Think before you act and speak.
The events of 11 September in New York have made some people act foolish — ignorant — pathetic. Hate crimes against Arabic-ancestry people in both the US and Canada has peaked sharply. This is how folks respond to terrorism? By turning on their neighbours and attacking like mad dogs? They’re wrapping themselves in the flag, posturing sanctimoniously, and making me outright ashamed to be breathing the same air. I am not and have never been Polly Patriot, but I am proud to be an American (and a nascent Canadian/dual citizen.) But when people throw molotov cocktails at car dealerships, firebomb houses of worship, try and run semis off the road, jeer and belittle people who look like the enemy (chosen by the chief propagandists, remember, there still hasn’t been any hard evidence, only circumstantial)...I begin to wonder if there isn’t some planet somewhere that won’t accept immigration on the basis of sheer disgust.
But the idiocy isn’t everywhere. Lots of people are calling for calm, considered, rational action. Individuals all throughout the world are looking to counter anger with tolerance, respect, and love. Lots of web sites are speaking a common message: find and punish the ones who committed or knowingly allowed this act to be committed, but don’t take part in retaliatory wholesale slaughter and bullying.
The ideals of America — that by which, ostensibly, most citizens live — are tolerance and mutual respect. Using the flag and patriotism to justify hate crimes is as repugnant as radicals using the Quran to justify what happened to the thousands of people killed on 11 September on the east coast of the United States. Letting terrorist attacks destroy your ideals not only takes us further away from that which we aspire to, but it props up the arguments of people who would kill innocents. You’re living down to expectations.
Often during this crisis I have felt that no matter what I do, I can’t make a difference. All my talking about and urging tolerance and careful deliberation in finding the guilty parties doesn’t matter, because people are too angry to listen. AOL-Time Warner has a virtual monopoly on how America (and most of Canada) is seeing the events unfold (they are the parent company of CNN.) But seeing other messages of hope for tolerance makes me feel less isolated.
Speak up. Your messages of tolerance will be heard. They aren’t unseen. They aren’t ignored.
Maybe we can keep people from rushing headlong into madness and hatred after all.
(Side note: if I’m cute when I’m naive, that last statement must have made me look more syrupy-sweet adorable than any big-eyed doll-faced purple-haired anime cartoon heroine.)
Posted by Laughing Muse • 334 views • Share this link • Newer • Older
Click here to join