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I am angry
by James Zogby
I am angry. Very angry. The terrorists who
struck on Sept. 11 violated the openness and freedom of my country.
They killed thousands of my fellow citizens and they have done
incalculable damage to the Arab-American and Muslim American
communities.
Each day, the press provides new reports detailing the activities
of these evildoers, leading up to Sept. 11. As I read these accounts,
I am struck by how sinister it was that these men, armed with such
hideous intent, were able to take advantage of the opportunities
provided by America and the almost naïve goodwill of so many
Americans. They found homes in which to live, schools to train them
and they moved about without question. All the while planning their
deadly mission.
I found it almost incomprehensible that in the years they prepared
to kill thousands they were not moved to question their intended evil
by the good that they saw around them everyday. They took advantage of
Americans to kill Americans and for that I am angry.
I am angry, as well, because their terrorism has brought so much
sorrow and so much loss to so many. Not only did they kill thousands,
their act has created a national trauma as well.
Americans have lived through many traumatic events in this media
age. The assassinations of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King, the
explosion of the Challenger, and Oklahoma City are examples, to name a
few. As a nation, we have also been gripped by horrific tragedies that
have befallen others: the massacres of Sabra and Shatilla, the killing
of Mohammed Al Durra, terrorist attacks in Israel and the rape of
Bosnia.
In each of these instances, Americans sat riveted to their
televisions, transfixed by grotesque images of death playing out
before our eyes.
There has been something quite different about this tragedy. This
time Americans did not simply suffer for the victims, we suffered with
the victims. Possibly because the weapons were ordinary civilian
aircraft and the death scene was a place of work, and because the
casualties were so many, those of us who watched were affected to our
core.
Each of us thought that it could have been any one of us. And in a
way it was. People of every nationality, race and faith died. And as
we watched in the days that followed and listened to the stories of
those who survived, each of us was able to relate to the horror, the
loss and the fear. As a nation, we have mourned and been filled with
an almost inconsolable sadness. And for that, too, I am angry.
Because almost every American has reacted to this momentous and
traumatic event in his or her own unique way, the reactions have been
varied. There have been stories of unparalleled bravery. There are
also stories of uncommon goodness. But others have reacted out of
fear, ignorance and prejudice. And because of that, I am also angry.
For decades, pro-Israel propagandists sought to paint Arabs with
the broad stroke of terror. As Arab- Americans, we have been affected.
We suffered from negative stereotypes, discrimination and exclusion.
Many in my community felt compelled to hide their identity and their
heritage. But we fought back. We built institutions, we defended
ourselves. We organised and established Arab-Americans as a
constituency that defeated prejudice and took its place in the
political mainstream.
I recall noting that, when the FBI issued its 15th annual report on
domestic terrorism, not one single act of terror had been committed by
an Arab on American soil. In fact, I often noted that Arab-Americans
had been victims of domestic terrorism, but never its perpetrators.
Then came the first World Trade Centre bombing and our enemies had a
weapon to use against us. And Arabs had given it to them. It was
because of the years of propaganda and prejudice that after the World
Trade Centre bombing Arab-Americans suffered a backlash and rush to
judgement after Oklahoma City. And now, Sept. 11 has happened and with
it another backlash.
While most Americans have turned to Arab-Americans and been
extremely supportive, there are bigots who attacked Arab-Americans,
American Muslims and even Sikhs who have been assaulted and killed
because of their foreign attire. Arab- Americans and Muslim American
schoolchildren are afraid to go to school, taxi drivers and
storeowners are afraid to work. In a few instances, Arab-Americans
have been refused the right to fly because their fellow passengers are
afraid to be on a plane with them.
The president has spoken out against this bigotry, as have almost
all other public officials. Daily, there are events with the
president, congressmen and government agencies to demonstrate
solidarity with our communities and to warn against a backlash. And
the Department of Justice has been active in organising a national
outreach programme to combat hate crimes against Arab- Americans and
American Muslims. But serious problems remain.
The tide is turning. And our efforts are paying off. E-mails to our
office are now twenty to one supportive of our community. Churches and
civic groups are joining Arab-Americans and American Muslims and
schools are seeking our help to provide educational materials about
Arab- Americans and Islam.
We will continue to fight bigots and we will win. But it was all so
unnecessary. This pain and suffering did not have to be. And this fear
did not have to be, if the evildoers had not committed the acts of
terror on Sept. 11. And for that I am angry.
There are reports
that there may be more terrorists planning still more attacks. This
has created more fear and more suspicion, putting more Arab-Americans
and American Muslims at risk. And so, I say to the terrorists, get
out! And to those who may plan to come in the future, stay away — we
do not want you! You have done too much evil already. You have killed
too many. You have created too much sadness, fear and hatred. And you
have done our community immeasurable harm.Dr. James J. Zogby is President of Arab
American Institute in Washington, DC.
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