Conference Reflection Paper

America has come a long way since the Reagan era, because “twenty-five years ago, the greatest strength of the Asian American movement was the ability of activist to organize the unorganized and bring new political players in community politics” (Omatsu). During a current era there are problems with lack of knowledge of what happened to Asian Americans, because those who were not around to see the struggles with racism. “However, by stimulating the discussion over how Asian American define community problems, the neoconservatives bring a vibrancy to community issues by contributing a different viewpoint” (Omatsu). Young political activists voices are the solution to end the struggle against racism for as long as there is activism that thrives our voices will be heard in

Post 9/11 negative stereotypes and attitudes toward Muslims intensified in many Western societies. “The FBI recorded a sixteen-fold increase in hate crimes (e.g., acts of arson, aggravated assault, property crimes) against Muslim Americans from 2001 to 2002” (Rodriguez Mosquera & Khan & Selya, 2013). All of this goes to show that Non-Muslim Americans were taking out their emotions on innocent Muslims. Not only was all this going on, but the U.S. Congress’ response to the attacks was the USA Patriot Act. The USA Patriot Act gave, “the government investigative powers to fight against terrorism and subsequently targeted those in the Arab, Muslim, and South Asian communities with not just prejudices against these communities, but blatant racism toward innocent people, just because they appear to look like they “identify” with those who have made terrorist threats” (Akiyama, 2008). The discrimination post 9/11 was awful. The hijab which was seen as a prideful garment for Muslims became a target for discrimination. In the article, “9/11 Ten Years Later: Muslim Women, Organizations Work to Fight Discrimination, Patel talks about a woman, Wasan Mohamad. Mohamad talks about how she and her friends/family were discriminated against ten years after 9/11. Her daughter in class got told that her people were responsible for 9/11. Her friend changed his name from

Since 9/11, Muslims and the people of Arab and South Asian descent became targets by the government practices that result in racial profiling. “In June 2002, the attorney general John Ashcroft made announced a “Special Registration” that was a must for all males from a list of Arab and Muslim countries report to the government to register and be fingerprinted. For instance, ever since they crash into the Twin Tower’s those people seem to be targets especially trying to get a job” (Graves, L. 2010, December 27). They also seem to be more of a target for questioning before they attempt to come back into the country. “The United States has been actively engaged in prosecuting the Global War on Terrorism since September 2001” Dobrot, L. (2007, November 1). “Through after 5 years of the national effort that has included the loss of over 3,000 service members in combat operations, a lot of people are questioning whether the U.S. strategy is working, and if the United States understand how to combat an enemy based on radical revolutionary religious ideology” (Dobrot, L. (2007, November

Muslim immigrants have arrived to the United States of America from every nuke and corner of the sphere. The population is diverse in their own ways but each one of them bears similar reasons: Some desire to escape an old way of life, others to find a new one. Some wanted to escape violence, others the fetters of penury, or simple lack of opportunity. They have arrived with fervent hope, and often nothing more. The initial response received by them was largely varied. These new Americans found a vast new land hungry for their labor. But some, unfamiliar with these newcomers’ customs and religions, treated the new Americans as outsiders and believed they could never be real Americans. And with the events like the Gulf War and the World Trade Center bombing outpoured anti-Islamic sentiments in the 1990s. These sentiments intensified with the heinous and abominable attacks of September 11th. Muslims were being labeled as “extremists”, “jihadists”, “fanatics”, “fundamentalists” etc. They were being feared, discriminated and even harassed.

On September 6, 2017, I were documented for an incident that involved a University Housing policy violation. I was charged with violating the University Housing Alcohol 1.2 policy. With my violation, came consequences. I met with The Residence Conduct Coordinator to discuss my actions and came to the conclusion that I would have to schedule a meeting with The Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center (CADEC) and with that, a reflection paper.

Americans fear that the terrorists would some days attack their country, and kill them. This fear is vastly increased after the 2001 attack in New York City. Since then, most Muslims in America have been investigated by spying their phone talks, screening their profiles and so on . Although everybody knows that Muslim extremists are the only cause, they tend to relate it to all other innocent Muslims and discriminate them. It is not only affected Muslim adults but also their kids. They wanted to quit from schools because they were consistently called murderers. Worse than this, they received violent acts such as kicking, bullying just because they are born Muslims. The racism today is obviously shown in President Donald Trump’s traveling ban on seven Muslim countries which is later changed to six by excluding Iraq. It prevents all Muslims from these countries to travel to the US (Henderson & Graham). Even though the President wants to strengthen the security and makes Americans safe, the ban do affect thousands Muslims who do not involve in terrorism, and shows the discrimination against this

9/11 is known as one of the most tragic events in the history of the United States. Since World War II, America had proven its superiority and had become a progressive and powerful country. The occurrence of a terrorism group entering the country, breeching security and killing several thousands of Americans took a toll on almost everyone. Not only was the safety of the public questioned, the nation’s security legitimacy was as well. Since 9/11, many debates on American policy have been sparked. However, not only has this event had an impact on policy in America, it has had a severe impact on the public’s perception of Muslim American’s. It has been fourteen years since the attack in 2001 and Muslim Americans are still facing a terrible bias and being treated with disrespect. The American society has perceived Muslims into a single group that associates them all with terrorism (Bayraktaroglu). This is stereotype leads to a negative public perception.

Today, there are close to six million Muslims living in the United States. In the video Flying While Muslim: Racial Profiling Post 9/11 (2007), it is clear to see that ever since

As the immigrant population currently projected to overtake latinxs and hispanics as largest group of residents in the United States of America, Asian Americans have shown their will to survive in a way that many groups have not, and that is by banding together in order to achieve the life they deserve. Taking the overgeneralization of pan-ethnicity and using it as a device for increased numbers and support for the causes of a group of people who otherwise may not have much to do with each other, is a testament to how vulnerable they must have felt as well as how successful they have managed to be many aspects of progress. What I have gained from this course is the understanding that at the root of ethnic studies and the Asian American community is the “for us, by us” sentiment that contributed to the blurred lines between the different part of their communities as social, political and cultural, structures, collectives and groups which came out of an obligation and necessity to protect those immigrants and their future generations from a country which has always pushed European superiority in all aspects of society.

The U.S. was founded that all men were born equal and given unalienable rights. These rights bond Americans of all ethnicities, races, religions, and cultures. Today, many Americans perceive extremists as a representation of the entire population they belong to. Islamophobia is defined as an exaggerated fear, hatred, or hostility toward Muslims that is perpetuated by negative stereotypes resulting in bias, discrimination, and the marginalization and exclusion of Muslims from social, political, and civic life. Islamophobia creates prejudice and discrimination among the general population. Prejudice combined with overt actions, creates a dangerous environment for its victims, in this case, Muslims. After the events of 9/11, Arabs and Muslims became the main targets of racial profiling. Many report being kicked off of planes and questioned at airports simply because of their physical appearances. Since the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, security profiling specifically targets people of Arab descent or those who are believed to be Muslims. At airports and border crossings, people with Middle Eastern names and physical features expect to be pulled from the security line for questioning. Like members of other racial or cultural groups, Arab Americans resent being perceived as potential terrorists and

With the events of the Cold War already causing border complications, the events of 9/11 called for alarm and the increased presence of security personnel at borders. On September 11th, 2001, nineteen militants affiliated with the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda hijacked four planes and carried out terrorist attacks in the U.S. Two of the four planes flew into the World Trade Center (Schwartz 2010). The other, crashed into the Pentagon building and the last, into a field in Pennsylvania (Schwartz 2010). The religious affiliation of these terrorist cause widespread prejudice in the U.S towards individuals who were religiously or racially akin. According to Ashar (2002), months after the incident 1200 Arab and South Asian Muslim men were detained; while “the Department of Justice (DOJ) and cooperative local law enforcements agencies questioned 4793 young Arab and Muslim men residing in the United States”. This evidence proves my argument that there was an overall increase in the detention of Muslims lead by the DOJ on the basis of a widespread fear of terrorism during the time.

As an American Muslim, I can provide an outlook of life in the United States that the majority do not have the opportunity to experience. Living in a world wher Islam is misrepresented, many people do not fully understand what Islam teaches. As a result, it feels impossible for me or my family to travel without being labeled as a threat to security, and being pulled away from everyone else for hours of additional screening. This is unacceptable, especially in a country that takes pride in it's religious freedom and acceptance. These discriminatory practices are a direct result of anti-Muslim rhetoric in politics and in the media, as it allows people to feel that these actions are justifiable. For example, during my freshman year of high school,

September 11th holds many hard and upset feelings around the world today. The harsh actions of Muslim extremists unfortunately completely changed the way Muslims are treated, especially in the United States. These events, exacerbated islamophobia. Unfortunately, “the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, connect Muslims and Islam to terrorism within the geographical borders of the United States.” (Byng) Although it has been over a decade since the attack, many still feel racist and discriminatory attitudes towards Muslims. Muslims are the targeted minority in the United States, “the 9/11 terrorist attacks shifted the social and political context for Muslims in the United States. Terrorism within the geographical borders of the United States carried out by Muslims places an identity at the center of national and global politics.” (Byng) The blame of the horrible terrorist attacks, rather than be placed on terrorists or religious extremist, has been placed on Islam in America. After September 11th, hate crimes towards Muslims skyrocketed, “the most dramatic change noted by the report was a more than 1,600 percent increase in reported hate crimes against Muslims -- a jump from 28 hate incidents in 2000 to 481 last year.”

After 9/11 and the subsequent increase in national security, many Muslims, or those who fit the stereotype of Muslims, have been profiled and “randomly selected” for screening in airports. Islamophobia, which is a result of Muslim stereotypes, has also caused many Muslims (and Arabs that fit the Muslim stereotype) to be faced with racial slurs, threats, physical assault and even death. This is because most people cannot dissociate the stereotype that Muslims are terrorists from reality. As a result they lash out at anyone they believe fits the profile of being

Over the course of the semester, I have been fortunate enough to work with a student who is having difficulties when it comes to reading. My student does not have difficulties when it comes to hearing a word, but rather when he sees a word. My student has definitely benefited from one on one work with me as well as the additional help he’s getting from the reading specialist during their WIN (what I need) time. My student does not like to read because he knows that he is struggling and he is embarrassed about it. When my student goes to his WIN time, he does really well because the instruction is at his level and there are only two other students who are also on the same level there as well. Besides the current intervention, programs I would recommend are Direct Instruction: Reading Mastery, Letter Spacing, Wilson Reading System and the Lindamood program (LiPS).