I don't claim to know all the details, but this article DOES bring up something that I feel needs to be addressed. One has to do with Arab/Muslims/ Islam and the other has to do with the average American.
Growing up in NC, I knew very few people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds. I was surrounded by whites and very few blacks. This was the '60's and social interaction with minorities was limited. There was one Catholic church in a community of 300,000 and the only Jewish person I knew was the eye doctor...Dr. Shapiro...go figure. I only knew one Muslim, Mohammed, an Iranian...poor fella.
I feel most Americans really are isolated from Arabs, Muslims, and Islam in general. I feel most categorize Muslims as only Arab, whereas many practicing Muslims are African-American along with a few white Americans. On the US Airways flight, would the crew had... knowing that it's 2006 and not 1966....felt differently had the gathering of men been black or hispanic? Now I know that many of you will make the arguement of the 3000 souls lost by a team of Arabs, but that does NOT justify paranoia and ignorance. Middle Easterners are not the only people who have a beef with the good ole USA and one day we will see another Timothy McVeigh rise up and cause havoc. I only pray the TM's of this country don't decide to team up with the Islamic fanatics or this country will be paralyzed with fear.
BTW, those of us who have been flying long enough are use to the prayers of Muslims at 35,000 feet. Most are discreet and and most f/a's are respectful of their ritual.
Having said all that, I do believe the Muslim community has a hard time educating most Americans on their religion. Yes, Islam may have some passages that seem over the top, but I can say the same for the Bible. We call those people Radical Conservative Christians and they are no different than the Radical Islamic Muslims. If one really believes in God, I don't think that God would approve of the extremities whether it is radical Muslims using planes to kill 3000 or radical Christians cruxifying a young man on a fence because he is homosexual. Both feel their cause is just. Most of us think their nuts.
I feel Muslims and Arabs need to speak out more to the American people. It is very difficult to educate Americans one on one as the LARGER Muslims communites involving Arabs are generally in larger cities. Arabs DO suffer the same injustices that blacks suffered in the 60/70's (and some stil today) because of stereotypes and fear. It really IS no different.
The difference is that the young men of 9/11 really did a great disservice to ALL Arabs living in America. They assimilated to the American way of life and used that American way of life to harm her. That act ALONE has created a wave of distrust that I feel may last for MANY years, alienating peaceful Arab Americans throughout our country. I can see why many in the Arab American community are fearful to speaking up, as maybe THEY will be looked at with the same distrust.
When I lived in NYC, I knew MANY Arabs. They hailed from many areas of the Middle East. Some had been here a few years and many for decades. God knows I took enough cabs and went to enough delis to get to know a few. I was very loyal to my local deli as most NYorkers can be. Most are very kind and really love America. They are extremely loyal to Islam, but none ever came across as extreme. They all enjoy when there is an interest in their way of life (aren't we all?) and are not opposed to telling you their feeling about the Middle East. OVERWHELMINGLY, most feel American policy is inconsistant with regards to Israel and the rest of the Middle East. While most didn't feel the events of 9/11 were justified, many can understand WHY Osama Bin Laden did what he did. They feel they have no voice as they will be seen as anti American. Most I spoke with felt that BECAUSE of YEARS of metaling in Middle Eastern affairs, a 9/11 was bound to happen. Does this mean we should be suspicious of them? I hope not. And most have a hard time connecting Osama to Saddam. Humm, me too.
If we are going to be suspicious of every person who either opposed the Iraqi war or govt policy, I guess I too will have to be kept from flying or working on an airplane.
We must be smarter when it comes to deciding what a threat may be. If I was on that particular airplane I would be looking for Arabs or frankly ANYONE who had no recent interaction but seem to acknowledge one another with quick glances and those that are over observant of the movements of the aircraft. Most people on an airplane will openly acknowledge someone thaey know personally or someone they recognize from say a convention. It happens all the time. Most don't just nod their head and take a quick glance.
I didn't mean to be so long, but we MUST do better with our attempt to prevent another event like 9/11. We ARE America...a land of immigrates..legal AND illegal. Arabs are here like the rest of us. They deserve the same respect as anyone else that lives here. How can we do this? I'm really not sure how, but I do know that is amazing that PRAYER grew suspicion from a passenger that I would be willing to bet claims to be a Christain. Hummm, if the average Christain would only pray as much. <_<
Perhaps if the passengers and crew were just a wee bit educated, they would know that MSP has a HUGE Arab American community and that there is a big chance a few Muslims just might be on your plane and the flight just might leave at their stated prayer time.
