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Articles: The New American Terrorists |
Posted by
Maranda on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 - 03:05 PM PST
Fatima was back in class yesterday.
I'd been watching for her on campus since the 11th, when the newscasters first mentioned the name Osama bin Laden and the Muslim students at my community college seemed to disappear. The Muslim Student Association, a vibrant and active group which sponsors Ramadan celebration dinners and exhibits of Islamic art, had temporarily vaporized as Muslims all over the country retreated to their houses in fear.
Most Americans spent their National Day of Prayer and Remembrance either praying for the World Trade Center victims or glued to the television, watching the tragic moments repeated countless times. A few probably slept in. Many parents gathered their kids in front of the ABC News childrens' special, where Peter Jennings, with the help of an Army colonel, an airline executive, a Muslim imam, a Baptist minister and several teachers and counselors, tried to explain the events.
In Findlay, Ohio, someone drove a truck into a mosque, causing over $100,000 in damage. In Chicago, a crowd of angry Americans—descendents of immigrants—marched on a local Islamic center, chanting messages of hate, waving American flags.
No wonder Fatima stayed home.
I don't know many Muslims personally, but as I walked across campus and noticed the conspicuous absence of hijabs and long dresses, I found myself missing them all. I'm not a knee-jerk patriot either, but for me, those traditional outfits represented the best thing about America—the freedom to learn from people unlike ourselves. I read six or seven online news magazines daily, and I always skip to the Opinion and Editoral columns. For me, it's not enough to merely know what's happening. I want to know what others think about what's happening. Maybe someone else has dissected an issue in a way that never crossed my mind.
Diversity? That word describes the mere existence of variety. Tolerance? That implies a grudging acceptance of variety, since it's not going away. When I see prayer rugs in the student lounge, I feel a deep appreciation for that variety. I've often wanted to sit down with those students and ask them about their beliefs. Perhaps they handle the challenges of American life in ways I hadn't thought of. Perhaps I could learn something from them.
I cannot imagine how Muslims must feel to see their religion associated with terrorism and hatred in the minds of Americans who know nothing else about Islam. Maybe it compares to how I feel about my government's history of sending weapons and money to regimes that brutalize their own citizens, all in the name of "freedom". No wonder much of the world hates America.
And now, much of America hates Islam, or what they erroneously think is Islam. So they drive trucks into houses of worship, and students like Fatima stay home behind locked doors.
Yesterday I looked up some Islamic Web sites and was appalled at what I saw. People were posting hateful, threatening, vitriolic messages to forums they hadn't bothered to read before the attack on New York. As a Wiccan, I'm no stranger to religious intolerance, but the people who attack my faith usually have deeply held theological reasons. What I saw on these boards resembled a drunken riot; a frustrated, self-righteous mob throwing stones at bystanders, celebrating because they finally had an enemy. All I could do was post a few messages of my own, telling the Muslim subscribers that many non-Muslims are praying for their safety.
Terrorists must be brought to justice. But justice does not mean war. And war should not be extended to our own citizens who cover their heads and pray to Allah for peace.
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The New American Terrorists | Login/Create an account | 11 Comments |
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Re: The New American Terrorists
by feralucce on Sep 20, 2001 - 06:50 AM
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On the Mizzou Campus... the Islamic center was attacked with rocks and bricks... A shop onwer was attacked by an 80 year old woman...
Americans wonder why we are hated... that answer is simple... as a country... we are stupid...
I personally have been in 3 separate confrontations that almost came to blws because I stepped in when "freedom lovers" were persecuting people who weren't even Islamic...
I don't feel a pang of regret for what happened... there were a few people there that I CAN feel sorry for... I feel for the true innocents.. those that never wronged anyone... out of that 4000+ death toll, knowing humand... in new yourk... there may have been 5... those five... I mourn...]
Feral
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Re: The New American Terrorists by ickgirl on Sep 20, 2001 - 07:23 AM (User info | Send a Message) http://www.envy.nu/ickgirl | I'm sure if you LIVED in NYC and/or you worked in that building you'd feel differently, or if you watched several people plummet 100 floors to the earth. You wouldn't be thinking "oh, such a shame for 1 or 2 of those jumpers...oh and maybe 3 in the building"
True Innocents? Never wronged anyone? I don't think anyone on the PLANET can truly claim that.
They were people. People who had someone who needed them around.
I really don't think it's your place to judge whether or not they were "innocent" or deserved to DIE at their workplace. |
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Re: The New American Terrorists by feralucce on Sep 20, 2001 - 08:41 AM (User info | Send a Message) http://feralucce.vibechild.com | read back over my response... I did not say that anyone deserved to die... NOR was it implied, for an implication states that is what I meant to say... Nay... I feel sorry for all of them... mourning is different from that...and I mourn the inncents... and there were some... they are rare... that was my point...
on a side note... I USED TO WORK IN THAT BUILDING... I used to live in new york city...
There was a man.... who worked in the Solamon Building... across the street... His name... was Joseph... I grew up with this man... the only one of my adopted family I chose to keep in touch with... He died in there... it is confirmed... when that tower collapsed
Like I said... I feel for all that died... they did not die by anything they did... but I cannot bring myself to mourn any but the innocents... and Joseph... If I offended you by my lack of explanation before... you know the rest now...
Simplicty
Feral |
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Re: The New American Terrorists by ickgirl on Sep 20, 2001 - 08:51 AM (User info | Send a Message) http://www.envy.nu/ickgirl | to humor you i re-read your post:
this is what stands out:
"I don't feel a pang of regret for what happened... there were a few people there that I CAN feel sorry for..."
I really don't see how one could misinterpret that. It's a coldhearted statement, any way you slice it. |
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Re: The New American Terrorists by feralucce on Sep 20, 2001 - 09:53 AM (User info | Send a Message) http://feralucce.vibechild.com | Cold hearted sentiment that was clarified... but that still does not address the statement you made... you accused me of saying they deserved that... I said no such thing. I did not express myself adequately enough the first time... and for that I apologize... I have done so now...
Let us... for future purposes... treat those two posts as one... for that is how I should have responded... I will never again be guilty ot teh sin of excessive brevity... <-- not intended as sarcasm
Feral
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The last Innocent American by Arthegarn on Sep 25, 2001 - 03:01 PM (User info | Send a Message) | Wow. Feral... seems like you have a row with mankind.
What's "innocent" for you? I mean, to me innocent is what's opposed to guilty, and by in dubio rpo reo, anyone that is not proven guilty is innocent. I never met any of those people, so I have no proof they were guilty of anything, so to me they were all innocent, and I mourn them all.
I know this sounds like Arthegarn the lawyer speaking, but it's actually not that. I prefer to live with hope and trust that my (Arthegarn flips dictionary) neighbour (?) is a nice guy until proven a bastard (they usaually do) than to start by thinknig that people suck. It makes life easier to me. Otherwise...
Otherwise I'd much likely do as you do, consider everyone guilty of something and mourn only the innocent.
Arthegarn |
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Re: The New American Terrorists
by Xaoswolf (Xaoswolf@hotmail.com)
on Sep 21, 2001 - 10:45 AM
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I have a middle eastern woman teaching my Communications class, and her husband use to teach the systems classes. People have been throwing trash in thier yard, so I was thinking of getting a few of my friends together, some cases of MGD, a couple of lawn chairs, and start polishing shot guns on thier front yard during the night. I think that would stop the harrassment.
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Re: The New American Terrorists
by Anonymous-Coward on Oct 12, 2001 - 10:30 AM
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This kind of behavior has even been seen in canada. Here in Quebec , 3 young people beat a portuguese girl to death because she looked slightly arab and they thought she was. Though in Canada's defense , the quebecors are our "hillbillies". Most people are just finding a reason to wreck havoc and it's something I really dont understand But human stupidity has no color barrier. As this has shown us , violence only calls forth more violence. Nothing was ever resolved this way , but it obviously the instantaneous response to everything. If Duh-buh-Yah Bush spent a little more time thinking things out (if that is possible for him...) then , im sure he would find a better way than calling war on the Talibans .... actually i'm not even sure who theyre fighting against and why.
-Raven
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Re: The New American Terrorists
by Anonymous-Coward on Nov 09, 2001 - 11:23 AM
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I understand and symapthise with your comments on how Americans are reacting to Muslims in their midst. We like to fool ourelves into thinking we are a kinder, gentler nation when in fact we are either bloodthirsty, greedy butchers wallowing in our own selfish desires or sheep watching T.V. Laura Bush was recently quoted as saying the assaults put an end to "an age of self-absorbsion and self-indulgence". Now we are moving into an age of jingoism and "homeland security". The change in America has to come from within. Please wake up and smell the Napalm, before any more innocent people have to die. If you want to read about what Americans have been responsible for try -http://www.geocities.com/americanterrorism/Amerikan_Terrorism.html.
It's not pretty, but it's true
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