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| by Usman Farman, |
Sep 23, 2001 |
sirens. I managed to call home and say I was okay, and get in touch with coworkers and friends whom I feared were lost. We managed to get a ride to New Jersey. Looking back as I crossed the George Washington Bridge, I could not see the towers. It had really happened.
As the world continues to reel from this tragedy, people in the streets are lashing out. Not far from my home, a Pakistani woman was run over on purpose as she was crossing the parking lot to put groceries in her car. Her only fault? That she had her head covered and was wearing the traditional clothing of my homeland. I am afraid for my family's well being within our community. My older sister is too scared to take the subway into work now. My 8-year-old sister's school is under lockdown and armed watch by police.
Violence only begets violence, and by lashing out at each other in fear and hatred, we will become no better than the faceless cowards who committed this atrocity. If it weren't for that man who helped me get up, I would most likely be in the hospital right now, if not dead. Help came from the least expected place, and goes only to show, that we are all in this together -- regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. Those are principles that this country was founded on.
Please take a moment to look at the people sitting around you. Friends or strangers, in a time of crisis, you would want the nearest person to help you if you needed it. My help came from a man who I would never have thought would normally even speak to me. Ask yourselves now how you can help those people in New York and Washington. You can donate blood, you can send clothing, food, and money. Funds have been setup in the New York areato help the families of fallen firefighters, policemen, and emergency personnel. The one thing that won't help, is if we fight amongst ourselves, because it is then that we are doing exactly what they want us to do, and I know that nobody here wants to do that.
My name is Usman Farman and I graduated from Bentley with a Finance degree last May. I am 21 years old, turning 22 in October; I am Pakistani, and I am Muslim, and I too have been victimized by this awful tragedy. The next time you feel angry about this, and perhaps want to retaliate in your own way, please remember these words:
"Brother, if you don't mind, there is a cloud of glass coming at us, grab my hand, lets get the hell out of here."
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Comments
God Bless Nicole Corriero | Oct 17th, 2001
Thank you for your story. It is a miracle that you are with us to tell about your experience.
Thank God that you are alive because it is a miracle. The world needs you to help people understand what is going on.
We are "human beings" and humankind have only one world to share. Can we do it is a big question.
GREAT Haythem Kamel | Jul 21st, 2003
i like this
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