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Why Do they
Hate |
A glimpse of the horror that took place Tuesday
morning. A day of fear, loss, grief and anger.
A tragedy for our entire community Muslim and non-Muslim.
We found ourselves trying to understand, to reason, to come
to grips with sights and sounds coming in over the airwaves. But how could a
disaster so immense, so unexpected, so grave - be understood ?!
Who could have committed such evil? What kind of soul could
perpetrate such hatred?
As news came out it was clear. The blame would be placed
squarely at the feat of
Calls for restraint and care were drowned out by the lust, though
understandable, for revenge. The bearded, sweaty terrorists of every Americans
worst nightmare were brought to the fore. It was simple, the enemy was one, the enemy was us (Muslims).
But whoever the perpetrator, whoever is ultimately
responsible, we must ask ourselves, "Where in the human soul lay the
source of such hatred?" "What could produce such utter desperation
and disregard for life?" Without doubt. Tuesday's
events didn't appear out of a vacuum. We can never justify or rationalize such
a tragedy, but we must attempt to understand WHY !
Yesterday, I discussed this with a teacher. She also though that obscuring the lessons of this tragedy with
labels and oversimplifications would only increase the loss.
The reality is that Tuesday's tragedy, a reprehensible crime
against humanity, is an expressions of years of pent
up frustration, despair, anger and resentment against the
To call the attackers 'crazy', 'senseless', or 'mindless' is
to miss the point. The attackers must have been anything but. To lost sight of
the context out of which such hatred could flow is to only set the stage for
greater tragedies.
If we allow ourselves the easy option of dehumanizing the
attackers in our minds, as they must have dehumanized their victims before they
ended their lives, then we aid and escalate the cycle of reciprocal violence
and lead humanity to darkness beyond imagination.
Were the attackers really so much different than the average
American? Retired General Norman Schwartzkopf seemed
to think so.
In a recent televised interview he said, "In Iraq we
went to great length to avoid civilian casualties .. but these bastards went after civilians. That's the
difference between us and them."
But is this the truth, or is this what we'd like be believe
about ourselves? In a mid-nineteen nineties interview, CBS Reporter Lesley
Stahl questioned the then US Ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright, on the
post-war sanctions against
Albright's reply, "I think this is very hard choice, but
the price - we think the price is worth it."
Stahl won both an Emmy and a Dupont-Columbia
journalism award for this report, but Albright's comment went virtually unremarked in the
Price? Price? A heavy and grave price indeed that lives of five hundred thousands
innocent children each with dreams and hopes of their own. Aspirations for their young lives. Laughing and loving sweet
things and comfort. Loving play and being naughty just like American children.
How could we (as Americans) allow ourselves to be silent
while they died? Did we turn our eyes from their humanity and worth? Did we not
indeed commit an unimaginable atrocity? Are we really any different than the
perpetrator of tueasdays attack ?
They cried to their mothers for food and comfort. Mothers who could do nothing but tell them who had done this to
them. Telling them who had been responsible for the
pains in their stomachs.
What would you do if this was how your little one had died? What
would you be capable of?
But
But let there be no question in the minds of our neighbors, coworkers
and friends - The Muslim community stands with you in condemnation of this
offense against you. As we stand with the children of
Many of us know all too well the taste of lives lost. Ones whom we loved. Ones for whom we cried tears. Ones whose
joy and laughter we miss so dearly.
Robert Fisk, a well known reporter in the Independent wrote a
report towards understanding this tragedy. He said :
" ... And yes, Osama bin Ladin
comes to mind, his money, his theology, his frightening dedication to destroy
American power. I have sat in front of bin Laden as he described how his men
helped to destroy the Russian army in
... And there will be, inevitably, and quite immorally, an
attempt to obscure the historical wrongs and the injustices that lie behind
yesterday's firestorms. We will be told about "mindless terrorism", the
"mindless" bit being essential if we are not to realize how hated
Ask an Arab how he responds to 20,000 or 30,000 innocent
deaths and he or she will respond as decent people should, that it is an
unspeakable crime. But they will ask why we did not use such words about the
sanction that have destroyed the lives perhaps half a million children in
Eight years ago, I helped to make a television series that
tried to explain why so many Muslims had come to hate the West. Last night, I
remembered some of those Muslims in that film, their families burnt by American-made
bombs and weapons. They talked about how no one would help them but God. Theology versus technology, the suicide bomber against the nuclear
power. Now we have learnt what this means"
So what are the lessons to be learned from this great
disaster?
We must work towards greater mutual understanding. We must
listen to each other. We must humanize one another, and this cannot be done at
a distance. We cannot afford let bombs teach this moment.
Are we not all God's creatures? Do we not all have stomachs, feel
cold, feel pain, and need comfort?
Do we not all deserve to be secure from harm and
dispossession?
It is imperative that the Muslims join together as one, for
it is through this joining that the Almighty and Wise shall make us strong. It's
them imperative that we set our course unto spreading understanding and Mercy. And neutralizing enmity, hate and ignorance.
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A Message From An American Soldier’s
Mother
We, the peoples of the world, have got the same goal. We’re
all longing to see the sun of peace shining bright and sending its light and
warmth to grant us life, safety and happiness. Since we’ve all got the same aim,
we have to unite… Unity is strength.
I’ve written this poem, an Arab-American work, with the help
of Jeri L. Reed, mother of Cody – an American soldier in
A Message From
An American Soldier’s Mother
Oh Iraqi people! May God be with you!
An American soldier’s mother, but I’m a human too…
Against injustice, against blood, against fight!
Waiting for the sun of peace to send its light.
When they mentioned war, I was filled with fear…
And I thought; “How could they do this with my dear?!
How could they force him to participate
In creating for
At first, I thought that the Congressmen
Would prevent Bush from committing this sin.
However, no one muted the war song,
Though everyone believed that this is wrong!
Iraqi people have suffered enough
Under dictatorship their life was rough
And now, they are living in more pain
Trying to stop the invasion train
Whom are you killing? The old people and
the kids?!
What are you destroying? The hospital beds?!
What did the people do to deserve that?
The whole world is against the combat!
My son and his fellows don’t understand
Why they are occupying a guiltless land
They wish they could come back…
They never wanted to launch this attack.
Bring back my son!
Bring him home soon…
Bring back my sun…
Bring back my moon…
Yes, I’m afraid of the death train
But shame and guilt are my main concern
These feelings have ruined my son’s life
These feelings hurt like a striking knife.
An American woman … AGAINST WAR!
Peace is my aim that I’ll always struggle for!
An American soldier’s mother, but I’m human too…
Oh Iraqi people! May God be with you!
Thoughts, by: Jeri L. Reed,
Poetry by:
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