SSSSS, that this happened to an innocent person is a shame, but who is to blame? I would blame the terrorists for making me look suspicious, not the country that was victimized by them.<BR>How come, not one Islamic Cleric has stepped forward to condemn the people that caused this? Why haven't they publically announced that they have religious freedom in the USA? Seems like all the blame is on us reacting to what terrorists did to us.

xxxxxx, I wish I had the time to compile a more thorough list, but many leaders of arab and islamic organizations have condemned the act of 9/11. Here is one example:<BR><BR>http://www.adc.org/press/2001/12september2001.htm<BR><BR>By definition, prejudice is forming an opinion about a person or group of people with insufficient knowledge. People are scared of someone 'arabic-looking' because they don't know enough about arabs to know that most of us are peaceful.<BR><BR>The classic profile of a serial killer is a white male in his thirties, but I don't remember there being a backlash against white men when Jeffrey Dahmer et al. committed their attrocities, nor when Timothy McVeigh committed his.

That's nice Vita...while Dahlmer and McVeigh commited horrible acts, they did not murder over 3,000 people!! And, their causes were never crouched in religious terms. While some Islamic leaders have condemed the attcks, it came almost as an afterthought. Most of their breath was spent saying please don't commit hate crimes against us. <BR><BR>And for those of you who believe that there may have been an air marshall on board...give me a break! DO you people watch the news? They have never said that Air Marshalls are at 100%; I'll bet there are thousands of applications to the program still sitting on someone's desk. <BR>The fact remains, while others of differing ethnic backgrounds have committed terrorists acts against us (i.e., McVeigh) the vast majority have been committed by Muslim extremists. If you are on a hijacked plane, you can bet money that your Hijacker is not named John Smith but is named Muhammad!

Why would you take lessons on Islam from terrorists? They don't speak for all muslims. It doesn't matter what they claim to be their motivations. When you look at the big picture, this is not what Islam is about. <BR><BR>There have been murders of abortion doctors and bombings of abortion clinics in the name of christianity. Does this represent the view of christians? Would it represent the view of christians any more if 1000 people were killed in one explosion?

Vita, I understand your concern as you are I suppose a Muslim. But, say I am a short blond woman with, say, **** as my religion. There is also a group of short blond women, with **** as their religion, and they let it be known as their cause for terrorists acts. So as a short blond woman, I get nervous looks, people search me, etc. Now, I would blame the fringe group of woman for my annoyances, searches, etc. I wouldn't blame the victims of their acts. Do you get my point?

Since when does one life murdered mean less than 3000 lives? Each life is valuable in and of itself. <BR><BR>Religion, intolerance and conservative idealogy is to blame.

X, I don't think you get mine. Is *** religion one that is well known and understood to be non-violent? If so, there would have to be a disproprotionate number of blondes from *** religion to raise concern. If not, then there might be a backlash. The question is would these women be representative of *** as a whole? You only know this through knowledge and understanding. Trust me, if you knew arabs you would find this fear against us moronic.

xxxx: very wise words you wrote. Killing one human being is just as bad as killing 3,000. The 11 Sept terrorists kidnaped Islam for their attacks, some "Christian" groups have kindnaped Christianity for their terrorist acts. Does that make all Christians terrorists? <BR>We need to get rid of the *individuals* who are terrorists. It doesn't matter which religion they adhere to.

xxx your logic is frightening. Up above vita pointed out how little you knew about Islamic condemnation of the terrorist attacks. What did she get in return but more condescending remarks and presumptions. I am Irish Catholic I do not live in closed white Christian circles and I am very nervous for foreign born friends. I have friends that are fearful here right now because so many people with your extremely limited scope are among us. The Media is not helping keeping us all focused on fear. What is scary about your posts is that it is clear that you don't even want to understand the flaws in your thinking. And most of us did not need Vitas post to reference in our head many speeches where Islamic leaders have condemned this acts.

So, Vita, you are a good example, blaming the victims instead of condeming Islamic terrorists.

Gee, comeon, do you watch the news? Did you happen to notice that the latest terrorist was named Richard Reid, not Muhammad? Does it occur to you that these groups may have other converts in Europe or even the U.S. (does John Walker ring a bell?) that they can send out without arousing as much suspicion because everyone is focused on men of Middle Eastern origin?

How did I blame victims?

Nevermind, Vita, we will never settle it, I am going out for a walk with my dogs.

Vita don't engage this is obviously a troll. Noticed he/she is going right for you. sss is right he/she is not even trying to learn anything here.<BR><BR>PS noone said Vita was an example we just understood her to be informed and not speaking out of emotion.

No one wants you to feel bad xxx it is just that your lack of wanting to understand is a bit contentious. The media is doing a terrible job of helping us to understand all of this. The lack of information is appalling. Just last Friday the US vetoed a UN resolution that would either call for UN peace keepers or observers in Israel. I heard this on a round table discussion (PBS) a typical panel of 6 pro US policy and one meek Arab for balance. Why did I not hear/read this on the news? I think what has happened to media is truly laughable at the moment if you can come away from alarm. We can't blame xxx to much for not having information when so little is out there for us. We all should be demanding coverage.

Why are you assuming that all the xxx's are the same person? I feel that there are many x-people here.

I only wrote once, and I am not out walking my dog.

I’m not that religious and I’m definitely not a conservative, but I find the following statement a hoot:<BR><BR>“Religion, intolerance and conservative idealogy is to blame.”<BR><BR>The author blames intolerance (I agree), but then shows his/her own prejudice/intolerance by blaming religion and conservative ideology. So there you have it, if you're religious or conservative, you are to blame for the 9-11 disaster.<BR><BR>It is interesting how some people who claim to be tolerant have no tolerance for opposing views or beliefs.

Maybe the author meant the Muslim religion, etc.

Politically Incorrect, Kay, etc: The IRA have been known to have links with Middle Eastern terrorist groups. Shouldn't we also then be looking with suspicion at anyone who looks Irish or speaks with a brogue?... There was also a story in the news recently about drug "mules" who made numerous trips between the US and the Caribbean accompanied by small children, either their own or borrowed from friends. Who's to say that terrorists couldn't do the same? Everyone should receive the same scrutiny at airport security checkpoints, regardless of sex, age, nationality, religion, or appearance.