The United States has been on poor terms with countries in the Middle East for some time; consequently, many Americans harbor a low-level dislike for Arabs and Muslims. But the recent attack on our country has brought that dislike to the surface; now, we run the risk of that dislike turning to blind hatred.
Did you see? "Kill All Arabics" written in the dust on a New York street.
There is a precedence for hatred of race, and it inevitably shames us. During World War II, Hitler painted Jews as being the source of all Germany's problems; the country's blind hatred of the Jewish populace led to the slaughter of countless Jews. Throughout the 1900's, many American people persecuted Blacks, believing them to be sub-human. Is it true? Most of us believe that this is now only the policy of White Supremacist groups, such as the Klu Klux Klan. So, do we now start hating all Arabs and Muslims? Even if they are Americans? Our own people?
The United States is often called the world's melting pot. People of every race and nationality have come to make their homes here. My grandparents were European immigrants. Perhaps your ancestors were immigrants as well. If the IRA stages an attack on our country, do we turn against all Irish? If the Japanese Red Army bombs our cities, do we condemn all Japanese? If madmen bomb Oklahoma, would we cry for the death of all Americans? Why is it that some now call for the death of all Middle Easterners?
The recent attack on our country by a handful of millitants is their attempt to push us into irrational behaviour. They are waving a red flag at us, hoping we'll rush, like bulls. Do we take this bait and condemn all Middle Eastern Americans? We risk lashing out at people who would be our friends and are our allies. The heart of our country has never been attacked before, and it has thrown us into a frenzy. Our true enemies want to toss us into confusion; to set us against our own people.
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The United States has been on poor terms with countries in the Middle East for some time; consequently, many Americans harbor a low-level dislike for Arabs and Muslims. But the recent attack on our country has brought that dislike to the surface; now, we run the risk of that dislike turning to blind hatred.
Did you see? "Kill All Arabics" written in the dust on a New York street.
There is a precedence for hatred of race, and it inevitably shames us. During World War II, Hitler painted Jews as being the source of all Germany's problems; the country's blind hatred of the Jewish populace led to the slaughter of countless Jews. Throughout the 1900's, many American people persecuted Blacks, believing them to be sub-human. Is it true? Most of us believe that this is now only the policy of White Supremacist groups, such as the Klu Klux Klan. So, do we now start hating all Arabs and Muslims? Even if they are Americans? Our own people?
The United States is often called the world's melting pot. People of every race and nationality have come to make their homes here. My grandparents were European immigrants. Perhaps your ancestors were immigrants as well. If the IRA stages an attack on our country, do we turn against all Irish? If the Japanese Red Army bombs our cities, do we condemn all Japanese? If madmen bomb Oklahoma, would we cry for the death of all Americans? Why is it that some now call for the death of all Middle Easterners?
The recent attack on our country by a handful of millitants is their attempt to push us into irrational behaviour. They are waving a red flag at us, hoping we'll rush, like bulls. Do we take this bait and condemn all Middle Eastern Americans? We risk lashing out at people who would be our friends and are our allies. The heart of our country has never been attacked before, and it has thrown us into a frenzy. Our true enemies want to toss us into confusion; to set us against our own people.
We will not be pushed into this.
Thomas Sanders te_sanders@yahoo.com