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September 6, 2002
A Year After
September 11 2002 - marking the first anniversary of the horrific attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon - will leave its imprint on the march of time a few days after this piece appears in print. It would see the reenactment of the horrific tragedy with effusive TV commentators echoing the anguish and suffering of the bereaved families.
The tragedy’s monumental dimension can hardly be disputed - Le Monde, whose French-elite readers have a tendency of taking a swipe at American policies, printed a ‘headline for the ages’ on September 12: “We are all Americans” to express sympathy with aggrieved families across the Atlantic. We all felt the same way. Perhaps more, for we are a part of the American nation and are immeasurably impacted by what happens to fellow Americans irrespective of the racial, religious or political divide..
A Los Angeles Times report “Muslims Adapt US Tradition for 9/11 Tribute” sums it up aptly: Beginning at 5 p.m. every day for the last two weeks, Tarifi, 41, along with two other women from the Islamic Center of Southern California, worked until 1 a.m. or later, embroidering cursive letters or stitching together 98 red, white and blue fabric squares. They spent Saturday putting on borders and trim. The women expect to send the finished quilt, with about 3,000 embroidered listed alphabetically to New York next month. It is their way of remembering the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and reminding America that the Muslim community has suffered too. Nearly 20 other volunteers from the Islamic Center have also pitched in.
Tarifi, a Palestinian who was raised in Kuwait, said quilting was not popular in the countries where she formerly lived. But she wanted to learn the American tradition because she now considers this country her home. “To me, a quilt was a very American idea, and it was very fitting to remember the victims,” she said. “We wanted to show not only that we are united in protecting America, but we are united also in pain.”
The names on the quilt - such as Joseph Hasan, Margaret Lewis and Kirsten Santiago - are a reminder that terrorism did not discriminate that day, Tarifi says. “Look at these names,” she said. “You see different backgrounds - Chinese, African, Pakistani, Indian. You look at them and you are reminded of what America represents.” Nearly 200 people whose names are on the quilt had Arabic names.
The LA Times also quotes Omar Ricci, chairman of the Muslim Public Affairs Council who assisted the women, as saying: “Since people of my faith [attacked America] and claimed it was a religious duty, it is my community’s job to go the extra mile and prove that it is not a part of our faith. We have a special obligation , both as Americans and as Muslims.”
And this leads one to a soul-searching exercise and and a reiteration of observations made in these columns before..
While the attack on the Twin Towers was a ghastly act which needs to be censured unreservedly by one and all, the unfolding events in the post-September 11 era make it manifestly clear that Muslims all over the world have suffered more gravely than those who perished in the collapse of the towers. The number of casualties in the war against terrorism on the Afghan front alone exceeds the number of those who died on September 11 in New York and Washington. Emboldened by, and intent on. misinterpreting the US response both India and Israel have acted adventurously to crush the popular uprising in Kashmir and Palestine.
How could this paradox be explained? Simple. No individual, no group, no community, no nation, can hope to survive in today’s highly competitive and science-oriented world if it fails to pay due heed to education and science. The two catalysts of social development have been sadly ignored by the Muslims. True, the Arab world is rich but only in terms of resources - oil wealth. It is poor so far as educational pursuits and scientific advances are concerned. While the number of universities and colleges is inappreciable, research and development (R&D) undertakings - prime movers of change and prosperity - are almost non-existent, and in some countries, totally unheard of! It is in this vital sector that the chasm between the West and the Muslim world presents many disquieting features - the West sitting on the gleaming wings of science rejoices on its grandiose successes while the Muslim world provides a multiplying myriad of eyesores as its fledgling science remains precariously perched.
The performance of the Muslim media is also to be taken into account as one reviews the post-September 11fallout. Slavish and cringing in outlook, it can neither mirror national feelings or failings nor counter adversarial comments. No wonder, the image of the Muslim world and the faith it professes suffers.
Blissfully, the Muslim America scene seems to provide a glimmer of hope. Most Muslims in the United States have made their mark in various fields. They belong to important professional groups and have studied at prestigious Ivy universities. They have the insight and erudition to bring about the much needed change in their respective countries. A forward surge. Sustained academic strivings. Whole-hog commitment to foster education and science. Research and Development breakthroughs. An articulate and vocal media. And a genuine urge to be a part of mainstream America to share its strivings and national stirrings.
Muslim Americans can also serve as a bridge of understanding between Muslims, Jews and Christians and help in mending fences and removing many misperceptions that mar inter-faith dialogue. Each one could be a public relations individual in his own right dispelling misgivings about the United States in the Muslim world and removing misperceptions about Islam in the US. They have the dash and the erudition to furnish proof that Islam and the West have a common cause and the two are by no means on a collision course.
The Muslim media too needs a fresh infusion of professional excellence, skills, talent and, most importantly, resources and whole-hog commitment.
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