On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 we were all struck with the same news of an unimaginable human catastrophe. Many lives were lost as we watched in shock and despair of what was taking place in front of our eyes. Not a common scene in America. We stood in disbelief of the invasion of our country by terrorists, an occurrence we believed only happened in other countries not ours. We were struck with the loss of life as we have never experienced before. We didn’t know quite how to feel or react to such an act. Knowing American military history, it was just a matter of time before the attacks hit the United States. It was the first time in my life I witnessed individuals being violently mistreated and judged because others thought they might be culturally related to the terrorists.
I am not making an excuse for those who took part in this tragic act of violence. It’s about opening our minds to understanding a bigger picture. If individuals were born into a culture where as a child a gun was placed in your hands and you were conditioned to hate with your heart, and your elders are setting these examples and living by them; most often than not, you will become one of them. This is their truth and reality. These individuals had no choice in how they were raised and conditioned. It is difficult to blame a person’s action without truly understanding and knowing their history. We can’t judge or define a culture, race, ethnicity based on the actions of a few individuals.
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