Jozef, RE: "Singling the arabs/muslims is just one ugly act of intolerance on my part. I slapped both of my wrists for this offense of being so politically incorrect, as I sit here and expect more smoke to see from the windows of my apartment in the future as I have today. While I sit here being very tolerant, just allow me to pray that the next smoke cloud I see will not have mushroom shape. But if it does happen, I promise that in the last seconds of my life, I will not jump to any conclusions, and think that the British nanny was just as likely culprit as Bin Laden, PLO or Hamas. "
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First, I am very glad that you are okay and safe after experiencing such a horrible disaster.
Having said that, I have contacts and Jewish friends that have experienced this horrible disaster as well as yourself, though their reaction is markedly different than yours. Your reaction seems to blindly target a particular religion/race, muslims/arabs. I wanted to point this out to you. I think you need to do some introspection.
RE: "Guilty until proven innocent, now???"
Muslims are innocent. Arabs are innocent. Terrorists are guilty. This is a war on terrorism, not on a particular country.
You somehow need to find peace within your soul, so that anger isn't cycled, perpetuated, or misplaced. It's easy to say, but so hard to implement, and I wish I could help provide that internal peace.
Here's some quotes from articles:
"We Muslims love our country as you do, and we are bleeding and grieving alongside of you.”
"In the first few days after the bombing in Oklahoma City, more than 200 incidents of harassment, threats and violence were reported. One such incident resulted in a miscarriage. We need an international tribunal for the culprits. And we need to bury our dead in peace."
"I'm confused," said Ali Berry, a senior linebacker and offensive guard, who sat at a table in his coach's office after Friday night's game. "This loss of life ... And yet people, they can be so ignorant, they think we don't care. It was a shock to everybody."
Arabs/Muslims in this country are noticeably very nervous. The other day, when I was walking in one of the local cities, my simple presence unintentionally startled a Muslim man that was walking down the street. When I went to a gas station on Saturday, there was a Muslim worker who looked noticeably nervous. I gave him my biggest and warmest smile, which seemed to warm him from head to toe and with gratitude he gave a big smile back. He'll probably go home and tell his family, who in turn will tell their friends. Letting some of the kindness spread, helps people find some peace, which is the best counter to all of this bad stuff.
You asked, "What rights do immigrants from Muslim countries have?" The same right for safety that Americans have, as follows:
"U.S. Commission on Civil Rights - federal commission that has established a hotline (1-800-552-6843) to report incidents discrimination against Arab and Muslim Americans in the wake of the terror attacks." usccr.gov
They lost their lives in the WTC too.
Regards,
Amy J |
