I remember exactly where I was when the news broke. I was talking with friends in my 1st period piano class. Someone came in and whispered something in the teacher's ear. She quickly flipped on the TV and the classroom went silent. The World Center's North Tower was on fire. News slowly trickled in. It was not a bombing, a plane had slammed into the tower. As we watched, stunned, the second plane crashed into the South Tower. Both towers collapsed before our eyes. It was surreal, as though we were watching the latest Schwarzenegger film.
September 11th changed the course of history. It also changed the climate of the United States. The days that followed the attack were difficult and fear-ridden for Muslim-Americans like myself. Stories of beatings and threats poured in to Muslim advocacy groups like CAIR. Many people stopped going to mosques, out of fear.
While the climate has improved since that dark time, Muslims continue to be subjected to persecution and violence due to deep seated hatred and ignorance. We must educate people regarding what Islam is and erase their misconceptions about this peaceful religion. Islam as a terrible reputation among Americans, it is up to Muslim-Americans to improve it through education and service. Serving the under privileged with our time or our resources shows people that Islam encourages charity, not violence. It is a long road ahead of us, but we must persevere. If not for ourselves, then for our children.
September 11th changed the course of history. It also changed the climate of the United States. The days that followed the attack were difficult and fear-ridden for Muslim-Americans like myself. Stories of beatings and threats poured in to Muslim advocacy groups like CAIR. Many people stopped going to mosques, out of fear.
While the climate has improved since that dark time, Muslims continue to be subjected to persecution and violence due to deep seated hatred and ignorance. We must educate people regarding what Islam is and erase their misconceptions about this peaceful religion. Islam as a terrible reputation among Americans, it is up to Muslim-Americans to improve it through education and service. Serving the under privileged with our time or our resources shows people that Islam encourages charity, not violence. It is a long road ahead of us, but we must persevere. If not for ourselves, then for our children.
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