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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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http://feralucce.vibechild.com
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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 Xaoswolf (Xaoswolf@hotmail.com)
on Sep 21, 2001 - 10:45 AM
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http://Xaoswolf.tripod.com
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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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