Ignorant Lady comments on Arab Americans

[AlphaGam1019]

I was watching the news last night and they had a different reports about threats and attacks on Arab Americans. I am deeply concerned and upset that any American would be so ignorant enough to place judgements on American citizens who are of Middle Eastern decent that are in mourning and just as concerned as everyone else.

I was enraged when some caucasian woman said on camera: "My family has been here for 7 generations...they [arab americans] should not be here, they should go back to where they came from!" Can I SMACK this lady? PLEASE do NOT tell me that this woman is a product of higher education.
Would it be right for a Native American to tell this woman to go back to HER own country? (Though I suppose it's tough to say, because I'm sure her origin is undoubtably mixed)

We are a country of different races, origin, religion. That is what makes the United States unique. We stand as ONE to fight these persons who have threatened our way of life.

[ZTAngel]

I figured that something like this would happen. People can be so ignorant. On the news, I hear so many different reports of Arab-Americans or Muslims being physically and mentally assaulted. We did this to the Japanese-Americans back during WWII; it is a mistake that the Americans will rarely ever talk about. When you read in your world history books on what went on in the United States during WWII, there is talks of war bonds, people pulling together, and getting out of the depression. There is not even a single mention of imprisoning hundreds of Japanese-Americans. In fact, I had no clue that the Americans had done this until my senior year in HS when my government teacher told us about it. A country that points fingers at Germany for their imprisonment of Jews while America did the same to the Japanese (I'm NOT saying what the Germans did to the Jews is in anyway close to what we did the Japanese...the Germans killed thousands of innocent people...the Americans did not). I'm just so afraid that we are going to same thing Arab-Americans. They will be watched wherever they go. They will be brutally assaulted. Most of these people, just like us, are disgusted by what happened last Tuesday.

[finest_alum]

I am hopeful that we, as Americans, listen to the Arab-American groups who have come out against these cowardly assassins and realize that these are our neighbors and fellow Americans. They were assaulted along with the rest of us. Undoubtedly, there are Arab-Americans that have lost family, friends, and colleagues as a result of this disaster. Most of these people fled their country for a better life here in the US; just like many Europeans did many years ago. These people are citizens, and contribute the diversity and "melting pot" that America has always been.
I am hopeful that we have seen enough violence from outside our country that we can come together as a country - ALL of us, of every descent. That is what America stands for, and we all need to keep it in our hearts and minds.

Each of us has the responsibility to refute those ignorant enough to blame Arab Americans for this. This is the behavior of militant cowards in Afghanistan and from the Taliban; groups which most Muslims do not condone or support. Each of us must continue to support the US, ALL of it.

Hopefully, if you hear ignorance and fear causing people to strike out against Arab Americans, you will defend the fact that these folks were attacked too. Their homes, their families, their lives are in the same danger as each of us is. I know I will.

[DeltAlum]

The woman mentioned above and others like her are embarassing and misguided, but, unfortunately not atypical.

I guess they need our prayers, too -- but for far different reasons.

DeltAlum

[Dejajeva]

I'm not condoning anything that is harmful to ANY American citizen, including Arab Americans....BUT.....there is an awful lot of people who right now are incredibly angry and emotional...and the first thing is ALWAYS to find someone to blame. We've been through a terrible ordeal..and we watch news brodcasts that there are still these people in America and that they were normal-looking, normal sounding, just like us...and people are scared. It's fear, anger, and profound loss that's effecting america. Ignorant....I don't know. Scared, I think that might hit it a little better.

Always,
Jess

[AlphaGam1019]

Sorry, there is no BUTS about it! I'm aware people are deeply scared, upset and they are searching to BLAME someone. There IS someone to blame! It's the people who the media have been talking about for days. It is NOT the fault of innocent Arab-Americans who mourn, pray, and feel the same as all other Americans! There is NO excuse for the hatred she feels towards ALL the people of arab decent- that's stupid and very ignorant. I have never understood people like her.

[Tom Earp]

This country went through this period of shame in WW ll with the japanese Americans and it took a long time for this country to hang their collective heads in shame for what was done to bonofied Ammericans!
I hope we learn from our Historical mistakes and not blame a race or religion for the tradgidy done by a few moronic people who have No care for life.
In the National Cathedral In Wash. DC, there were clergy of all faiths who preached in peace and God!

In times like this, we need to pray fro the well being of all AMERICANS!

[CutiePie2000]

http://www.nationalpost.com/search/s...15/689943.html

"Hijackers lived American dream -
Terrorism suspects had homes, kids and barbecues"

To sum it up, it is horrifying to know that these terrorists lived quietly for years in Western countries while awaiting the call to strike. (known as "sleepers")


Some excerpts that stood out to me:

"Many of the 19 suicide hijackers believed responsible for Tuesday's terrorist attacks had lived in the United States for years, quietly masking their loathing for the country with backyard pizza parties and trips to the local mall.....

and......

The behaviour of some of the alleged hijackers was typical of the so-called "sleepers" in bin Laden's network, who often live quietly for years in Western countries while awaiting the call to strike. It is a facet of bin Laden's network that has frustrated intelligence agencies: How do you distinguish hidden terrorists from ordinary immigrants?


I found the article to be very disturbing and bone chilling....

[AKA2D '91]

How do you distinguish hidden terrorists from ordinary immigrants?

Good quesiton. Can someone please enlighten me/us?

[IowaHawkeye]

Well, i would think the CIA and FBI would have a list of people in anyway connected to terrorists like bin Laden - somehow these people made it into the counrty and i really think we need to take a look at secruity measures like this.

[kdgirlie]

i REALLY Think the situation is sad because no matter what some people are still going to be ignorant about the situation. I would hate for america to re hash the mc cartism type attitude towards the Arabs. Personal I think we will always be at risk because with democracy comes freedom of choice, and we will never be able to completely rid our selves of possible terrorist without destroying some of our freedoms.

[AlphaGam1019]

That lady on the news did not have to say that her family have been here for several generations. What does that have to do with anything? Does that mean that everyone who have been here for less time should go back to their country/are more capable of this crime? Give me a break.

So since they were "living the American dream", and we were violated in our backyard, I guess we should burn down all Arab American Homes and restrict their freedom huh? uh...okay. sure.

Let the government do their job. Take pride that they will find out who was involved. Making your own guilty judgements of people who look remotely Arab is absolutely stupid and ignorant. Become paranoid of everyone who looks middle eastern. But hey, it's your choice, there are many like yourself. Sad, stupid, but ignorant trash will always be out there.

[AKA2D '91]

IF the government would have DONE ITS JOB, do you think that we would have had the maylay that we did on Tuesday? Would there have been enough time to get all of the potential 50,000 people out of the WTC buildings? Would the employees of the Pentagon been warned ahead of time and encouraged not to come to work on Tuesday?

Where is all of this INTELLIGENCE? All the technology? Millions of dollars are allocated for this sake.

Why is it that AFTER everything was done that we know that all of these criminals are in our country? Would they have infiltrated our country the way they have?


Do your job BEFORE anything happens. Don't wait until it has happened to decide that something needs to be done!

My thing is, "we" always want to go after a certain people, while another group is "robbing" us blind, if you will, right under our noses, on our own soil.

WAKE UP!

[CutiePie2000]

These guys have NEVER had a hijacking, and it is not hard to see why. I will take safety over convenience any day....

Source:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/backg...esecurity.html

Israel's national airliner "El Al" is known to have the strictest security measures in the world. All passengers have their background checked twice, luggage is physically checked twice, people are also checked twice. Bomb-sniffing dogs are brought on the plane twice before takeoff. The plane is thoroughly searched twice. Because of this, passengers are required to check in at least three hours before a flight. El Al has highly trained security "profilers" who interrogate passengers before they board and, could detect would-be hijackers from their behaviour and answers to questions.

[CutiePie2000]

Source:
http://www.nationalpost.com/search/s...13/684882.html

This is an informative article as well...

A chilling excerpt:
Considered a hero in the world of radical Islam, bin Laden is a savvy businessman and a skilled strategist, who learned most of his covert skills while working as a CIA operative Afghanistan in the 1980s.

and
Terrorism experts say that bin Laden's security training from the CIA only partly explains why he has been so elusive over the years.