September 12, 2001
11:47pm

It is just as I feared. The stupidity has begun.

As I listened to my car radio on the way to class this morning, I heard some very disturbing comments. One woman called in to say how much she hates Arabs and that Arabs should not be allowed to walk among us. I've heard reports of Palestinian and Arab Americans being too afraid to go to work, open their stores, or even leave their houses.

Let's not get stupid, people.

First of all, we still aren't sure who committed this heinous act. Second, even if it was Osama bin Laden or some Arab faction, it doesn't give us the right to harrass our fellow citizens.

This situation reminds me of a book I read when I was younger. It was about the Japanese internment camps that were created during World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, American citizens of Japanese (or probably any Asian) descent were ripped away from their regular lives by the U.S. government and forced to live in internment camps. People who were considered friends and neighbors just days before were suddenly deemed possible threats to national security. Now it seems like people are ready to do the same thing to Arab Americans. Is this the kind of country we really want?

Panicked Americans are calling for us to distrust our neighbors, close the borders, and be hostile towards foreigners. Need they be reminded that we were all "foreigners" at one time? There is not a single group of Americans that originated in this country. Even the Native Americans migrated here from Asia thousands of years ago. Being a "melting pot" of different ethnicities has always caused us problems, but it's also the same thing that makes this country great. I don't want to see fear, hatred, and ignorance make us give that up. I feel the need to echo the same sentiment I've heard since this terrible ordeal began; let's not let the terrorists turn us against ourselves.

Last night I went over Seth and Marisol's for dinner. They have just bought a house and had invited me over the week before. After the tragedy occurred, I was not feeling up to going. It seemed too happy, too normal, too bittersweet. I decided to go anyway.

The meal was nice, though at times it was interrupted by the antics of their rambunctous new kitten and breaking news from the tv. The tv was on because Aubray (their daughter) had to watch the news as homework for school. Watching a tragedy unfold seemed like a strange and inappropriate assigment to me. However, I suppose it's better the children know what's going on. This is their country too.

I was in Aubray's room for the next two hours playing "shopping." Her mother just bought her a cash register with fake money and she was very excited about trying it out. I actually had fun. Children make me nervous; but I play well with them because I just go with the flow and do what they want to do. It was a delightful diversion. I needed something to lift my sadness, even if it was only temporary.

Today was once again a regular school day at Kent State. I know we can't stay in a state of shock forever. I know we can't dwell on this event and forget to live our lives. However, I just can't help feeling that everything was too normal. Today my life went on as if nothing happened. It went on as if the very culture I live in hasn't been changed forever. How do you deal with that?

I suppose I feel the same way I did after Shannon died. I knew I had to go on, but doing so felt wrong. It felt like I was dishonoring her memory by acting like my life was going to be the same without her in it. I don't personally know any of the victims of yesterday's attack, but I know my life will never be the same without them.