Teach By Example: Show Tolerance For People Of Mideast Backgrounds & Muslim Faith
Sep 30 '01
The Bottom Line Unite in resolve, not in fear and hatred against the common enemies of this civilization and freedom. Combat hate with acts of love and compassion!
In the aftermath of the 9-11-2001 terrorist attacks on our nation, I have been thinking about my visit to the "Museum of Tolerance" in Los Angeles. (Please read my review about it here: http://hipparent.epinions.com/content_29533900420 ). As I continue to think about what we can do locally to help the victims, survivors and fellow Americans, I have been thinking about the types of example we can be to the young kids who are watching our reaction to people who look different and worship a different religion. All it comes down to is whether we want to cut the roots of xenophobia, racism, bigotry and discrimination once and for all. If we don't, then all we are doing is passing on to the next generation the basics of hate whose destruction, barbarism and devastation we witnessed on that second day of infamy in the history of this great nation.
Is there anything we can do locally to help in this darkest moment?
Yes, there are many things that all good-minded, civilized people can do. Pleas read my previous review to see the top things you can do. In addition, we can all become the keepers of our neighbors no matter what skin color, national origins, religious creed and political affiliation. As much we we can, we remind our friends of the provisions of the laws combating hate crimes in this country. Serve as diffusion channels for the local authorities. In your circle of influences, share what you understand of the law. "...attacks or harassment of people because of ethnicity, faith, background or cultural practices will not be tolerated in our community...Anyone committing such acts will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." President Bush understood how some people would like to have swift justice and seek immediate revenge. Local authorities, federal officials and the current administration make it clear that this is not the way we should react in our search for justice. A few people will or have already taken it upon themselves to punish, maim, injure, harass, intimidate and even kill people of middle eastern background.
Let the FBI, CIA and other government officials hunt down the associates and conspirators of these heinous acts on our people
Arab Americans and Muslims want justice for our nation just like the rest of us
When I saw that a lot of the Arab American kids and young men who used to frequent my fitness center stopped coming after the attacks, I immediately started thinking about what their parents may tell them. Just like the rest of us, we don't want our kids to face any danger. They fear that they may be attacked by somebody who has a misplaced sense of patriotism. Furthermore, during my morning jogging, I used to see many natives of India, Americans by birth or nationalization on my route. For the past weeks, I have not seen any of them any longer. They have chosen to stay home for their security. I wish I could see this old, apparently weak man who used to say to me as I jog by him? I will see him again some day, when things calm down a bit. Even though most Indians have nothing to do with this conflict, they don't want to take any chance jogging around. Furthermore, there are reports of a lot of middle eastern students attending our universities being recalled home by their respective countries. If acts of violence and crimes of hate continue, they will only tarnish the pristine, haven-like image of this great country. Let's let the world see that we can still function even in times of terror and extreme fear.
Why is that so?
So far, 40 acts of vandalism and violence against Americans of middle eastern backgrounds and muslim faith have been reported all over the country. They have prompted authorities to state that these criminals will be prosecuted. In Mesa, Arizona, an Indian immigrant was shot dead by Frank S. Roque who claimed to be a patriot, standing up for his brothers and sisters. He also made some disparaging statements while waiting to be arrested. Fortunately, the number of people who want to show this ugly side that the terrorists showed us is very small. We can't allow ourselves to reciprocate with evil acts on fellow Americans who happen to be from the Mideast region. At the same time, we must be confident that if any of them had any contact with these extremist groups, the world, the agents of this intensive investigation will uncover their ruse. We, civilians, can't take it upon ourselves to render our own brand of justice which usually leads to immediate death. Despite the fact some businesses, restaurants owned by people from the middle east region, have been vandalized, more and more fellow Americans give them support by showing up for services again. This kind of outpouring of support in bad times is similar to what we saw the minutes, hours, days and weeks after the attacks on WTC and the Pentagon. How great to be of this country where people care about others and where people take great pleasure in helping their fellow men and women! Let's build up on these great virtues. Let's not make time for hate. Instead, let's rely on our authorities who will use all the resources of this country to bring to justice those who are behind these atrocities. The military of this country and allied forces will give an appropriate response to these acts of defiance. Yet, we must know that this enemy is elusive and not easy to conquer and hit! President Bush calls this battle a fight of Good vs. Evil. All the while, bear in mind that it has nothing to do with the good followers of Islam, law-abiding citizens of many Arab countries. This fight for freedom, civilization and culture is against the extremist groups that don't care about the value of human life, those who wreaked havoc on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, those that bombed the the World Trade Center in 1993
Our young minds and the rest of the world are watching our reaction to these heinous acts.
In the 1960s, during the first world war, union activists and immigrants were persecuted in this country. Let's not repeat history in this conflict. After the first Day of Infamy, (the sneak attacks by soldiers of the Japanese empire on Pearl Harbor), Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps. Many years afterwards, we blamed ourselves for falling short of the true spirit of this country. This country was built on noble aspirations, equality and fair treatment to all. When this moment in our history is over, you will be sorry for all the harsh talks, teasings, name-calling, property destruction, vandalism of business sites and mosques, hate-beatings, threats and killings you may caused. These acts have no place in this country. Retaliation against fellow Americans tracing their origins to the Middle east region should not be the way to go. How happy was I lately when I called on a Pakistani American family to check on them? "Everything is fine," the patriarch responded. If you had a good relationship with somebody from that region, this is not the time to break it. They need your support to move on. In the Bay Area, CA, I heard that some patrons of a Pakistani and Iranian-owned restaurant that was vandalized did something heroic. Their family members and they decided to protect the business by sleeping on the floor in their sleeping bags. They returned en masse to eat lunch and dinner. After all, these people know that moms and pops or small businesses form the backbones of our great economy. Who wants it to go into a bad recession? They are the keepers of their brothers.
If you want to do something after these attacks, refrain from inciting, holding disparaging talks that may cause somebody to hurt, injure or even kill any Arab Americans, Sikh or Muslim. Remember that we are also teaching our young kids by the way we react to these recent events. Hate is easier to teach. That's what each one of us can do locally to create a huge chain of love and understanding in these times of change!
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