# Think of your Arab-American friends **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2001, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943 "2001-09-11T22:25:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/21 "2001-09-12T15:09:35Z")
One of the things that ran through my mind as I read this thread was Howie Carr’s “towelhead” column in the Boston Herald following the Oklahoma City Bombing (the Herald only has the [first few paragraphs](http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/main/abstract.html?QDesc=%5bbostonherald%5d+Bomb+begs+the+question:+Do+we+need+immigrants%3f&QCPP=http:%2f%2fpqasb.pqarchiver.com%2fbostonherald%2fmain%2fresults.html%3fst%3dadvanced%26QryTxt%3d%26datetype%3d6%26frommonth%3d04%26fromday%3d01%26fromyear%3d1995%26tomonth%3d05%26today%3d13%26toyear%3d1995%26By%3dcarr%26Title%3d%26Sect%3dALL%26num%3d50&QVPID=bostonherald-single-001&FrameName=doc&Args=site%3dbostonherald%26QDesc%3d%255bbostonherald%255d%2bBomb%2bbegs%2bthe%2bquestion:%2bDo%2bwe%2bneed%2bimmigrants%253f%26QVPID%3dbostonherald-single-001%26ID%3dbostonherald%26FMT%3dABS%26FMTS%3dFT&Qref=0%2E0%2E0%2E1+%2Faccount+24861955&QIID=000000020500865) for free, but some of his radio broadcast from the same day is quoted [here.](http://www.fair.org/extra/9507/ok-talk-radio.html) In [today’s column,](http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/auscarr09122001.htm) he seems to have learned a little from the experience. Just a little. –sublight. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/22 "2001-09-12T17:11:24Z")
Sigh, An Islamic center in Irving Texas was shot up during the night. There are reports that a North Dallas Mosque was shot up as well. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/23 "2001-09-12T17:45:09Z")
I just got the following message, verbatim, at work: > [@](#): > > In light of the tragic events yesterday in New York and Washington yesterday I fully expect there to be a backlash against minorities who are Muslim, dark-skinned or maybe just different. I have already had some informal feedback where colleagues were offended that [an employee] would even say hello to a cleaner wearing Islamic headgear. The writer went on to say that we should make a conscious effort to make minorities feel welcome, and suggested a corporate communique and a council to heighten sensitivity. I almost can’t believe it would be necessary, but I also can’t believe someone who works here would think it right and proper to snub a janitor, for crying out loud. Conversely, I do hope that people don’t walk up to minority employees (especially ones they don’t know) and make jackasses of themselves demonstrating how non-racist and understanding they are. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/24 "2001-09-12T18:09:22Z")
Muslim spokesmen here (Canada) have denounced this action and they share our horror of what has happened. They want these terrorists brought to justice and want them to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. They must not only fear for their own well being but for the well being of family members who still live in the middle East. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/25 "2001-09-12T18:17:00Z")
The guys who run the 7-11 where I get my morning paper are Middle Eastern (Lebanese, I believe), and rather fresh off the boat, so to speak. The poor guy at the counter looked distinctly apprehensive this morning, as if unsure what reception he would receive from his customers. I gave him a sympathetic smile, but I think he fears it’s going to be a long day. I don’t think this has much to do with ethnicity or religion. I think it has to do with being heartless and consciousless zealots. Unfortunately, those come in every color, waving the flag of a lot of different causes. The lines are drawn between the civilized and the un, and that’s not a line based on color. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/26 "2001-09-14T23:10:54Z")
In [Tampa Bay](http://www.sptimes.com/News/091401/TampaBay/Muslims_feel_local_ba.shtml) > [@](#): > > “My mother is afraid to go to the bank, to the store,” said Mohammed Al-Dahoud, a member of the Muslim Student Association at the University of South Florida. “We have the double worry: How did such a thing happen in this country, and then worrying about ourselves.” In [Cincinnati](http://cincinnati.com/terror/loc_muslims_say_they_can.html) > [@](#): > > Mr. Humeidan said his office received numerous phone calls from Muslim-American parents about mistreatment of their children in schools after Tuesday’s attacks. Incidents included verbal and physical abuse. In [Detroit](http://www.freep.com/news/nw/terror2001/arab14_20010914.htm) > [@](#): > > Closer to home, an Islamic school in Dearborn has been shut down because of daily bomb threats. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/27 "2001-09-14T23:19:28Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* \*\* In [Detroit](http://www.freep.com/news/nw/terror2001/arab14_20010914.htm) > [@](#): > > Closer to home, an Islamic school in Dearborn has been shut down because of daily bomb threats. > \*\* [rant] Why is it coming to shutdowns? Goddammit, Eisenhower sent out the National Guard to Little Rock, Arkansas to make sure schools were integrated. This Islamic school should have National Guard soldiers with loaded rifles in their hands surrounding the school to shoot any bastard who tries to bomb the children. I hate this roll-over-and-die attitude to bigotry. We’re not going to take the terrorism against the Trade Center lying down; why the hell are we taking this terrorism in Dearborn lying down? Terrorism is what it is; bombs aimed deliberately at children. [/rant] ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943/28 "2001-09-17T13:18:31Z")
And now one killing of an Indian immigrant. In [Mesa, Arizona](http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/16/shooting.htm) > [@](#): > > A man was charged Sunday with murder and other charges after he allegedly fired at two gas stations and a home, killing an Indian immigrant inside one gas station. No one was injured at the second station, where a clerk of Lebanese descent was working, or the home, where a family of Afghan descent lived. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-your-arab-american-friends/80943.md?page=1)