Prompt: Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. (250-350 words)
September 11, 2001. Immersed in fear I watched the news quietly and I held back my tears. Not too far from where I lived existed an abstract reality where smoke filled the air and chaos screamed through the streets. America was attacked and fear struck society. Together America struggled, but America also became divided.
After this tragedy, there was an increase in hate crimes, caused simply by ignorance. People assume one person who looks like the Taliban represents a group of people and that group represents evil. Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, and Asian Americans became targets of backlash violence, but I never realized the magnitude of backlash violence until my community was affected.
Suddenly I was afraid of being an American Sikh; an innocent Sikh was murdered because "he wore a turban and Osama Bin Laden wears a turban." I was afraid for my brothers, father, mother, and peers whom also depict that same stereotypical image. People were taunted and harassed; walking down the street people yelled out "look at that terrorist" or "go back to your country." My psyche had completely changed, when I went out in public people glared at me with suspicion like I was less than human; we had become outsiders. Nine years have passed; society continues to hate and crime still exists.
People fall back on violence for emotional stability and mourn the dead with violence; but they must find other ways to get through the heartache. I myself attended poetry readings, awareness seminars and listened to people's compelling stories that brought tears to my eyes, but hearing these stories created this sense of strength letting me know that I was not alone. This experience has taught me to be a stronger person, and despite my instinct to; never over generalize or assume things. These situations made me aware and believe now, more than ever, that we truly are "one, created by the one creator of all creation. No enemy, no animosity. Love for one, love for all." - Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion.
September 11, 2001. Immersed in fear I watched the news quietly and I held back my tears. Not too far from where I lived existed an abstract reality where smoke filled the air and chaos screamed through the streets. America was attacked and fear struck society. Together America struggled, but America also became divided.
After this tragedy, there was an increase in hate crimes, caused simply by ignorance. People assume one person who looks like the Taliban represents a group of people and that group represents evil. Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, and Asian Americans became targets of backlash violence, but I never realized the magnitude of backlash violence until my community was affected.
Suddenly I was afraid of being an American Sikh; an innocent Sikh was murdered because "he wore a turban and Osama Bin Laden wears a turban." I was afraid for my brothers, father, mother, and peers whom also depict that same stereotypical image. People were taunted and harassed; walking down the street people yelled out "look at that terrorist" or "go back to your country." My psyche had completely changed, when I went out in public people glared at me with suspicion like I was less than human; we had become outsiders. Nine years have passed; society continues to hate and crime still exists.
People fall back on violence for emotional stability and mourn the dead with violence; but they must find other ways to get through the heartache. I myself attended poetry readings, awareness seminars and listened to people's compelling stories that brought tears to my eyes, but hearing these stories created this sense of strength letting me know that I was not alone. This experience has taught me to be a stronger person, and despite my instinct to; never over generalize or assume things. These situations made me aware and believe now, more than ever, that we truly are "one, created by the one creator of all creation. No enemy, no animosity. Love for one, love for all." - Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion.