Current Events
America vs. America
by SARANJIT KAUR BANGA
We all remember incidents that shape and impact our lives.
I recall waking up on
September 11, 2001 around 7:30am. The sky was blue and
the sun was shining bright on that fall morning. In my life, it was just
another day for a 12-year-old Sikh-American teenager in Grade 7. At
that moment, I didn’t know that the day would change my life forever and the
lives of many Americans throughout the nation.
I heard the TV
blasting on the morning of September 11 but I didn’t pay much attention
to it as I thought it was just a normal morning. I heard some commotion
coming from around the TV set, then my dad called me over.
We watched
coverage of Flight 175 flying into the South Tower. The coverage
repeated itself, over and over again. I stood there in awe, shocked! I
stared at the screen in disbelief, the attacks were more than 2,500
miles away from me - but I felt like it was in my own backyard. At that
age, I didn’t even know what The World Trade Center was.
Living on the West Coast, students in California were, despite the day's events, allowed and encouraged to attend school. While I sat in my first
period Science class, my school principal addressed the situation that
had unfolded on the East Coast, only hours before. My classmates and I rose
for a moment of silence for the lives that had been lost and we were
encouraged to ask our teacher questions.
At that moment, I felt like there was a period of unity throughout the nation.
America was brought together, old relationships had been reconciled, neighbors were united, and many cars and homes displayed the American flag proudly.
On the other end of the spectrum, there was black smoke lingering in the air - a backlash toward people who “looked” a certain way. Days and weeks after the attack, there was much animosity in the air. Middle Easterners and South Asians were being harassed, ridiculed and attacked.
At this time, I recall receiving emails from members of the Sikh community urging people to stay safe. They advised us to avoid being alone, to walk away if somebody harasses you, carry a cell phone when out in public, and collectively monitor Sikh-owned businesses and gurdwaras.
At that time, more and more news poured in: hate crimes were on the rise against Americans who didn’t “look American”.
I remember thinking about what was going on. I was an American and so were the members of the communities being attacked: Sikh, Muslim, South Asian, Arab and dark-skinned Americans alike.
My family had been in this country for a quarter of a century and we were being told to stay clear of attacks from people within our own country - Americans fighting Americans? How did that make sense?
As Mohandas Gandhi once said: “An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind”. Why couldn’t people understand that?
The last 10 years have been challenging for Americans in terms of coping with the aftermath of 9/11. It has been tough for families who have lost loved ones and for those affected by the backlash.
Since 9/11, people of color are more likely to be racially profiled, searched, harassed and attacked, based on appearance alone. Now that we approach the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, there is a lot that has changed and much more that still needs to be changed.
I am happy to say that I hold a piece of that puzzle which will bring change upon America, to create a more accepting society where people of all faiths and beliefs can be treated equally.
Headquartered in New York, The Sikh Coalition is a non profit organization that works toward creating a place where human and civil rights are available for all people. I am a volunteer advocate for The Sikh Coalition in the Bay Area. As a grassroots advocate, my duty is to fight for civil rights both locally and nationally.
I hope that in time, all Americans will be able to peacefully coexist regardless of characteristics that may make us different from one another in some ways. Our uniqueness is what defines who we are as Americans. Be loud, be proud & embrace it!
[Courtesy: CNN. Edited for sikhchic.com]
September 9, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), September 09, 2011, 6:16 PM.
Adversity is such a crucible that when heated sufficiently, it could produce pure gold and 9/11 was such a crcible. Reading Saranjit's poignant account produced such a feeling, when I hadn't even finished reading the whole account yet to write this comment. An author is born. Look forward to your next offering. There is another neighbouring piece, 'Simple Thanks', coming from a master craftsman, T Sher Singh, that will keep me compelled for the rest of the day. Thanks for these little gifts. My wife in exasperation often wonders why I keep glued to the laptop, or else to a book. Remember the wife who said: "I wish to be a book in my next incarnation, at least I would be the nearest to you!" "Yes, indeed," remarked the husband playfully, "a good idea but come as a telephone directory. That way there'll be a new edition every six months."