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

Top 19. Sep 15, 2001 9:07 PM

» Tina_Coruth - A sad reminder

Hi Aida,

Your article is a poignant reminder that not all people pull together in a crisis. Most, but not all. And those few who seek scapegoats on which to vent their anger are wrong.

It is heartening to hear our leaders addressing this issue. Over the last few days I have heard pleas from leaders and clergy for people to let go of this undeserved hatred of fellow Americans and visitors of Mideast orgin. I hope the message gets through.

Thank you for writing this article.
Tina

-- posted by Tina_Coruth

Top 20. Sep 15, 2001 9:54 PM

» RoxanneN - Well said

I would like to commend Aida on the fine article, and also all of you who commented on the ignorant remarks made by skyj48. That type of mentality is precisely the reason why terrorism, bigotry and all of the other evils of our world exist. Personally, I have been making it a point to frequent businesses in my area that are owned by people of Middle Eastern backgrounds, so they will know that every white American has not gone mad! I want to give them my support, just as they give our nation their support.

Not to appeared bigoted myself, but I must say that I would be quite happy if skyj48 goes back to wherever he or she came from!

-- posted by RoxanneN

Top 21. Sep 16, 2001 8:15 AM

» bigmoe - A senseless act on September 11, 2001

A senseless act on September 11, 2001

How can we understand what happened in New York on that awful Tuesday. A few misguided souls chose to harm other human beings for the sake of their own beliefs.
Emotions run high at a time like this and we must stop and take time to reflect and search deep within ourselves. The healing will come only to the degree that we can forgive.

A senseless act of a few should not allow the rest of the world to be held accountable. These were human beings who wanted to punish other human beings. The blame lies on each individual's anger. The ultimate price was paid by each individual terrorist! They will not harm any more. They chose to past judgement on humanity, however they will soon be forgotten.

The innocent who lost their lives in this senseless act will be loved forever in our hearts.

Prejudice and Intolerance! Not until you feel the pain and morn the death of individual who is of a different culture, religion, color, and economic back ground, will you come to terms with your own identity has a living soul. The inability to cry for that individual is only a refuge that is obscured by false prejudice. We are the judge and jury of one another. Be the judge of your own behavior first. Hatred and intolerance is not born in us. He who was intolerant passed his anger on to those who would listen. The matter of choice escaped the individual who inherited intolerance by virtue of gossip.

-- posted by bigmoe

Top 22. Sep 16, 2001 8:17 AM

» AidaH - Re: Islam (and Palestinian reaction to the tragedy)

In response to message posted by Howie:

Thank you Terrie for your response to Howie's question. Every religion has its extremists but they don't represent the majority of those following the religion, and they certainly don't practice the faith the way it was meant to be practiced.

As for the Palestinian's rejoicing in American deaths. I am very disappointed in the media for its portrayal of the Palestinian reaction to the tragedy. While repeatedly showing the same clip of a group of Palestinians, mostly children, they failed to show us scenes of what else was happening around the region. Below is a press release from Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, which is the largest network of grassroots activists dedicated to Palestinian human rights.

This is what SHOULD have been reported:

14 September 2001

After the horrific tragedy, media outlets in the US repeatedly aired a clip of a few Palestinians rejoicing. However, there was hardly any
discussion or even reporting in the news of the following items.

- The terrorist act was strongly condemned by every single Palestinian organization including Fatah, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of
Palestine, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas, Workers Unions and Committees, Human Right Organizations (AlHaq, Law, Palestine Center for Human Rights), student associations, municipalities, mosques
and churches, etc.

- The attack was also condemned by every single Arab American, Muslim American, and countless other human rights organizations who support and/or work for Palestinian human rights

- Palestinian Americans living in Palestine issued a statement in which they reported that all messages they received from other Palestinians were of sorrow and concern.

- Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi told a news conference the celebrations were "misguided" and "aberrations" motivated by a feeling among Palestinians that they have been victims of U.S. backing for Israel. Palestinian analyst Ghassan al-Khatib said the ``human tragedy'' in the United States should not be exploited for political gains by making Palestinians, Arabs and
Muslims look like the "bad guys.'' The vast majority of Palestinians condemned and were horrified and shocked by the terrorist attacks and
identified with the victims (as victims themselves).

- We won't know the exact numbers for sometime but there are likely dozens if not hundreds of Muslim and Arab Americans killed in these despicable terrorist attacks. Many are still missing and we pray that they will be
found safe.

- The US Consul General in Jerusalem reported that he has received a huge stack of faxes from Palestinians and Palestinian organizations expressing condolences, grief and solidarity. He himself was pained to see that the media chose to focus on the sensational images of a few Palestinians rejoicing.

- The Palestine Legislative Council condemned the terrorist attack on the United States and sent an urgent letter of condolences to Mr. J Dennis
Hasterd, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

- Palestinians in Occupied East Jerusalem held a candle-light vigils on 12 and 14 September to express their grief and solidarity with the American families struck by this tragedy. Mr. Abdel Qader Al-Husseini, son of the late Palestinian leader Faisal Al-Husseini led one of the vigils.

- Jerusalem University students, along with the President of the University and the Deans of the various Faculties, began a blood donation
drive in Occupied East Jerusalem. Students and
professors went to hospitals in the Occupied City, in order to donate blood for the American victims who need it.

- The 1 million Palestinian students in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Occupied East Jerusalem, stood five minutes in silence to express their solidarity with the hundreds of American children who have been struck
by this strategy, which resembles in its shocking effects their daily sufferings.

- Throughout the US, Arab and Muslim Americans joined other American in solidarity vigils and prayers even when some of those members were attacked and/or frightened by rhetoric being espoused in the media

Meanwhile:

- Georgia Senator Zell Miller's stated "I say bomb the hell out of them. If there's collateral damage, so be it. They certainly found our civilians to be expendable." [NY Times 9/13/01].

- "Asked tonight what the attack meant for relations between the United States and Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, the former prime minister, replied:
'It's very good.' Then he edited himself: 'Well, not very good, but it will generate immediate sympathy.' New York Times, 12 September 2001, p. A22: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/12/intern...

- While the media's attention was diverted by the tragedy, Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian cities of Jenin and later Jericho killing scores of people, injuring over 120, and demolishing many homes and other buildings.

For other information, see
http://electronicIntifada.net/coveragetr...

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, is the largest network of
grassroots activists dedicated to Palestinian human rights.

For more information contact:

Al-Awda, Palestine Right to Return Coalition
P.O. Box 1172
Orange, CT 06477
Fax: (717) 832-1123
E-mail: prrc@mail.com
WWW: http://al-awda.org
Press Room: http://al-awda.org/pressroom.htm

-- posted by AidaH

Top 23. Sep 16, 2001 12:42 PM

» Howie - Re: Re: Islam (and Palestinian reaction to the tragedy)

In response to message posted by AidaH:

I did not mean to impugn all Muslims with the recent actions of terrorists. I just wondered how a compassionate religion like Islam could be used by extremists as their justification for violent action again innocents.
I had just received a Power Point attachment to an e-mail that relived the horrors of Tuesday. Planes aiming at the buildings, people falling from high stories, flames erupting and buildings falling.
How people could plan for over a year to conduct such an attack under the guidance of one that invokes his religion as the excuse is bewildering to me.

-- posted by Howie

Top 24. Sep 18, 2001 3:39 PM

» cryladyblue - Re: Re: Re: Islam (and Palestinian reaction to the tragedy)

In response to message posted by Howie:

To howie. Iunderstand each and every person has the right to his/her own feeling or opinions. And each should be respected of such. I most certainly do not condone terrorism in any shape or form. I was raised to be tolerant and respectful towards all people, all life. But our fellow Arab-American family, adn I do stress family, they too are part of and contributors to America. many left their home and families to escape oppression and war. Yet, they are being unfairly treated as being on the same level as bin-laden.

Not too long ago, one of our own--an American who also served in our US Army, brought the first act of terrorisnm on American soil.

Did we stone his father or family? Shoot as their homes? Condemn them for flying the American flag?

No. We sympathized with McVeighs family, because of what they must feel like because their child destroyed so many lives.

Can we not have the same compassion for our extended Arab-American family?

-- posted by cryladyblue

Top 25. Sep 19, 2001 5:52 PM

» AidaH - Re: Islam (and Palestinian reaction to the tragedy)

In response to message posted by Howie:

Howie,

I know that you were not trying to blame or accuse all Muslims of being the same as those who commit terror supposedly in the name of religion. Most people see the error in those kinds of generalizations, and I knew you were not making that mistake.

Thanks for your post and for the thoughtful words of everyone else in this discussion.

Regards,

-- posted by AidaH

Top 26. Oct 22, 2001 6:51 AM

» alison51 - RE: An Arab-American's Thoughts on America's Tragedy

In response to the article "An Arab-American's Thoughts on America's Tragedy", I'd like to say that my heart goes out to the victims of this tragedy...and that includes those of the Arab-American community that were harassed and/or murdered in retaliation.

A little about myself:
---
I'm an American of Scotch/Irish descent. My family has been in this country since the early 1700's or thereabouts.

My thoughts on why Arab-Americans were subjected to violence after 9/11:
---
1. Very little is known or understood about the Arabic cultures or Islam by most Americans.

As with any minority ethnic group in America, the Arab-American culture is not well documented and their beliefs and values are not well known. This presents a "PR" (public relations) problem. If Americans don't understand that our Arab-American brothers & sisters are not like the terrorists...we will consider them as enemies who need to be purged from our society. In order to resolve this problem, the Arab-American community must organize itself and present a credible individual to America as its spokesperson.

2. What little is known about Arabic cultures is usually negative.

As an American who was born in the 70's, I have seen 30 years of conflict between America and Arabic countries. Every few years, America has been attacked by peoples of Arabic origin. Our planes have been hijacked, our people have been kidnapped and held hostage and murdered. Additionally, our press coverage of the Arabic countries shows the suppression of women and the slaughter of its people in fierce wars. Most Americans, if asked what they thought of the Middle East, would answer "They are ruthless animals who have been fighting over the Holy Land since time began. They live in slums and have not advanced as a people."

This type of thinking can only be changed by vocal Arab-Americans who can project a different, more civilized, rational image. Until this happens, I believe that Arab-Americans will continue to suffer from predjudice in this country. I don't condone bigotry against anyone. I think bigotry is the result of ignorance. If Americans are not made aware of the virtues and contributions of Arabic cultures...nothing will change.

3. No truly visible Arab-American icons with a positive message.

The mid-90's in America brought an influx of Latinos into this country. Unfortunately, Americans viewed the Latinos as opportunists who were taking away American's jobs. While nothing could have been farther from the truth...it was a widely held belief. Then came Ricky Martin & Jennifer Lopez. Believe it or not, these 2 individuals contributed to a better life for Latino-Americans by projecting a positive image for the Latino community.

The Arab-American community needs to have similar positive icons who project a message that Arabs in America are here to contribute to American society, not destroy it. This MUST happen, and the sooner...the better.

---
Peace.

-- posted by alison51

Top 27. Jan 23, 2002 3:20 AM

» policeman2001 - Re: RE: An Arab-American's Thoughts on America's Tragedy

First thing i want to say that the american tragedy was made by the american government i think no body will beleive me but you have to think how the plane was coming through the borders and the American air forces did not see it in the radar and the satalites all of ti is a lie to destroy Pakistan

-- posted by policeman2001