|
submit
articles |
| The Fear and Pain of Muslim
Friends Carol Goar Editorial Page Editor, Toronto Star, www.thestar.ca/ 13 September 2001 He hung back timidly, waiting for a chance to speak to me. His name is Hani Taki. He is a Muslim high school student and a member of The Star's community editorial board. "Please,'' he said with quiet urgency. "Don't blame all Muslims.'' I assured him that The Star would not
stereotype any religious or ethnic group in the aftermath of Tuesday's
horrific terrorist attack. I told him such generalizations are repugnant
and contrary to this newspaper's values. But even as I spoke, I was sick at heart. I
knew there would be a backlash and I feared it would be aimed at Muslims
or Arabs or immigrants from the Middle East. Taki is all three. He was born in the
United Arab Emirates, came to Canada 14 years ago and is proud of his
Islamic traditions. I quailed at the thought of this
open-hearted young man - and thousands like him - being targeted for a
crime that shook his world as much as mine. Sadly, the backlash has begun. Mosques in this city have received phone
threats. Muslim women have been harassed. A handful of students with
Arab-sounding names in Oakville were assaulted by their schoolmates. A man
in St. Catharines has been charged with uttering death threats. Canadians must speak out against this kind
of ignorance and hatred. We are a nation known for its tolerance. We
welcome newcomers from around the world. We value their contribution to
the multicultural society we have built. Prime Minister Jean ChrŽtien set the right
tone yesterday. "I want to emphasize that we are in a
struggle against terrorism, not against any one community or faith,'' he
said. But it will take more than that to reassure
the minorities in our midst. They need to hear from their neighbours,
their co-workers, opinion leaders and the media that Tuesday's events will
not change our national character. They need to see us stand up to the
racists and bigots who spread blanket condemnation, with no evidence. Taki wasn't the only one who was feeling
uneasy at Tuesday's community editorial board meeting. Lily Fernandez, who was born in Singapore
to Indian parents, talked about the way she is always detained at airports
"because some people think I look Arab.'' Rina Chandarana, who is East Indian,
worried about her Muslim friends. "They're good people,'' she
stressed. All of us are feeling a bit insecure right now. We need to reach out, not lash out. |