posted on September 15, 2001 03:37:41 AM new
I heard something interesting last night and just had to pass it on-no editorializing, just the facts.
Austin Texas has a large middle Eastern population because of the University and all the technology companies.
We have been looking for a very specific type of house out in the fringes of town. A good friend is a real estate agent and has been watching for one for us. She called last night as she had one she thought might fit the bill.
It was custom built by an man who moved to the US some 20 years ago. But this house is just a few years old. While he was not wealthy, he did have quite a bit of money and spent a lot on this house.
He called her LAST week and told her to put it on the market, and moved immediately back to Iraq, after 20 years here. He is letting the house go at a bargain price because he is in a hurry to sell it.
posted on September 15, 2001 04:52:56 AM new
But you're not posting just facts, are you? Your thread title, framed as a question, is suggesting that perhaps there's something more to this than coincidence. Even without the title, the mere posting of this story suggests pertinence.
posted on September 15, 2001 05:56:30 AM new
I do think it curious that a man who had lived here for so many years suddenly left the week before the bombing.
To be very specific; yes, I think some middle easterners in this country were involved in what happened. We would be very naive not to believe that.
But take note, Donny, before you respond-I said SOME, not all.
posted on September 15, 2001 07:10:16 AM new
Today, there is a lot of concern for the welfare of innocent people living here of Middle Eastern descent. It's wrong to contribute to the escalation of this unfair response by insinuating...as you have in this thread that because the owner of the house chose to move right away that he is a possible terrorist.
It just reinforces the idea that some muslims are possible terrorists.
Many people will put a terrible and unbelievable spin on that very limited possibility.
posted on September 15, 2001 07:22:53 AM new
He moved back to Iraq? Yes, that would set off some alarms with me. Would I condemn him either publicly or in my heart? No. Would I think about reporting this to the FBI? Yes.
posted on September 15, 2001 07:33:53 AM new
Sadie
Well, I think that he made a very wise move,
in view of the prevailing hostility by some people here toward people of his lineage. I'm sure that passports will be checked.
The fact that he moved could be due to a number of other possiblilties.
posted on September 15, 2001 07:39:24 AM new
Helen,
Of course he could have moved for a zillion other reasons. However, because he moved to Iraq a week before the incident, I would think that this might be something the authorities might need to know.
This doesn't mean that I would commit or support violence against any relatives still remaining in this country. It doesn't mean that I want to see internment camps re-established.
It only means that in this one incident, I see a cause for a second look.
posted on September 15, 2001 07:55:55 AM new
This is the plight of a muslim in this country today.
I am now not just afraid, as we all are, for our safety as Americans. I am also afraid for the safety of my sisters-in-law, who wear head scarves in public, and I implore them not to walk alone in the streets of our hometown. I am afraid for my brother, a civil rights lawyer who defends Muslims in high-profile discrimination cases. I am afraid to hear people openly state that Muslim blood is worthless and deserves to be spilled, as I heard when I was in college during the Persian Gulf War. I am afraid that my son won't understand why strangers aren't smiling at him the way they used to. I am afraid that we will be dehumanized because of our skin color, or features, or clothing. My heart aches each time a friend or relative calls, CNN blaring in the background, and sadly reminds me, "It's over for us now. Muslims are done for."
posted on September 15, 2001 09:52:57 AM new
Heres a thought. Maybe the guy moved back because he thinks Iraq is going to be wiped off the face of the earth and he wants to be HOME when it happens, with his family that are still there? If I was living abroad and a super power was threatening to kill off my whole country and all my family were there, you bet I would "go home".
But that scenario wont get as much attention, would it?
posted on September 15, 2001 10:12:44 AM newI am afraid that we will be dehumanized because of our skin color, or features, or clothing. My heart aches each time a friend or relative calls, CNN blaring in the background, and sadly reminds me, "It's over for us now. Muslims are done for."
From what I am seeing. There's a lot of people ~ in this country ~ that are willing to stand up against blind hatered of Muslims.
posted on September 15, 2001 10:41:42 AM new
It's going to be very hard for us to separate what is fair and who to be suspicious of. We will be looking around every corner for terriorists. We're scared because they were living among us as average citizens, and of course there are probably more. People with brown skin are in danger here, but so are we. Such a fine line at the moment. I'm even worried for my DIL because of her skin color.
I heard a suggestion that women who wear traditional head scarves to replace them with some kind of cap (like a baseball cap). I don't know if that is acceptable to them, but it might be safer for them.
posted on September 15, 2001 11:00:11 AM new
[i]"I heard a suggestion that women who wear traditional head scarves to replace them with some kind of cap (like a baseball cap). I don't know if that is acceptable to them, but
it might be safer for them"[/i].
Sure. How about little government issue nametag type things that specify that a person is a good arab? Think it would work? Anyone not wearing their 'good arab' nametag would be suspect, but it would still allow for any traditional garb to be worn.
posted on September 15, 2001 11:21:24 AM new
Having the "enemy", or perceived "enemy" living "amongst us" is no different than anywhere else. Think there is no such thing going on in other countries, and WE arent there living among them to gather information? Think that when we go over there to commence with our war, there wont be any americans infiltrating their normal living situations to "blend in"?
Im sure many of the terrorists are still here, but come ON! Its threads like this one that put paranoia in the forefront. The guy moves, and now its "coincidence"? Looks like yellow journalism to me. Why not go in a crowded threater and yell MUSLIM TERRORISTS HERE! Same results.
Sheesh.
[ edited by hepburn on Sep 15, 2001 11:22 AM ]
posted on September 15, 2001 11:28:23 AM newI heard a suggestion that women who wear traditional head scarves to replace them with some kind of cap (like a baseball cap). I don't know if that is acceptable to them, but it might be safer for them.
I thought this was the land of the free? They should be safe, because they are AMERICANS, regardless of their tradition.
posted on September 15, 2001 11:28:41 AM new
Hep...
Watch Boston...if they're okay here, they should be alright in the rest of the country. Bostonians (not academe ) are amazingly volatile and reactionary.
The more I see this thread, the pissier I get. She "just HAD to pass it on". Uh huh. Why? For what purpose? Im picturing her peeking out her window, looking for turban'd heads/dark skin/bearded faces/you-name-it, and whispering "I BET thats another one! Quick, call the FBI".
posted on September 15, 2001 11:36:01 AM new
Not so sure about that. Hundreds of right thinking americans marched on a mosgue in (I think it was) Wheaton, Illinois shouting for the deaths of all arabs, and in the sleepy little part of the Los Angeles Basin called Whittier, beatings in the street were taking place the other day.
posted on September 15, 2001 11:38:41 AM new
Hepburn - I agree with what you say, but the thing is at the moment we are concerned with what's happening here. Like I said it's a thin line. Let's hope people don't go totally crazy with the paranoia and we can protect the people that need protection, people of all colors, faith, and heritage.
I've been channel surfing so much I can't remember where I heard that head scarf thing. Yes, they should be safe no matter what they wear, but I also understand that they could be targets because of it.
posted on September 15, 2001 11:45:37 AM new
There are idiots in every country. Instead of thinking with cool heads, they want to kill anything and everything that looks, acts, walks, speaks like a middle easterner. Now THAT is shameful.
Did we not cringe for the americans in other countries who were hunted down and killed or tortured by the citizens of other countries when they were bombed or threatened with bombs? If so, why do we do the same thing when the shoe is on the other foot? Like I said, its shameful. And no, Im not a traitor. But I cant see marching in in the heat of the moment and swinging fists haphazardly. Bush said himself, "we will strike back in OUR time frame, at OUR convenience". I agree with that. THINK. Then act.
posted on September 15, 2001 11:47:27 AM new
Is the smoke from my screen permeating your house, Toke? I will try to calm down. Could be the incense Im burning. Then again, could be my temper is fixin to blow too. Must be in one of my "down" modes I spoke of in another thread. Up and down, up and down. Sigh. Better take my blood pressure pills early, eh?
spellin' again.
[ edited by hepburn on Sep 15, 2001 11:48 AM ]
) are amazingly volatile and reactionary.