Dealing with Racism
by
Natalie Amaral
copyright 09-17-2001
Age Rating: 10 to 17
I thought I would take a brief break from writing The Chosen to make time to write this article. I feel that it has even greater importance than a mere fictional story.
First of all, I would like to express my sympathies to all the families who had lost their lost ones on the event on Tuesday's tragedy. I can only hope that justice will prevail without further bloodshed. I'm not saying that the suspects don't deserve what's coming to them, but I don't think there should be any more innocent lives lost, either.
What I am most disturbed with, however, is the racism against Muslims since this terrible even have taken place. I have read that a Muslim woman was told to leave a Wal-Mart store with her child just because of her nationality, and a girl is afraid to reveal her Muslim belief.
We all have a right to be outraged with the guilty party of who caused the explosion. But why should we take out our rage on the innocents? Why should they suffer merely because they share the same belief or nationality? They have become victims of racism because of something a madman has done, yet they didn't physically do. That is the poorest excuse of bigotry I have ever heard. In fact, of the 19 terrorists who were believed to be responsible for the bombing, 5 of them are believed to be Americans. That says it right there that it wasn't just one type of nationality that was involved in this horrific event.
I was so dumbstruck by reading about this kind of prejudice that I had to write this article. In fact, it had brought back terrible memories of being the fat, stupid, ugly Portuguese girl that everyone picked on. Their only excuse was that I had a learning disability. To those of you that are just using the news as an excuse to harrass the innocent, take a good look at yourself: your actions only prove that you're no better than the next person.
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273 people have already read this excellent commentary by you about the effects of racism. Had you not written this, then we may not have considered our thoughts in the way you have encouraged us.
Many years ago, I had a Haitian lodger ~ he was probably the first black man that people in that small town community had ever seen. My neighbour next door stopped talking to me (a mixed blessing!) and would prefer to miss a bus rather than be on the same one with me. She also walked on the other side of the road, if she saw me in time and once was nearly run over in her dash to get away from me, as if I were 'polluted'. I have no idea how she behaved when she met him. Her bigotry must have been based on sheer prejudice as she never gave herself the opportuity to find out what he was like. He was a student and educated to a very high standard.
Bigotry is a dangerous thing ~ but letting terrorists win is an even greater danger. Thanks you for writing this, which I only found by courtesy of the Random Button! DAWN in UK
Natalie, this is very well written. I firmly agree with you. Right after 9/11, we had to worry about the owners of the gas station up the street from us. Whether or not, some one filled with racism would use this as an excuse to blow up the gas station.
Natalie,
Amen. It is sometimes difficult not to see the individual inone who is similar to one which has hurt us. I, and isusopect most of us, have felt that at times. However we need to be adult enough, strong enough and we need to pray that God will help us overcome these feelings. Most of all, we must stop... think... and act only when be become rational humans again.
Natalie, very well written and you echo my thoughts completely. Today driving home, I was listening to CBC radio. In the city beside my village, is a large Siek community with a huge temple. Their spokesperson stated his brother'n'law moved to Canada 25 years ago and fully adopted Canada as his new home. For the very first time in those 25 years, he is afraid. While walking down the street he was verbally and physically attacked. For being a Siek member (sorry if the spelling is incorrect).
As it has been stated "it is as if the terrorists have won."
The children's coordinator of the program I work in is of Muslim faith. A very beautiful human being, very smart and strong. Her daughter is Canadian, born in northwest BC. Is she and her daughter to be condemmend for the actions of a terrorist? NO! Absolutely not.
Let's not allow terrorism blind us to the fact, we are all humans deep inside, bound together with heart strings. Let's not fall down to the same level those of coward souls live and become another agent in their war of hate.
I was horrified when a woman who teaches at (or runs?) a Muslim school in NY said they'd received calls threatening to "paint the streets with the blood of your children". Her words couldn't have stated it better: "If that is the case, then the terrorists have won."
I can only hope and pray that for every one person with such a sick mind, there are a million++ others who will fight to prevent those sick minds from acting out their fantasies and misguided, narrow-minded anger.
Welcome !
