Editor’s note: On the anniversary of Sept. 11, an Emerald freelance writer was in New York City. He spoke with some Muslim Americans there and filed this story on Sept. 12.
NEW YORK — A year ago on Sept. 11, the streets of Manhattan were relatively empty, and the city was in shock after 19 hijackers slammed two commercial airliners filled with people into the World Trade Center in the name of Islam.
One year later, those same streets are packed with again with people of all nationalities and religions. President Bush and Arab delegates speak at the United Nations while little Italy prepares for the feast of San Gennaro. A pictorial memorial by Joe McNally at Rockefeller Center is filled with teary-eyed visitors still trying to understand.
After these atrocities were committed under the pretext of a Muslim jihad, there was widespread concern in America that Muslims might be mistreated or singled out on the basis of religion. One year after the attacks, American Muslims in New York City have differing opinions about the American response to and war on terrorism.
“Everybody was nice, and I had no fear (of retaliation) because of my background,” said Said Bendarkawi, a 40-year-old Morrocan American Muslim. “Islam doesn’t breed terrorists. Islam shows you how to be compassionate. Those people are crazy, and they are not Muslims.”
President Bush agrees with Bendarkawi that these men do not represent any religion. “The terrorists despise other religions and have defiled their own,” Bush told LIFE’s “The American Spirit.”
However, not all American Muslims share these same feelings. Some men, like 42-year-old Pakistani American Rizwan Khan feel disenfranchised by the radicalism of a religion that is supposed to stand for peace.
“There are Islamic priests that teach hatred. They’re preaching immorality,” Khan said. “I try not to (bring my son to Islamic mosques) because first of all, they don’t preach in English. I want him to learn the morals and not the hatred. I want him to be a gentleman, and that’s why I put him in a Catholic school.”
When discussing the war on terrorism, the views differ as well.
“I really don’t think (Osama bin Laden) did it. Barking dogs don’t bite,” Khan said. “We made Saddam the monster. We gave him billions of dollars (to fight Iran and for oil). It’s good for the country to go into Iraq.”
Bendarkawi’s views were more reserved and in line with that of the United Nations.
“No, we shouldn’t (unilaterally go into Iraq). I worry about the people, and if (Bush and his advisors) have 100 percent proof. Now, they don’t have enough proof,” Bendarkawi said. “But personally, I think the guy is bad.”
These men may differ on their opinions of their Islamic religion and their views on terrorism, but it was clear they both love this country and the freedoms it has bestowed upon them. Visiting New York City on the anniversary of the attacks made it apparent that this is a nation of diverse people of many religions, creeds and viewpoints, united under one common flag.