Arab american post 9/11 - Essay Example

It will be also interesting to learn whether it is really the attacks that spurred the animosity or whether it is something that had its origin prior to the attack. Before the attacks, there existed a cordial relationship between the Arab Americans and were proud to be Americans as some of them were being born and raised in America. They were proud of a beautiful nation they had struggled to build together. However, as fate would have it, a new turn of events caused disbelief and mayhem with the entire world and America itself treating them with a lot of suspicion.

It cannot be entirely ruled out that prior to the episode that saw people lose their lives and the lives of their loved ones there was no animosity. Arabs have always been treated with a lot of suspicion and discrimination. This is attributed to the racial factor and the fact that most people associate them with rampant terrorism. Therefore in the US for instance after the 9/11 attack, any Arab, whether one was not speaking Arab or a Christian by religion, was being viewed as a terrorist. Another factor could be their culture.

Due to the difference in culture, Arabs were always looked down upon in learning institutions and places of work. The Native Americans viewed their culture as barbaric going by their dressing style to the way they conducted themselves. One thing that confirmed to the whole Arab community that indeed they were being viewed as lesser beings was the Twin Tower attack that left the whole building in debris. Majority of working class and the school going students had rough time to endure all forms of harassment.

This left them confused about whether they were really citizens of America. But one can say that the 9/11 attacks did not really change the attitude and views of people towards the Arab Americans but it just facilitated to reinforce the already existing positive and negative attitude that had existed for decades before the attack. We could say that the 9/11 attacks gave the racists a platform to somehow legitimize their views and continue to discriminate the Arab Americans. The 9/11 attacks altered nearly every aspect of the Arab American life.

However, aside from the shock that the attacks left on everyone, the Arab Americans found themselves with the double tragedy of both mourning their loved ones and facing the blame, and the discrimination taken towards them due to the attacks, and having to defend themselves and their country, America. As mentioned earlier there are so many reasons why the Arab Americans are mistreated or even discriminated in the world. However, with specific reference to the United States, this vice reached its peak with the disastrous attacks which were experienced in the United States New York city and Washington.

The almost simultaneous attacks were carried out by Muslim suspected terrorists groups commonly known as Al-Qaida who were purported to have hijacked four passenger planes, flying them directly inside the Towers. Arab Americans still continue to suffer psychologically as hate crimes and hostility are being commonly experienced in places of work and learning institutions. They can thus be regarded as secondary victims of the 9/11 attacks as they continue living