Tuesday, September 11, 2001. A day of infamy. As I sat watching television early Tuesday morning-watching the devastation unfold-my heart was with all the victims. But yet another feeling was surfacing as well. As the newscasters read their list of the likely suspects, I realized one thing-everyone was blaming the Muslims. Of course, no one came out and blatantly said that, but it was there, hovering in the air. For an American Muslim, things changed dramatically on Tuesday.
My mind flew back to the Oklahoma City bombings and all the anti-Muslim hate crimes that followed. Although Timothy McVeigh was guilty, in the first few days following the bombing, the suspects were Arab and Muslim Americans. All across the country the response was the same-Muslims were harassed, beaten and verbally and physically assaulted. Mosques received numerous bomb threats, and many Muslims found hateful messages on their answering machines. In everyone’s mind, there was only one guilty party- Muslims.
After the tragedy of Oklahoma City, America hoped and prayed that something like this would never happen again. Unfortunately, it has. Will the response of the American public towards American Muslims and Arabs be the same as well? As much as I would like to hope not, I fear it has and will continue to be.
So far the media have only one suspect, the same one they had in the initial days of the Oklahoma City bombing-the Muslims. And so far, a lot of the response to the Muslims has been the same as well. Once again, Muslims have been verbally assaulted, and mosques have been threatened. Muslim Student Association across the country were on states of alert and warned their members about the possible dangers of being a Muslim in the next few days. All across the country various individual American Muslims as well as American Muslim organizations have been receiving death threats. The majority of Islamic Web sites have been shut down due to the incredible amount of hate mail they have received. My own parents phoned me and told me not to leave my room since they were so scared that someone might do something to harm me.
My parents did not need to phone me, I knew already what the response of America would be. With the journalists on the air repeating the words Muslim and Islam in connection with the tragedy, I knew that many people would look at me and think one thing-“People like you did this to America.” But everyone seems to forget one thing-Muslims are a part of America too.
Islam is not a foreign “other” practiced in lands far away by people you do not know; it is one of the largest religions in America. Over eight million Muslims live in America, and the vast majority of them are people who have spent their entire lives here. They are your next-door neighbors; the people sitting next to you in class; the people in the supermarket. They are the kids you played sports with and the people you are friends with now. American Muslims are a part of America, not apart from America. Yet the image portrayed, time and time again, is of Islam and Muslims being foreign and not American.
Islam is a religion of peace, yet the image portrayed by the media is something very different. When most people think of Islam, they think of terrorists, oppressed women and now possibly, the tragedy of Tuesday. The reality is very different indeed. Islam does not advocate actions such as those seen on Tuesday morning, and Muslims all across America are condemning those who did this. No religion supports such horrific crimes against civilians, especially not Islam.
As a Muslim here in America, I am scared. Scared that another attack might hurt someone I know, scared that the people who did this might do it again, but most of all, I am scared that the rest of America will turn around and hurt people like me. When I walk around campus I wonder if people look at me more than usual. I wonder if someone will say anything mean to me. I wonder if someone will physically attack me.
I should not have to wonder horrible thoughts like that. The religion that I practice, Islam, should not leave me open to abuse and harassment. Yet I check my e-mail, and I see stories of other American Muslim girls in hijab (the covering I wear over my hair) being pelted with stones and being yelled at as they walk the streets.
The next few days will be difficult for America; difficult for the people who have lost loved ones, difficult for the rescue workers who are working to save people and also difficult for American Muslims who are being harassed and implicated as a result of the catastrophe. All across America Muslims, Catholics, Jews, Hindus and Atheists are all huddled around television sets watching the latest news. We can all try to do what we can: Say a prayer, donate blood and show concern. But we must also remember, that all of America, including the Muslims, have been hurt and affected by this catastrophe. No group in America should be singled out for harassment and intimidation because of this. It happened after Oklahoma City, and we can all try to make sure it does not happen again.
Lubna Alam is a junior studying history.
