Terrorists attack America

"I'm Just Mouthing Off"

"Fear leads to Bigotry!"....."So stop scaring us!"

In an article written in the Jennings Daily News on September 19, 200, entitled "Local Resident feeling backlash of terrorism", Anna Bennet explains that local business owner Tariq Khan, of the In and Out mini Mart in Jennings is feeling backlash from the recent terrorists attacks. Mr. Khan is from Pakistan, a Muslim, an a Canadian citizen who's local business has seen a 60% drop in business since the attack on September 11. Khan said his wife and children are scared to come from home. During an interview with the Jennings Daily News, he wore a T-Shirt with the phrase "Proud to be an American" On September 23 in the op/ed page, a reference was made again to his plight and the plight of the Islamic community nationwide, noting examples of hate and bigotry.

Where does this overnight hatred and fear of Arabs and Muslims? Look no further than the newsmedia! Terrorist attacks have been occurring by the same people of the same heritage and nationality for quit some time. There have been bombings and attempted bombings in the U.S. before. This hatred, bigotry and fear wasn't significant before until after the Trade Center and Pentagon disasters. What Changed?

What has changed is the information being supplied to the american mind. The news media has reported that terrorist cells are living throughout the United States. They have been here for years, quietly masterminding terrorist attacks and waiting for the call to "Jihad" or Holy War. They blend in, as many have been here for years. They work, have families and do all the things a typical american family would do.

The news media has scared us by providing us information that would lead us to believe that we cannot identify and thereby trust Arabs and Muslims. They refer to the terrorists as the Muslim Fundamentalists. The news media continue to make this reference to Islam despite the fact that several so called experts they have interviewed has said that it is incorrect. They say murder is not fundamental to the beliefs of Islam. The terrorists are in fact extremists not fundamentalists.

I have encountered a half dozen or so people who were Arab or muslim. They seemed like nice enough people to me. I have ignored their presence without opinion about them for most of my life. Which simply means, I live my life and they live theirs. But lately, I have concerns about their presence. What has been this catalyst of change in me that has brought me to this new level of suspicion? It's simple. Information supplied to me by the media and the way it is reported.

Why are people treating Mr. Khan the way they are? Well the Jennings Daily News didn't help much. Mr. Khan is from Pakistan. He is a Canadian Citizen living in Jennings who owns and operates a business in Jennings. When his business drops 60% he throws on a T-shirt that says "Proud to be an American". Excuse me? He is a Canadian Citizen not American. People immediately see the hypocrisy! they drive by his store and see the "American Flags" flying except they have the "Harley Davidson Emblem" on them. To him...this flag type is close enough! One might thing that...well they were out of flags, so this was the only one he could find, you know everyone is out of flags. This may be so but it illustrates my point. He didn't own an american flag until his business dropped 60%, so he went to buy one and they were all out.
Before the terrorist bombing there was an absence of American patriotism in his store. He had American things to sell but did not have any American things displayed with pride. I've been in there. He with the aid of the local media, has heaped suspicion on himself.

Lets not overlook the valuable point that this "proud american" is a Pakistani with a Canadian citizenship. Is it his hypocrisy that caused him to lose 60% of his business? His actions and the way his story was told in the Jennings Daily News only served to make us more suspicious. I would recommend to Mr. Khan to work on getting his American citizenship. There is nothing greater for American Pride than having an American citizenship.

Remember...in the back of our minds we have already been taught by the media that- The U.S. has been attacked by Terrorists. Terrorists are Islamic Fundamentalists - so violence is fundamental to Islam? Terrorist cells are quietly plotting the next terrorist act among us, waiting for a call for Jihad. The terrorists could be anybody! They have set the stage for fear. They have scared us into desperate activism and when we respond the same news media calls us bigots, and ignorant. They tell us about the number of terrorists arrested for Immigration Violations. We respond naturally by saying that they should be deported, but by doing so we are labeled as bigots.

What do we do now? If the Arabs or Muslims are U.S. citizens they should be left alone and given the respect they deserve. We have persons in this country whether Arab or whatever who's visa's have expired. They are not legally supposed to be here. They should be deported. New visa's of people from certain terrorists states should be suspended.

What makes me think like this? The newsmedia! The same people who would call me a bigot for this opinion.

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