(October 26, 2001) -- As we all  know, on the eleventh of September of this very year, a coward of a man had some of his suicidal friends hijack four U.S. airplanes and proceed to drop them on this fair country of ours, killing thousands and thousands of innocent people. What do I have to say about this? Let’s not go there because some of what I have to say can’t legally be printed in a school newspaper. I will instead talk about the reaction that we as Americans gave to this atrocious act against civilization.

The United States has, for a long time, been in need of something to make it once more the United States. I am saddened to see that it had to take an act of this caliber to bring us “together,” as politicians state with guile. But I ask you, even now, are we really united?

The horrible massacre that took place Sept. 11 triggered sorrow as well as immense hate among many. There have been hate crimes towards  people of Arabic decent. Shortly after the attack, two Indians were killed in Texas in what was classified as a hate crime. Does this mean that anyone with stereotypical Arabic or Middle Eastern looks is in danger?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Even I, the most patriotic person I know, have felt the disappointing feeling that comes along with racial profiling.

My friend and I were standing in the driveway one night when a total stranger stepped out the shadows with his Rottweiler walking threateningly at his side, and told me in a menacing voice, “If you don’t like America, then get the hell out.” I know that people are afraid and confused, but these feelings must be discarded if we want to be successful at truly  uniting as a nation.