I like it too.
However, the thought occurs to me that it would be just the same as painting a big red and white bullseye on your car.
Posted on 11/04/2001 10:18:19 PM PST by hawaiian
The following letter was published in the Gazette, Hyattsville, MD, October 11, 2001, on the Community Forum page.
"You worry me. I wish you didn't. I wish when I walked down the streets of this country that I love, that your color and culture still blended with the beautiful human landscape we enjoy in this country. But you don't blend anymore. I notice you, and it worries me.
"I notice you because I can't help it anymore. People from your homelands, and professing to be Muslims, have been attacking and killing my fellow citizens and our friends for more than 20 years now. I don't fully understand their grievances and hate but I know nothing can justify the inhumanity of their attacks.
On Sept. 11, nineteen Arab-Muslims hijacked four jetliners in my country. They cut the throats of women in front of children and brutally stabbed to death others. They took control of those planes and crashed them into buildings killing thousands of proud fathers, loving sons, wise grandparents, elegant daughters, best friends, favorite coaches, fearless public servants and children's mothers. So I notice you now.
I don't want to be worried. I don't want to be consumed by the same rage and hate and prejudice that have destroyed the soul of these terrorists. But I need your help.
As a rational American, trying to protect my country and family in an irrational and unsafe world, I must know how to differentiate between you. How do I differentiate between the true Arab-Muslim-Americans and the Arab-Muslims in our communities who are attending our schools, enjoying our parks, ... [edited for brevity]... while they plot the next attack that will slaughter those very same good neighbors and children? The answer to my own questions that it is past the time for me to try to determine this. The events of Sept. 11th changed the answer. It is time for every Arab-Muslim in this country to determine it for me.
I want to know, I demand to know, if you love America. Do you pledge allegiance to its flag? Do you pray in your many daily prayers that Allah will bless this nation that He will protect and prosper it? Are you thankful for the freedom that only this nation affords? A freedom that was paid for by the blood of hundreds of thousands of patriots? Are you willing to preserve this freedom with the spilling of your own blood? Do you love America? And if this is your commitment, then I need you to start letting me know about it.
Your Muslim leaders in this nation should be flooding the media at this time with hard facts on your faith, and what hard actions you are taking as a community and religion to protect the United States of America. Please, no more benign overtures of regret for the death of the "innocent" (I worry who you regard as "innocent") and condemnation of "unprovoked" attacks (I worry what is "unprovoked" to you.) I am not interested in any more sympathy; I am interested only in action. What will you do for America-- the country -- at this time of crisis, at this time of war?
I want to see Arab-Muslims waving the flag in the streets. I want to hear you chanting "Allah Bless America." I want to see Arab-Muslim young men enlisting in the military. I want to see a commitment of money and time and emotion to the victims of this butchering and to this nation as a whole.
The FBI has a list of over 400 people they want to talk to regarding the WTC attack. Many of these people live and socialize in Muslim communities. You know them. You know where they are. Deliver them up, now. But I have seen little even approaching this sort of action. Instead I have seen an already closed and secretive community close even tighter. You have disappeared from the streets. You have posted armed security guards at your facilities. You have threatened lawsuits. You have screamed for protection from reprisal.
The few Arab-Muslim representatives that have appeared on the media are defensive and equivocating. They seem more concerned with making sure the U.S. prove who is responsible before they act, and protecting their own people from any violence directed toward them, here in the U.S. and abroad.
If the true teachings of Islam proclaim tolerance and peace and love for all people, then I want chapter and verse from the Koran and statements from popular Muslim leaders to back it up.
Because even if the teachings in the Koran are good and pure and true, it matters little if large numbers of current Islamic practitioners interpret the teachings of Mohammed incorrectly and adhere to a degenerative form of the religion.
I want to know where every Arab-Muslim in this country stands and I think it is within my right and the right of every true citizen of this country to demand it. A right paid for by the blood of thousands of my brothers and sisters.
I am pleading with you to let me know. I want you here; as my brother, my neighbor, my friend, as a fellow American. But there can be no "gray" areas or ambivalence regarding your allegiance and it is up to you to show me where you stand.
Until then...you worry me."
Ye know what worries me, how scared and suspicious I've become of people since Sept 11. I'll give you an example.I live in Ireland (where multiculturalism, is only beginning to raise its head). For many years there were no blacks, muslims, etc. living in my community. A foreigner was the guy who owned the Chinese takeaway, or the the nice man who runs the Italian chip shop.
I live in Wexford where once a year we have a three week international Opera Festival, bringing tourists from all over the world. Two weeks ago I was out walking alone at night time and was stopped by two Arab men (whom I now believe were here for the Operas) asking directions to a B&B. When they stopped me, I nearly jumped out of my skin. (Not sure if it was because of the fact they were Arabs, or that they stopped me -a lone female- out walking in the dark).
I gave them their directions. But I was haunted a bit afterwards by my own reaction. I don't consider myself rascist. I'm pretty open kinda `get along with everyone' type of girl.
It worries me, how suspicious I've become. That once innocent trust, is gone now.
Maybe I'm just weird or something.
Otherwise, they will risk bitter reprisals and backlashes by an enraged populace. The time for them to show where they stand is now ... and it must be voluuntary and before the crisis for it to be believed by the people. Unfortunately, once such a backlash begins, however much many of us may try and prevent innocents from being caught up in it ... it will be almost impossible to restrain. This is just a fact of history. People will only be slaughtered for so long before reacting harshly against those they perceive are responsible.
The time to act and show their commitment and dissolve the perception is now IMHO.
Bookmarked & bumped! & printed!
I rented an apartment to a man from Egypt on September 1. I would love to know what he thinks about this.
And here in America, in New York and Washington, were there no Islamic Americans in those planes or buildings? Were they forewarned and avoided death and destruction? Or did hundreds of Islamic Americans die on 9/11?
Where is the outrage from those followers of Islam? Why aren't they mad as hell, and protesting for retaliation in the streets? Why aren't the airwaves and newspapers full of Islamics decrying the actions of the terrorists. Where are the Islamics that immigrated here for religious tolerance and freedom - don't they understand that freedom is not achieved without a cost? Where are those that converted to Islam here in this country, why are they not protesting against the terrorists? Surely they understand that their government benefits, their freedom of speech and freedom to protest would be taken away if Islam ruled?
Where is the outrage?
I like it too.
However, the thought occurs to me that it would be just the same as painting a big red and white bullseye on your car.
I want to know where every Arab-Muslim in this country stands and I think it is within my right and the right of every true citizen of this country to demand it. A right paid for by the blood of thousands of my brothers and sisters. I am pleading with you to let me know. I want you here; as my brother, my neighbor, my friend, as a fellow American. But there can be no "gray" areas or ambivalence regarding your allegiance and it is up to you to show me where you stand. Until then...you worry me."
Time for clarity. Great column.
The muslim community's failure to "deliver them up" is, to me, a damning indictment.
This should help us understand the mentality of the Serbs. After a few centuries of Islamic slaughter, they learned to be tougher or die.
Univeristy degrees in biochemistry and microbiology, pilot training and licenses, haz-mat transportation companies and drivers, moving companies, charity fronts, ISPs, travel agencies, medical school and residencies...the ones we know about thus far have taken great pains and lots of years to set up their networks and plan their murderous deeds. Do they have nuclear engineers working in our power plants? Do they have operatives in the officer ranks of our armed forces and current administration? Do we smile a friendly "hello" to someone who is secretly plotting our demise? Surely.
A couple of the hijackers/murderers had a red, white, and blue heart on their door that read "Welcome!"
"Yeah," said one neighbor, "Welcome to death's door."
But please, remember American Muslims who escaped these outhouse countries are not the ones interviewed by the press. Did the media make a big deal of the thousands of Iranian students arrested at pro-American candlelight vigils? No. It's the same frigging media that screwed over conservatives. They want a catfight. Please, there are many Muslims in this country who hate the goons who killed our people on 9/11. So please, don't give up Christian values for the terrorist. It gives them a win. "If worse is coming, I won't stand between the mobs and an enemy of my country, as I surely would do for any innocents of any faith. It seems to me that while some U.S. Muslim authorities have denounced 9/11 strongly enough to satisfy me, MOST HAVE NOT.
But please, remember American Muslims who escaped these outhouse countries are not the ones interviewed by the press. Did the media make a big deal of the thousands of Iranian students arrested at pro-American candlelight vigils? No. It's the same frigging media that screwed over conservatives. They want a catfight. Please, there are many Muslims in this country who hate the goons who killed our people on 9/11. So please, don't give up Christian values for the terrorist. It gives them a win. "If worse is coming, I won't stand between the mobs and an enemy of my country, as I surely would do for any innocents of any faith. It seems to me that while some U.S. Muslim authorities have denounced 9/11 strongly enough to satisfy me, MOST HAVE NOT.
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