Firstly, let me say RIP to all the lives lost on 9/11. Nobody can ever, or should try to justify anything, as a loss of life is a loss of life. However there is something that I’m going to say, and try to read it without thinking I’m negating anybody’s losses. I have a feeling this is going to be met with negativity.
It’s that time of year again. When a Muslim in New York dare not step foot out of their house for fear of being verbally or physically attacked. Ever since 9/11, something that Muslims weren’t even responsible for, we have all been made to suffer the consequences. To always be randomly selected, to be called terrorists, to be discriminated against at airports, the workplace, school. Anywhere at all. All of us suffer the consequences, and the western world have and will never let us forget, nor will they ever. Generations of Muslims after ours will continue to bear the brunt of something they did not do, face racism and hatred just for practising their faith, or for looking like they practice our faith. Nevertheless, let us remember that people want to believe that a few Muslims caused the destruction of the twin towers. They don’t believe that the entire Muslim population did this, but that a few Muslims were responsible for this one event – this, however, must surely mean that every single Muslim is a terrorist. Right?
But white people don’t want to take responsibility for their WHOLE RACE enslaving black people. This incident lasted more than a day, and what has come out of it? Generations of white people aren’t being treated badly because of this. No. All that came out of that is a black history month and the ability to appropriate black culture. As someone who is part of a group of people forced to take responsibility for something they were not a part of, and also as somebody who has a brain, I understand that generalising is wrong, and in no way do I think every white person must now be held responsible for slavery and for white powers invading and colonising pretty much the entire world. Nor must they be forced to face the consequences of their ancestors enforcing slavery and invading/colonising the entire world, which, fortunately for them, they don’t. I understand that it is deeply saddening for those who have lost family members in the attack. But most of the people chanting “never forget”, are suffering NO consequences whatsoever – I mean you’re talking about a country that was founded on genocide. It is innocent Muslims who have had to suffer the consequences of 9/11. From their parents forbidding them from wearing the compulsory hijab in case they get attacked, to struggling to make friends as a clueless 6 year old because parents of the other kids in their class didn’t want them hanging out with “our type”, to Muslim countries being bombed. 9/11 only changed American lives in that they now believe they need to fear Muslims.
So I have a question. Why is every single Muslim assumed a terrorist, but every single white person isn’t assumed to be part of the KKK? Why are we forgetting about the KKK? Why aren’t we shouting louder about racist American police? Why are we forgetting about Chapel Hill? Why are we treating slavery like it was one small mistake that should be forgiven already, left in the past? Why are we forgetting that Native Americans were killed, that black people were kept as slaves, in order to make the USA what it is today? Why are we forgetting that the USA has been and is still either bombing other countries and killing innocent Muslim civilians or is supporting a country who does?
I need answers.
– k.