Patriotism: Arab Americans vs. Society
             September 11, 2001, a day that will live in infamy in American's hearts forever, a tragic moment in time where the World Trade Center fell to its' ruins and the Pentagon, a symbol of the American government was partially destroyed. The culprits, about twenty men of Arab descent who were Muslims involved in the terrorist group, Al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. All of our hearts were affected by these tragedies, but one group in particular was hit harder than any group in our society, Arab Americans, alienated by one hostile act. With the uprising of patriotism in the days after the attacks, many Americans distanced themselves from this group of people, always becoming more aware of them and their actions, and in extreme circumstances persecuting them. Immediately after another attack, the attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, another group of people was shun as an outcast of society, 120,000 Japanese Americans, as a result of the upsurge of patriotism. Their punishment was more extreme though, almost four years in an internment camp. Will Americans ever learn from histories many lessons?
             Many Arab Americans are finding themselves victimized by the September 11th attacks. Jad Jallah, a resident of Dearborn, Michigan, where one-fourth of the citizens are of Arabic descent has experienced much hostility, after being called a bastard, he says, "I feel hurt, My family is targeted. My bigger family is losing thousands of people in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. And I am not given the chance to prove that I am American too" (Crowley). This is not just a one time occurrence, all across the United States incidences similar to these are occurring, despite calls from President Bush and other leaders not to target people of Middle Eastern descent. Nahad Awad, director of the Council on American Islamic relations analyzes the attacks as a lesson...