9/11

It's hard to believe that it was nine years ago today when those airplanes took down the World Trade Center towers in New York City, throwing us into the "post-9/11 era" and changing the United States and the world forever. I remember it, even though I was only eleven years old and didn't have the slightest clue what it meant. With each year, as I grow older and wiser, I understand more and more just what that day means for citizens of the world, Americans, me, and how we all fit together in this astoundingly globalized world.

In this context, a couple current events from this past summer have shown me just how far we haven't come since 9/11.

1. The "Ground Zero Mosque" - Several weeks ago, the media blew out of proportion a plan to build a community center in New York City, a few blocks from the site where the World Trade Center once stood. Inside that community center, there happened to be a place where Muslims could gather to pray. It's not a plan to build a "mosque," and it's also not directly at "Ground Zero." Those planning to build this community center were demonized for desecrating the memory of the lives lost on 9/11. It has been painful watching this debate play out--because to me, it's so simple. Islam is a global religion with billions of followers around the world, and yet we still allow those few men in the fringes of the religion dictate our concept of all Muslims. Our country was founded on the idea that everyone has the right to peacefully practice whatever religion they wish, and 9/11 should have only reminded us of the importance of that principle.
2. Plans to burn the Quran today - Just as Islam has its crazy fundamentalist fringe followings, so does Christianity. One such example is Terry Jones, the pastor who decided it would be a good idea to burn the Islamic holy book today. Of course this kind of stuff happens, some people are nuts, and there's not much we can do about those few people. But the media decided to give this man coverage, blowing it into a national story and inciting outrage and violent protest overseas. Why justify this story with coverage? The story only gave Mr. Jones the attention and consequent leverage with people who shouldn't have even justified his actions with a word.

These stories are only recent examples of the Islamophobia that continues to run rampant in the United States. We've come along a bit since 9/11, but it's hard to imagine a day when the image of the majority of Muslims will ever be positive in the minds of Americans.

Here, in Dubai, a Muslim state, people have adopted many aspects of Western culture. People of all different colors and religions walk the streets in this city, and it's so interesting to watch. The other day, I traveled to Bur Dubai, one of the oldest areas of the city. I walked along the Dubai creek and through the Bur Dubai souk, where mostly Indians sell clothing, bedding, fabrics, and other kitschy souvenirs. Capitalism runs at full force in Dubai, and here in the souq I watched it, and participated in it. The shopkeepers try to wrangle as much as they can get from people they know are tourists, and the smarter tourists try to get what they want for as little as possible, knowing that perhaps they could afford a little more. I can't imagine living the life of a small shopkeeper in Dubai.. the competition is fierce, and the profits can't be more than what it takes to get by. Tourists shell out hundreds of dollars for luxurious hotel rooms, and will only give you one or two for a cushion cover or scarf. What a life.

Bur Dubai outdoor souq