Anti-immigration Sentiments Soar

Join the Discussion 'This attack has been such a hit because our government has open doors for these Middle East Islamic to live in our country.' JAHNWLEE7     Related Resources • Daily Immi News • Making Borders Safe • Alleged Terrorist  From Other Guides • Latest News • Full Coverage • Christian View • Islamic View  Elsewhere on the Web • CNN Coverage • MSNBC Coverage

Following the tragic terrorist attack on the United States, many Americans are angry with immigration policies that may inadvertently aid terrorism.

Waving American flags some 300 protestors yelled "USA! USA!" as police thwarted their attempts to storm a mosque in Illinois.

An Arab-American community center fell prey to a Molotov cocktail in Chicago.

And in Indiana, a masked man fired an assault weapon into the gas station where a Yemen-born US citizen works.

Children of middle eastern descent have been harassed and bullied all over the western world since the terrorist rampage that took down the World Trade Center's twin towers and part of the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Even in Australia, emotions ran high as people stoned a school bus carrying Muslim youngsters. A Lebanese church was also set afire.

And while there may be some truth to that statement, the issue is both emotionally and politically complex. For one thing, the United States is a melting pot of people from all cultural backgrounds. Countless Arab Americans were born citizens and have never even been to the middle east. Many others lost loved ones and are giving blood right along with Americans from a variety of ethic backgrounds. How do we distinguish the "good ones" from the "bad ones?" We certainly can't ban everyone. Even if we wanted to do something that so defies the democracy we stand for, determined and professional terrorists will probably find it easy to sneak over borders and procure false identities.

it is also logistically impossible in a country this large to do a complete background check on every middle eastern person who wants to spend a week in Disneyland. Anyone familiar with the passport and customs lines at airports or borders can imagine what this might entail. A far greater task than searching every inch of every person and piece of luggage.

Although still a monumental task, it may be time for American to accept some of the responsibilities of a multicultural nation. Increased security is inevitable. We can make sure that all modes of transport as well as large buildings and public places are made far safer with increased security measures. People may not enjoy going through metal detectors when they enter a museum, but we may have to choose whether to give up a bit of privacy in exchange for safety. What many feel we should not and must not do is to compromise what America stands for, especially since that is something the perpetrators would love to see.


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09/13/01