Monday, 11-12-2001

I had to reflect on a conversation I had with my grandson yesterday. He is a young bright man in his early twenties. I raised him till the age of 17 (seventeen) with my wife, whose soul went to its creator four years ago. My grandson's name is Mohamad. He is a handsome boy, I guess he resembled me when I was in my younger years! He asked me, "Grandpa, would you tell about America in the 21st century?" I reflected on my past, exerting efforts to recall the days I had in America before moving permanently to Mexico. It is wise to remind you that myself and my grandson are proud US citizens. We are a third-generation Arab-Americans whose freedoms were denied in the early part of the twenty-first century because of our ethnic background!

My grandson observed my movements as I painfully tried to recall the days; his demands for my revelation, a reflection from history meant a lot to him. What do I tell him about America? America the country that I loved so much.

To inform him correctly, I had to tell him about the background of his homeland. We sat together, he placed his light head on a pillow next to me and listened tentatively to what I had to say.

My Dear Grandson Mohamad:

America was a country were freedom of human beings was practiced to the fullest of the human potential. Men and women were treated equally regardless of their background, national origin or religion. Your ancestors the Arab-Americans enjoyed that freedom, they participated in building America to the generations of Americans regardless of who they are. All Americans though ethnically different, they were brothers and sisters; they proudly called themselves Americans and they had the right to be so.

Americans my dear grandson, your father amongst them, helped to create new civilization. Actually, they have even placed a man on the moon and built with others a giant space station. Their intention was to help maintain the enlightened civilization that they helped establish - till that dark day of September 11, 2001. At this second my grandson lifts his head gently from his comfortable pillow and looks me in the eyes and ask me, "What happened on Sept 11, grandpa?"

Well, Mohamad, on September 11, 2001, misguided souls attacked American civilians and destroyed America's World Trade Center, a two tower buildings in the city of New York, and also attacked the Defense Department at the Pentagon in Washington. American Investigators at the time revealed that the perpetrators were foreign born Arabs, unfortunately, their faith was Islam.

Muslims worldwide and at home stood against that evil acts and requested the apprehension of the criminals who committed such an act. Especially, that amongst the victims were 850 Muslims that worked in the World Trade Center.

Your government my dear acted properly and did its best to protect Arab and Muslim Americans against backlash, stereotype and profiling. However, some of your fellow Americans and especially the media, were mean spirited, wicked, hateful, they would have eaten our hearts if they could have been given the chance. Your brethren in the Arab-American community and Arabs and Muslims worldwide were called terrorists, abused, their human rights were taken away. The ignorance of the US public of your religion (Islam) and your people, the great Arab people have caused this stereotype to continue. Any talk show host who wants to increase the rating of his/her show would attack Muslims and Arabs and describe them with the worst names ever given to a peace-loving human being, a terrorist.

Yes, my dear Mohamad, in the first part of the 21st century there was an effort to label Arab and Muslims as terrorists, the long running propaganda succeeded for few months after the 11th till the true spirit of Americans stood up against all hatred and embraced their Arab and Muslim Americans in uniting the country again; preserving the quality of life; the freedom, the right for free expressions; the right for free, speedy and just trial; the abolishment of secret evidence; the denial of excessive long-term prison sentences; the end to the profiling of Arab-Americans at Airports; and to the stop of attacks on houses of worship (mosques) nationwide.

When this movement started, Americans witnessed hope that the tragedy of the 11th didn't destroy the fabric of the American freedom and quality of life. Unfortunately, all hopes went dim when Muslim and Arab Americans were chastised and tracked, their houses searched, their sons put in prisons for no reason except that they believed in God, and their surnames were Muslims. America lost its spark, its charm, and Arab and Muslim Americans lost their freedom.

My Dear Grandson,

I truly hoped the administration then took a better stand to protect its citizens, especially those from Arab and Muslims backgrounds; but it seemed the hatred and the illegal bending of the constitution have put a segment of the American society in jeopardy. I truly wished the administration heard our voices, felt our pain and respected our rights. To whom do we turn, if the legislators that are supposed to represent us before our government are the ones who are legalizing the jeopardy of our freedom, which was protected by the constitution. I hated it when they break the law and amended its principles; I wish they treated all Americans the same, and did not discriminate against Arab and Muslims Americans.

I think the media these days learned from its past mistakes, now, they are reporting balanced and objective news. The media in the early days of the 21st century was ruthless, they have subjected the Arab and Muslims populations to great fear and humiliation. I thought to myself what guilt did the Arab and Muslims communities in the US commit to be portrayed in such a negative way? To my perceived knowledge, it confirmed my realization that Arab-Americans are proud people of great civilization, our Arab and American ancestors helped shape world history for hundred of years. Our blood line is generous, we make great contributions in America, we are proud people past and present, but what is the ...

I am suddenly shaken and awaken, "Come on grandpa wake up, wake up. Let's go and pick up my sister from my aunt's house in Los Angeles."

Oh, I was sleep talking.

Habibi

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