Arab Men Laughing at World Trade Center Photos in Montclair, NJ - Live Report

Self | 10/21/01 | Atticus

[Atticus]

This evening I had dinner at an Indian (Hindu) restaurant in Montclair, New Jersey. During the meal, several people at our table were discussing pictures of the World Trade Center (pre-9/11) that were on display at a framing gallery next door. When we left the restaurant, I decided to check the pictures out for myself. It was a wonderful tribute: an American flag surrounded by four or five balck and white posters and photographs of the twin towers taken from different angles, some during the day, some at night.

Then something surreal happened. As we started to walk toward our car, three Arab men in their early 20s passed us. I am no expert in ethnic identity, but I am absoltely sure the men were Arab and definitely not Indian or hispanic. They were speaking to each other in their native tongue. As they walked past the storefront with the pictures of the WTC, one of the men looked at the pictures and then said something to his friends to draw their attention to the pictures. Then the three of them bursted out laughing and walked away. My blood boiled and I shouted at them. I think my words were, "Hey, you think that's funny, you f*#%ing Arabs?" They just waled along, oblivious to me. It was a sad and chilling experience.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Do you find this amusing?

[Hamza01]

Are you sure they were Arabs? Look, I'm an American Arab and I often get mistaken for Italian, Sicilian, Greek, or (horrors) Israeli-- are you sure they were Arabic?

That means something to the rest of us American Muslims/Arabs in NY, NJ, CT. It means we have to act. So be damn sure! I mean it, Atticus. I live in Westchester, New York, and I know a lot of people all over the tir-state area.

If you are really serious, let me know-- and quickly.

Regards,

Hamza

[danzaroni]

Do you find this amusing?

Of course I don't. It's incredibly tragic. I totally support everything we're doing to fight back.

Now: What the hell is your point?

[Clinton's a rapist]

Here's another thigh-slapper for you.

[gfactor]

you've been watching too many denzel washington movies. You've never laughed at the news? or at serious events? get a grip, on the constitution.

[danzaroni]

Here's another thigh-slapper for you.

I'm deeply disturbed that you would find that funny. I certainly don't.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Here's a possible scenario... Arab terrorists currently on the loose in this country launch bioterrorism attacks that leave hundreds of thousands of Americans dead. Rather more likely than the scenario you posited, unfortunately.

I want these people out of here.

[TheLooseThread]

"Saudi Arabia said they would oppose any attack of an Arab nation...They did not say they would join them."

I, for the life of me, am not able to see what the difference between these two statements is. Or if there is a difference how that would mitigate the core racism motivating the statement.

"We would oppose anyone attacking Israel under similar circumstances..."

And the press release from the US state department saying that we will support Israel agaisnt any arab nation no matter what the justification: where would I find that?

"And not knowing a single thing about those three individuals who laughed in front of a window (regardless of the display) is McCarthyism..."

There is this really weird thing that happens with a body after it dies. I do not know the exact details. But it has something to do with the muscles in the abdomen tightning up as rigamoris sets in. The addomen tightens, causing the dead body to make disjoint vocal sounds. It has certainly scared quite a few newbie morticians.

I'm wondering if the same thing is happening during the final death gasps of liberalism. As the body dies, disjoint vocal sounds gasp out: McCarthyism!!!.

To the newbie, it can be quite startling. But I know it for what it is. Simply a death gasp.

[L.N. Smithee]

Two words--Internment camps

Great idea.

Worked for the Nazis, right? </sarcasm>

[Clinton's a rapist]

Let me know when you catch some Arabs lighting fires on the beach

Like this, you mean?

Regardless, my reference to the Japanese referred to incidents within the last five years.

How about referencing something that is actually relevant to the parties involved in 9/11? For example this...

[Cultural Jihad]

Other two laugh and continue on down the street as some crazy white person yells profanities at them ....

Funny but I never heard Atticus state his ethnicity. Is that somehow important to you? Are you prejudging him? Does a White have less of a right to be outraged than, say, a Black or an Hispanic?

[Hamza01]

Hey HK: Do you mean by "HK" Heckler & Koch. I'm rather familiar with the HK MP5 myself. Personally, as a Muslim man, I know I'm not going into no camp. Certainly, not without a good fight.

By the way, have you ever used any HK weapon? Or are you just one of those people who likes to pretend they know how to use a firearm?

As for me, my mother taught me how to shoot when I was four. A Holland & Holland. Do you know what that is, HKUS9MM?

[Hemlock]

Considering the current atmosphere, why were the Arab men speaking in their native tongue and laughing? Am I supposed to trust people who behave that way? If you were in Saudi Arabia after Mecca was destroyed by Americans, would you be dumb enough to do what these Arab men did, and do you think you might be severely beaten or even executed if you tried? Now that you've answered those questions, ask yourself this one. Do you still think that Atticus' suspicions are unwarranted? I don't.

[JMJ333]

Why is it, that in every post-- you always sound like your sneering at people? You sound so superior in the way you talk down to everyone. Let me guess--you have the same alleged problem as Osama...