link: http://my.hsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/articleid/376392/newspaperid/80/Prejudice_continues_to_linger...

Prejudice continues to linger in wake of 9-11

Editorial Editor Alisha Cayce - Wednesday, October 06, 2010 By Alisha Cayce

The tragic screams of wounded Americans, the turmoil of falling debris from the World Trade Center, and the unbearable truth of deceased loved ones distorted our nation on Sept. 11, 2001.

Now, nearly a decade later, America is still hurting.

The root of all this pain came from terrorists who took the lives of 2,800 people.

As the ninth anniversary of September 11 comes to pass, Muslims and Middle Eastern Americans continue to be wrongfully targeted and suspected of being terrorists, not only on the streets, but in airports as well. There are still people nearly 10 years later who have fears and prejudices towards this group of people because of this tragedy.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, America just hasn’t been the same. It’s like there is a discrimination micro chip programmed in the back of some people’s heads, that goes off whenever they see anyone affiliated with the Muslim religion or appearing to be from the Middle East, instantly associating them with terrorism.

Although it is understandable that some people would be suspicious because of the number of attacks that terrorists from the Middle East or of Islamic descent have committed against Americans, it doesn’t make it right to put the blame on an entire ethnicity or religion because of it.

In a recent display of disdain for Muslims, a Koran was vandalized and burned in East Lansing, Michigan, then left at The Islamic Center in East Lansing, causing an uproar. This act of violence is protected as a constitutional right to freedom of speech. Regardless, others like me find it repugnant.

To belittle and destruct someone’s faith and religion in such a hateful way is flat out wrong. There is no moral justification for this grave indecency.

Jordanian native Huda Azar of Southfield recounts her freshman year. She remembers being teased and called a "terrorist" countless times by her peers. Azar says she laughed the insults off to hide her true feelings of anger and resentment.

The residual discrimination toward the Muslim religion brings to mind the famous quote by Los Angeles police victim Rodney King, who said, "People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?"

Unfortunately, it appears that there is always going to be someone objecting to another’s views or beliefs. We just have to find a non-violent way of respectfully being in each other’s presence.