9/11 is always a day of remembrance here in the U.S.
Many of us will remember where we were on that terrible day, how we felt. I recall every moment of it, and the days that followed. I remember suddenly bursting into tears at random times, fearful for my country's safely, sad for the many families impacted by tragedy, grateful for my own safety (I had landed that morning at Logan Airport, from which some of the hijackers took off).
What I didn't anticipate at the moment, but I'm guessing one group of Americans instantly did, was the anti-Muslim sentiments that would grow (or at least reveal themselves) as a result. I remember being shocked by deeply prejudiced statements from senior people blanketing an entire religion and its followers as somehow inherently violent, and we still hear those comments occasionally from leaders today. As if every major religion on earth hasn't been twisted a thousand times to justify brutal violence against others, and subsequent retaliation, and more violence. Let he whose religion is without sin cast the first stone. Just as it's not my fault that European Christians ransacked the Middle East for centuries, it's not my Muslim neighbor's fault that some sociopath who happens to call God by the same name committed an act of violence here. In fact, my neighbor was probably hurting more than most on that day. I know, it seems so obvious. Right? Apparently for many it is not.
In our national reckoning with racism and the many other forms of prejudice, I don't hear much talk about the experiences of Muslim Americans in this country, at least not as much as I think the topic probably deserves. Perhaps we have an opportunity to listen and learn. And turn our remembrance of 9/11 into something productive.
Wishing everyone peace and thoughtful reflection on this day.
Ingrid
No comments:
Post a Comment