8 Years Later...

The events that took place on September 11, 2001 have indefinitely altered global history and our view of the world, specifically our perspective on residents of Middle Eastern Countries. This incident will be talked about and taught in textbooks in every generation from here on. On this day, less than ten individuals killed over 3000 people in a matter of a few hours. Devastated Americans all over the United States were filled with so many emotions during the aftermath of 9/11. One of the most prominent emotions felt by Americans was hatred. This hatred was directed towards the accused terrorists and anyone who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent. Numerous hate crimes occurred against innocent Arabs and Muslims living in the United States as well as overseas. Eight years after the occurrences of September 11th Muslim Americans continue to be discriminated against in our country and in the Arab community. This racial profiling was at an all time high in the years following the actions of 9/11 and is still an issue almost a decade later. One of the major issues at hand is the fact that inequality has resurfaced because an entire race is being blamed for the actions of a few men. The theory that all men are created equal was rejected after the events of 9/11 and the issue of morality was highly doubted.
Now that September 11th has occurred the Arab-American is no longer ignored but belittled. Not only are they no longer an “invisible” race they are stereotyped and discriminated against more than ever in the past eight years. They are victimized in many instances; even people mistaken as Arab-American are subjected to prejudice and brutality. This excessive prejudice and discrimination cannot only be blamed on U.S. citizens but the government as well. Since 9/11 the United States government has made numerous new rule changes, fifteen of which are targeted at Arabs. Forty-five days after the tragedy, with out much discussion, the U.S. Patriot Act was passed by Congress. The act is primarily targeted at terrorists and suspected Middle Easterners; one rule states that government officials are permitted to investigate without any probable reason. After this was passed over 8,000 Arab Americans have either been questioned or taken into custody based on their ethnic background. The government and people living in the U.S. have besieged millions of innocent people on the basis of their religion, country of birth or ethnicity in response to the actions of a tiny number.
Just this past New Years 2009, for example, a Muslim family traveling on Air Tran to Orlando was reported to airline officials by a paranoid American and removed from their flight. They were having an innocent conversation about where the safest place to sit on an airplane was when someone overheard them on the flight and had them escorted off. The family was then questioned by FBI and cleared by the police, since they were just American citizens making small talk. Air Tran still did not allow them back onto the flight because people on board felt uncomfortable on a flight with this “apparently dangerous” American family who were of Middle Eastern descent.
As a nation we have walked a fine line between displaying loyalty to the United States and our fellow citizens. We are suffering, angry and frustrated but need to face reality and realize how we are still coping with the tragedy to this day. We need to put an end to the fact that an entire race is being unfairly discriminated against because of an occurrence plotted out by few.

MADDY WEESE