There has been little out here in the way of physical confrontation to date, though businesses operated by anyone who could be mistaken for an "Arab" are suffering fearfully. The guy at the corner kebab shop says I'm one of the few Americans (his term) who have not abandoned him. He reports including me in his prayers (5x daily) accordingly. $3.50 - against which you've got to consider the kebab - is a quite reasonable price for personal advocacy before the Almighty.
The papers have had their eyes trained on Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue for weeks now in anticipation of an outbreak of anti-Muslim violence. This never struck me as likely: the prospect of groups of Cobble Hill graphic artists and Brooklyn Heights tax attorneys taking up arms against a perceived public enemy is ridiculous. Bay Ridge is conservative and largely white, with Middle Easterners comprising the most visible, if not largest, minority. The area is also commonly though of as working class. The appeal of stuff such as the below in an area where people have far too much to worry about and far too little time to make sense of their worlds must be strong, though I hope not overwhelmingly strong.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 -
DO YOU REMEMBER THE HELPLESSNESS YOU FELT THIS DAY?. IF YOUR FEELINGS WERE IN ANY WAY COGNATE TO MINE & FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU REALIZED THAT YOU NEVER HATED IN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE THE FEELINGS YOU EXPERIENCED ON THIS DAY WAS HATE IN ITS MOST DEMOCRATIC FORM. WANTING TO LASH OUT AT EVERY MUSLIM IN SIGHT. PRAYING OUR GOVERNMENT WOULD VAPORIZE A NATION IN RETALIATION. IT IS NOW BETTER THAN 20 DAY SINCE GROUND ZERO. OUR PRESIDENT HAS DONE A MAGNIFICENT JOB OF KEEPING CONTROL OF A POTENTIALLY RIOTOUS SITUATION. HE EXPLAINS TO US NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE RESPONSIBLE & THEREFORE OUR ANGER, OUR FRUSTRATIONS & OUR NEED TO VENGEANCE MUST BE CONTROLLED. RELUCTANTLY, I MUST AGREE WITH OUR PRESIDENT. I MUST RESPECT MY FLAG AT ALL TIMES & THOSE WHO SEEK REFUGE WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION. EVEN IF THEY ARE TERRORIST, SERIAL KILLERS, CHILD MOLESTERS, EVEN IF MY PRESIDENT FEELS ONE PERSONS CAPTURE JUSTIFIES THE LIVES OF OVER 6000 INNOCENT LIVES NO MATTER HOW LOUSY THE MATH IS, IT IS OUR DUTY TO OBEY & FOLLOW EVEN INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH IF NECESSARY. I CAN DO ALL OF THIS & MORE IF NECESSARY BUT I WILL NEVER CORAL MY ABILITY TO REASON & DISCUSS MY THOUGHTS. IF IT IS ONE MAN THAT WILL SATISFY MY COUNTRIES LEADER(S) THEN THAT MAN SHOULD BE TAKEN ALIVE. HIS EYES PLUCKED FROM HIS HEAD, HIS EAR DRUMS PIERCED, HIS NOSE SUPER GLUED SHUT, HIS TONGUE & ALL LIMBS REMOVED. ALL STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR HIM TO LIVE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO REMINISCE IN SILENCE HIS DISASTROUS DEEDS OF SEPT. 11, 2001. MARTYRDOM MUST NOT BE HIS RESOLVE. WE NEED, FOR ONCE & FOR ALWAYS, TO SET A FIRM EXAMPLE FOR THIS NEVER TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WOULD GIVE ME GREAT SATISFACTION!!!!!....WITHOUT AMENDING OUR CONSTITUTION I SEE NO FRUITION TO MY REASONING. HOWEVER, THERE IS A WAY TO BALANCE THE SCALE OF JUSTICE. KEEPING IN MIND THAT ALL MUSLIMS ARE PROTECTED UNDER ANTI HATE CRIME LAWS, & IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANY ACTS OF BIAS TOWARD MUSLIMS WE MUST AT ALL COST TREAT THEM WITH DIGNITY & RESPECT. ALSO KEEPING IN MIND THAT THEY JUBILANTLY REJOICED IN THE STREETS OF PATTERSON, THAT NONE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE DONATED BLOOD OR ENLISTED TO COMBAT TERRORISM. I FEEL JUSTICE IS BEING SERVED SHUNNING MUSLIMS & MOST OF ALL HITTING THEM IN THEIR POCKET BOOKS BY NOT PATRONIZING MUSLIM BUSINESSES. MUSLIM REFUSAL (LOCALLY & WORLD WIDE) TO COOPERATE. MUSLIMS WANT THEIR RIGHT & OUR MONEY TOO?....IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. WE CAN BRING THEM TO THEIR KNEES & MAKE THEM SURRENDER BIN LADEN. WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER. EVERY PAPER YOU BUY, EVERY STICK OF GUM, EVERY PACK OF CIGARETTES CAN BE PURCHASED AT A NON MUSLIM BUSINESS. "WE CAN WHIP THEM AT THEIR OWN GAME" THRU PATRIOTISM & THEIR POCKET BOOKS.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS BEHIND FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO READ OR BETTER YET MAKE COPIES & PASS AROUND.
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