September 11th Memorial Service
A year ago, I was in the Parker micro lab when I saw a few friends signing on to a computer and looking up local newspaper websites. Looking up newspaper on an ordinary day was strange to me. I asked my friends what is the deal and to my surprise it was not an ordinary day anymore. Two planes had crashed into twin towers in NY and a third one crashed into the Pentagon building. As the events unfolded and I realized that more and more people were dying, I feared that it might have been done by people who claimed to be Muslims acting in the name of Allah.A year passed by and I, together with Julio Thomson, President of International student Association, was asked to light the unity candle on September 11, 2002 as NSU commemorated the 9/11 tragedy. Initially, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to be up there and light a candle. After some consultation, I decided to represent IMAN and attend the ceremony, which was to take place at 8:30 a.m. at the Library Atrium. The day started with IMAN members Sumrana Qadeer, Mohsin Siddiqui, Omar Fletcher, Tasleema Satter, Mohammed Zaman, and Fahd Sattar standing outside of the Library, handing out the ribbons that were obtained by Student Affairs. Later that morning, NSU President Ray Ferrero, Jr. hosted the service with reflections and readings by NSU students. This was followed by a moment of silence and the lighting of a unity candle. President Ferroro had requested that all members of the NSU community observe a moment of silence at 8:46 am, the time of the first attack on the World Trade Center. Throughout the day, the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts center at the Library was reserved for silent reflection and the recording of the thoughts and feelings after 9/11. In the evening, at 8:00 pm, there was a candlelight vigil that took place in front of the Leo Goodwin Residence Hall. Students shared their thoughts and reflections during this vigil. Even though, NSU was not officially closed, the class attendance was low. I attended my classes that day with contradictory feelings of anger, remorse and fear.
In the aftermath of 9/11, racial profiling, hate crimes, and discrimination towards Muslims and people who looked like Muslims become a norm. "War on Terrorism" became "War on Justice." Many countries like Russia, Israel, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Germany, and China went after the political opponents in the name of fighting terrorism. Many civilians died in the Afghanistan war and biological war (anthrax) in America. 9/11/2001 marks a day that changed the world and we went back to old authoritarian days where civil rights and freedom were comprised in name of national security. I must say that 9/11/2001 was a tragic day but following years will always be marked with sorrow and fear.
