> In any event, the fact that we're going after a
group of terrorists rather than a country
doesn't make the indignities against
Arab-Americans and Islamic people over here
any better.

No, it doesn't. I've started to see local news
stories of Islamic mosques being vandalized
and people facing harassment, and it
saddens me. Is this what Japanese
Americans faced during WW2? These are
Arabic Americans, citizens of this country, who
love it and are just as patriotic as you and me
and just as upset about this as you and me,
and yet they must now live in fear because of
the color of their skin and the religion that they
practice. It's not right.

Yet, there are undoubtedly Arabic people living
in this country who do not like us and and are
glad that this has happened. They have
nothing but criticism for our society, all the
while living here and reaping the benefits of
our economic, politicial, social, and religious
freedoms. I know this is the case.

My sister, until a short time ago, worked for a
day care center. One of the children under her
care was Arabic. This child's father had
nothing but unkind words and harsh criticism,
not only for the way my sister did her job, but
also for our country and our way of life. That
family has since returned to their homeland,
where they were quite possibly among those
celebrating in the streets on Tuesday. How
many more people like that are still living
within our borders? How safe is it to have
them here?

There has to be a balance. We ought not
become xenophobic and racist. We ought not
fear and harass people because of their race
or religion. But we also have to be vigilant. The
terrorists were able to accomplish their
mission because we were not. How do we
prevent things like this from happening again
without tearing down the liberties that we hold
so dear?

I don't know how to answer that question.