The September 11 tragedy has set back the cause of Islam in America for at least fifty years, if not more. The people have become so traumatized with the images of the civilian airliners smashing into the towering buildings that it has left a permanent imprint on the national psyche. The events of the day are unlikely to be forgotten for several generations, perhaps well beyond this century.
This dastardly act occurred just when Muslims were beginning to make inroads into the mainstream of the nation. On the very day of the incident several Muslim leaders had an appointment with President Bush at the White House. The meeting set for 3:00 p.m. never took place. By then all hell had broken loose.
Stung by the world criticism of the US walkout from the World Conference on Racism, and the ongoing Palestinian resistance to occupation, it seems that the Bush administration was getting ready to make some overtures to the Muslim community. Perhaps, it was the Bush “vision” for a Palestinian state that he mentioned at the beginning of October.
Muslims were beginning to develop relationships with people inside the administration. They had several meetings at the While House, including one that gained some notoriety because one of the participants was asked to leave. In fact, Muslim had begun meeting regularly with State Department in a very cordial atmosphere.
As if to underscore the acceptance of Muslims in the mainstream, the US Postal Service issued a postage stamp, inscribed with Eid Mubarak in Arabic on its face, to honor the community. The inauguration of the stamp took place at the annual ISNA convention in Chicago. It was an occasion for celebration, which is what it turned out to be.
This year also saw the appearance of many positive articles on Islam in the mass media. A highly acclaimed television broadcast, Islam: Empire of Faith, was aired on PBS. For the first time a positive image of the religion and its followers was presented to the viewing audience in America. The writers and producers in the media were beginning to say good things about Islam when the tragedy struck.
The perception of Islam and Muslims will no longer be the same as before the WTC incident. At the moment Muslims are the most disliked people in the country. Everyone is familiar with how the community has been targeted. Several mosques have been vandalized, desecrated or even burned. People have been harassed, humiliated and even killed.
Wherever Muslims live as minorities they have been mistreated and mishandled. Mosques have been vandalized in Britain, Canada, Australia, France and Germany even though the atrocity took place on the American soil. It is not difficult to see into these actions the “clash of civilizations” mentality.
Into the foreseeable future Muslims will remain under a cloud of suspicion. Suggestions have been made that Muslims be rounded-up and put in detention camps. This has happened before to other groups. But most likely, immigration from Muslim countries may be severely curtailed. Life for Muslims in the West would be difficult and perhaps in other places as well. Thailand, for example, will no longer admit Muslim students for flight training. China will not sell airline tickets to Middle Eastern people.
The Muslim community in America will be under the gun for a long time. It will be a distrusted minority, a potential fifth column in the eyes of some. Despite President Bush’s plea the talking heads on television and pundits in the press have already cast Muslims into the role of villains. The future looks bleak and uncertain. It is difficult to say whether the profound faith in democracy would save the community.
Muslims were beginning to develop relationships with people inside the administration. They had several meetings at the While House, including one that gained some notoriety because one of the participants was asked to leave. In fact, Muslim had begun meeting regularly with State Department in a very cordial atmosphere.