Bias called simple case
of ignorance, arrogance
Muslims, others face new hostility in aftermath of WTC attack
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 stunned some of other cultures into a state of fear that flag-waving patriotism laced with all the good intentions in the world could turn into a dangerous tide of what Americans don’t know will hurt them.
That in mind, those concerned about and targeted in bias incidents continue to explain and deal with misguided hate that they know to have been leveled at the wrong people out of ignorance.
The theory: America is not supposed to be home of the free, misunderstood and hated. Brave is more like it as far as at least a few are concerned who know that the cure to hate is rooted in combating fear of the unknown.
Each had his or her own way of lighting a beacon toward better understanding. All are hopeful that small gestures will mount and make all the difference in keeping patriotism in check with the melting pot world peace that America was intended to embrace.
Mohammed Mosaad, a leader of the Muslim mosque on Red Hill Road in Middletown, had a hostile call after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred, that, inspired by his own religion’s belief system, he turned into a coming to terms between parties.
True Muslims live by peace and prayer, Mosaad gently made clear.
Someone called the mosque after the terrorist attacks and chided, "Are you a terrorist?" to Mosaad. He said he just answered, "No are you?"
The two bantered back and forth with the question for several minutes after which Mosaad took the time to explain the difference between a Muslim and a terrorist, saying evil doesn’t restrict itself to one religion and putting a frightened person who blindly targeted the wrong group at ease. That person, said an understanding Mosaad, ended up hanging up armed with the knowledge of another belief system and diffused hate, Mosaad said.
Mosaad was modest about his small role in combating a bigger problem of patriotism gone narrow-minded.
And while Mosaad was explaining away his religion to a skeptic, Christine Morsy an Aberdeen Muslim and former Catholic, was standing in front of her mirror debating, out of a fleeting fear of prejudice, whether or not to wear her scarf out of the house after the attack.
"Before the scarf, I was a hidden danger