in totalitarian regimes, whether they are religious or political, and they think in lockstep. Lack of freedom does that to people. On the other hand, freedom lets us have these kinds of dialogues, even lets us sometimes hate one another, but we hope and pray that we don't act on that hate. We cherish our freedom and our diversity, and at the same time, we have to recognize that diversity can be dangerous to those who are different, even here. But who ever said freedom is without risk? Those of us who want all the advantages without any of the risks are going to have to grow up now, I suspect. Maybe some of us will quit watching "reality" television and start actually learning what reality is.

-- posted by mka0513

Top 10. Sep 14, 2001 9:10 PM

» Joy Butler - Re: The Effect from the Attack on World Democracy and Freedom

In response to message posted by skyej48:
In response to your last sentence, "If you don't like it, go back to the desert.", do you mean that we all, with the exception of Native Americans, should leave?

-- posted by Joy Butler

Top 11. Sep 14, 2001 9:53 PM

» PatJJ - How can one help?

It has been a horrible, painful week for all of us. Emotions and fears run high everywhere. I heard today that the Mosque near where I live had had to cancel worship services today out of fear. My (Christian) church plans to write a letter in support of our Islamic brothers and sisters, but it seems to me that that is not enough. What can we do to help? How can we of other faiths show support, and make it clear to all that we will not tolerate violence against ANY innocent people?

-- posted by PatJJ

Top 12. Sep 15, 2001 7:16 AM

» AidaH - To MKA0513, Re: sorrow and sincerity

In response to message posted by mka0513:

Thanks for your message. But when I was referring to "30 or so people" I was referring to this specific attack on NY and Washington D.C. only, which is a general figure that the media has been reporting. It's obvious to anyone that the problem of terrorism around the world is more complex and includes many many more people. But again, I am speaking about the figure the media has given for the attack on September 11 only.
By the way, the highest number of terrorist attacks committed are actually done by Hindu extremists, so to view this as an Arab or Islamic extremist problem only is false. But we already learned that lesson also with the devastating Oklahoma City bombings. While so many were quick to point the finger at Arabs or Muslims, no one thought it would be a white American, and what many referred to as a "home-grown terrorist". The point is that terrorism effects us all and knows no boundaries in nationality, race, or religion. But regardless of what religion a terrorist claims to belong to, it is false to refer to a terrorist as a member of that faith. Islam preaches peace, respect for others, and religious tolerance. Terrorism is an individual and criminal act, not a religous one and I hope that people bear this in mind during this time of frustration and anger.

-- posted by AidaH

Top 13. Sep 15, 2001 8:25 AM

» AidaH - To skyej48, Re: The Effect from the Attack

In response to message posted by skyej48:

"If you don't like it, go back to the desert." (quoted from skyje48)
Excuse me? Go back to the desert? Those are incredibly racist remarks that should, according to Suite101 posting standards, be promptly removed. But I am going to leave your message on here and respond to it because I think this message and your entire posts are examples of a very sick attitude that needs to be corrected.

First of all, I was born and raised in America. My family has been here since the very early 1900's. Like many others, we are decent, hard-working American citizens who have contributed greatly to our society. You are no more American than I am. And if we decide to follow your line of thinking than really none of us belong here except the Native Americans. So go back to where you came from why dont you.

You also wrote:"I can't help thinking what the reaction would be in your countries had the situation be reversed"
Well as I stated above, this is my country. Whatever the reaction to Americans would be had the situation had been reversed, I have nothing to do with. But in ANY country, when this sort of thing happens, it is completely wrong. No decent person would condone attacks on innocent civilians. That's an obvious assumption, but with your kind of anger and irrationality, I'm guessing that isn't obvious to you. Don't you see the danger in your reaction? Would you blame every American of Italian descent for the crimes of Italians against Americans? Or the entire Japanese population for the crimes of Japanese individuals? Let's not see a repeat of the wrongdoing on Japanese-Americans after the Pearl Harbor attacks.

As for your statement: "you all need to get down on your knees and praise Allah for allowing you to live in the United States and enjoy the freedom here."
Well "Allah" is the Arabic word for God. The same God you worship if you do worship God. So what I suggest for you is that YOU get down on your knees and pray to Allah that there aren't too many more people with your mentality. The world would be an awful place to live in if everyone thought like you. Direct your anger at the individuals responsible for this act ONLY. Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans are sharing your grief and anger too, and they have lost family members in this tragedy too. Your racism and hate is really no different than that of the terrorists themselves.

By the way, this shouldn't have to be mentioned. But again, your messages are not showing rational thinking. But, Arab-Americans not only suffered loss from this tragedy, they were also part of the search and rescue teams. They are fire-fighters, paramedics, and part of the NYPD among other departments. It's time for you and other racist minded people like you to accept that Arab-Americans have been part of this country for more than a century and a half. Please remember that next time you tell another American citizen to go back to where they came from, you have no more right to be here than they do. So get down on your knees and pray to Allah for being allowed to live here and enjoy its freedoms, and pray that it will be free of the kind of bigotry that you have exhibited on this message board.

-- posted by AidaH

Top 14. Sep 15, 2001 9:48 AM

» mariaandrea - Appalled

I am absolutely appalled, outraged and sickened by the willful ignorance and blind intolerance shown by some, both across the United States and on this discussion board. It brings to mind the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII. That kind of reaction cannot and must not happen again to anyone.

This great country is not a melting pot, it is a rich stew where many religions and ethnicities mix together, side by side, to become a hearty, delicious and nourishing dish. Take one ingredient away and the stew loses its flavor.

On a more practical and less fanciful note, I'd like to expand on the subject of willful ignorance. Because Timothy McVeigh was a terrorist, do we fear and treat white men as Arab-Americans and Muslims are being treated now? Of course not. Neither do we give a blanket condemnation to young, white boys, though a few of these have been our school shooters. Only ignorance condemns an entire religion or ethnicity because of the actions of a few.

The religion of Islam does not condone or promote terrorism. And just to further illustrate the lack of education and the proliferation of ignorance, not all Arab-Americans are Muslims either, yet they are potential targets merely because they are of Arab descent. The real enemy in this country is ignorance.

I came to this topic this morning just to post a message of support and found myself having to come up with something a little stronger. How incredibly sad. Think of the global human population. Then think that even if this global terrorist network numbers in the tens of thousands, that is a tiny fraction of the human beings on the face of the earth. And in the United States, at the very least, the greater number of citizens are appalled at the isolated acts of violence against our own fellow citizens. I watched as Washington governor Gary Locke gave a memorial address yesterday in Seattle. When he said something to the effect that intolerance was not the American way and our Arab-Americans and people of Islamic faith should not have to feel fear, the crowd gave louder claps and cheers than for any other statement he made.

So, while ignorance and prejudice does exist, as proven in this discussion, it is not the majority attitude in this country. I can only pray that anyone in this country who is of the Islamic faith or is Arab-American will understand and realize that, even as these hateful, isolated incidents occur. I pray that they remain isolated incidents. I pray that they cease altogether. History taught us how wrong we were to intern Japanese-Americans during WWII. Let us not have to learn that lesson all over again.

-- posted by mariaandrea

Top 15. Sep 15, 2001 12:28 PM

» GodzillaJ - Re: The Effect from the Attack on World Democracy and Freedom

In response to message posted by skyej48:

You sound just like the terrorists. It is this kind of hate that creates these animals. If you don't like America;s diversity you should leave. I for one love this great country. God Bless America!!!!!!!

-- posted by GodzillaJ

Top 16. Sep 15, 2001 1:46 PM

» Howie - Islam

What puzzles me is that the Koran does not condone violent acts against innocents, yet Islamic extremists invoke their religion to justify their actions. The Taliban make Hindus wear yellow identification (does this remind you of anything ?) and the Philippine extremists conduct kidnappings, ransoming some and killing the rest. Palestinians rear their sons to become martyrs and dance in the street as Americans die.

-- posted by Howie

Top 17. Sep 15, 2001 6:16 PM

» Terrie_Bittner - Re: Islam

In response to message posted by Howie:

Unfortunately, I think every religion has its extremists, and they tend to be the noisiest of the bunch, so they make everyone else look bad.

People who care about the United States, who are proud of its freedoms are the ones who must protect it. If we decide to start punishing people in groups, we all lose our freedom. Having to be tried, having the right to be punished only for what we ourselves have done, is what makes us special. If we decide that if one Muslim does something wrong...therefore all Muslims must be punished, we set up a dangerous precedent. On that rational, we will all be in jail within a week. Think of how many subgroups each of us belongs to: race, religion, country, state, city, neighborhood, street, school, employment, hair color, clubs, and so on. So if we decide to govern by subgroup, a white male of Irish and German descent, who lives in Chicago, Illinois, goes to the Catholic Church, works as a teacher and volunteers with the Boy Scouts....think of how many people he would have to be punished with. The first time a Catholic committed a crime, he'd be persecuted, sent to live in Rome and maybe jailed or killed. Then, if he escapes that, there is still the risk of an Irish person doing something wrong, or a teacher...or a male. Okay, it wouldn't even take a week.

Under that sort of government we wouldn't even be Americans. People who choose this form of government always assume they will never fall into one of the tortured groups...but we all do eventually.

-- posted by Terrie_Bittner