Sunday, September 11, 2011 marked the tenth anniversary of the worst national tragedy in the history of the United States of America. On that fateful beautiful day, with blue skies and bright sunshine, the most powerful nation in the world, experienced its darkest hours. Nineteen terrorists sky-jacked four passenger airplanes. Two of them crashed at the World Trade Center in New York, one at the Pentagon in Washington and one that planned to hit the U.S. capitol crashed in Philadelphia. On that day about three thousand people perished, three hundred eighty four of whom were New York firefighters who rushed to the scene to help rescue the injured survivors and put out the fire.
Not long after the horrific tragedy, even before the chaos and confusions were cleared, an organization named Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the unforgivable destruction of life and property. The mastermind was an Islam Jihadist, Osama Bin Laden.
The President of the United States rallied all Americans to unite in fighting the terrorists.
The terrible attack implanted hatred in the hearts of most Americans and people of other countries against Islamic people. Members of this religion who had nothing to do with the extreme violence perpetuated by Al Qaeda members have suffered from discrimination and in many cases treated as pariahs in their communities.
Home security in the United States as well as in other countries especially the powerful ones, became a priority. Strict security rules in airports and country borders were implemented. Paranoia increased such that suspicions of keeping weapons for international destruction led the United States declaration of war against Iraq. The suspicion that Osama Bin Laden was somewhere in the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan and the growing conflict is that part of the world involving the Taliban and Al Qaeda led to the sending of United Nations forces. The first decade of the twenty first century had witnessed two wars both against Islamic people.
Islamic leaders from different parts of the world have declared time and again that they do not subscribe to the Jihadist concept of Islam. A British parliamentarian, the Hon Rory Stewart who traveled across Afghanistan after 9/11 stated that Al Qaeda has “a distorted view of Islam.” ( A talk with Fareed Zakariam, CNN Sep 11,2011)
Sometime in the late 90’s, I attended a week-long seminar and workshop on various religions of the world. It was attended by about fifty people who came from different parts of Canada and the USA. Registration was limited and those who were not taken had to wait for the next year to be accommodated. Participants who came from far places slept on the floor of a church at Bathurst St. in Toronto,.
The experience was very gratifying. We attended lectures and exchange of views about each religion in the morning. After lunch we visited the houses of worship of each religion in the Greater Toronto Area. We went to mosques, temples, churches, chapels and even a gathering in a park of an atheistic religion.
One important concept was common in all religions. They all profess brotherhood and peace among men. Not one of them ever promoted vengeance or hate. In one temple we visited, food was served to anyone who entered the place without asking whether the person is a member or not of the religion.
It is sad that because of the misguided belief of a few, so many people perished. The grief that the loss of lives brought will remain for a long time beyond this tenth anniversary. The loss of lives and the billions of dollars spent in the two wars after 9/11 as well as the billions more spent in security have been brought by the beliefs of a few, who have dragged with them peaceful members of the religion to the hate and vengeance of other groups.
The United States of America is indeed a mighty nation which has remained united after this horrific tragedy. Its leaders have kept vigil to ensure that such terrible incident is not repeated. At the same time these leaders encourage the Americans to work for peace and as former President George Bush said, “The United States will never wage war against Islam or any religion.” (Toronto Star, Sept 12, 2011, pg.A6)
We are fortunate in living in a country that promotes democracy where residents enjoy freedom from want, freedon from fear, freedom of the press and freedom of religion.
Many residents in Canada left their countries of origin because of the lack of these freedoms. And yet the beliefs, mores and traditions that were brought by these people to this country sometimes hinder them in attaining freedom. The differences in religion are a common cause of that barrier.
Elementary and high schools in Canada are either public or Catholics, both supported by the government,. Religion is included in the curriculum of Catholic schools, in public schools. Christmas celebrations were usually held in the past, but recently some schools have limited such projects because of complaints from other religions groups. This is sad, depriving students of their traditions. In one school in Toronto, a principal had allowed prayer services for a Muslim group of students. It was done in the cafeteria after lunch. The prayers did not hinder other activities of the school neither did it require more staff work. Now some other religious groups want that prayer service stopped.
Allowing the prayer service to be held in the school cafeteria is helping these children from traveling a considerable distance to go to a mosque. Why can we not allow that generosity from our hearts. That is what religion is all about, – love, hope and charity.
We can live together in a democratic country and practice our own religion as long as we do not interfere with the rights of others. We may be calling God by different names and observe different rituals, We pray to our God for the same things – peace, prosperity, happiness, care for our well-being and that of our loved ones.
Is this refusal to allow these Muslim students to pray in the school premises at a time when the space is not being used, a part of Islam phobia that has grown since 9/11? Let us not be a part of this feeling. Let us remember that universal saying “Do unto others what you want others do unto you.”*****
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