| Racism on the Rebound | |
| A look at the role racism is playing in the aftermath of Disaster Tuesday. | |
If somebody you know is still missing in the attack zones, please contact CNN for information on how to post vital information online. There is a list of identified WTC victims available at CNN.com.
Don't decide that all Arabs are the enemy; learn the truth about Arabs, Arab culture and the many faiths practiced by people of Arab and Middle Eastern descent.
When America was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbour it unleashed a series of homeland measures that destroyed the lives of many innocent people. The WWII internment of Japanese-Americans, Italian-Americans and German-Americans is an ugly chapter in American history. It seems that our leaders have learned from this mistake. They are taking an active role in discouraging people from acting out against people who look Arab or Middle Eastern for what happened on September 11, 2001. However, while the leaders have learned from history, there are some citizens who have not.
The anger and frustration among Americans, and among Westernized peoples across the globe, is understandable. But it does not justify violence against individuals who look to be of the same race as the accused hijackers, or who believe in the same general faith. A justifiable anger has set in among Americans, and among American allies, but it is wrong to take out that anger on fellow citizens who simply "fit the profile." Hate and racism were behind the Disaster Tuesday attacks; in answering these terrorist actions with hate and racism we only feed the evil that spawned the horrific events of September 11, 2001. In essence, we are playing into the hands of the people responsible for the terror in New York and Washington. We are helping them by turning against our own and weakening our collective unity; a unity which is essential in the pursuit of justice against the real people responsible for the pain of the nation and her allies.
As is the case behind most racism, the current assaults on Arab and Arab-looking citizens is based in fear and ignorance. Ignorance of what Islam really is, ignorance of the many different religions that are practiced by Arabs, ignorance about what Arab and Middle Eastern people as individuals believe, ignorance about the Taliban government in Afghanistan, and ignorance about the extremist brand of Islam preached by Osama bin Laden and his supporters. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, many Muslims and Arab-looking people have found themselves on their guard. Mosques have been vandalized, Muslim schools have been threatened and closed for safety reasons, individuals have been attacked and some people have even been killed.
WHAT CAN TEENS DO?
- Refuse to give in; stand up against any anti-Arab sentiments you hear or witness.
- Be a true friend. Stick by your Arab or Arab-looking friends, don't be swayed by the racist sentiments of a few frightened people.
- Tell as many people as you can that there is a BIG difference between true Islamic beliefs and those held by extremists like bin Laden. Back this up with facts.
- Report any anti-Arab violence or actions that you witness.
If you have any information about the people who may have been involved in the planning and implementation of this horrific attack, please contact the FBI.
Special FBI Sponsored Report Page
Report information that you may have about the perpetrators of this horrific act of terrorism.
