American Citizens example essay topic

On September 11, 2001, I distinctly remember walking into my ninth period English class and seeing the look of horror and disgust on my teacher's face. I asked, "Mrs. Hogan, what's the matter?" She replied by walking over to the television set and turning on the news. My classmates and I were filled with astonishment as we watched the horror unfold before our eyes. Feelings of hatred and vengeance floated in the pit of my stomach. I went home that day enraged and filled with prejudice. That night I begun reading an article my teacher had assigned for homework.

The article was about the religion of Islam. I learned that there was an ultra orthodox minority in the Islam religion, which believes, violence is the only way to draw attention to their cause. As I continued to read, I learned that very few Muslims believe terrorism is the answer. I was ashamed of how na " ive and ignorant I had been earlier that day. That night my outlook on the issue changed entirely.

I went to school the next day and overheard a conversation some of my friends were having in the hallway. They were talking about "bombing those towel heads", I interrupted the conversation and explained to them how narrow-minded they were being. I tried to impact some of the knowledge I had learned the night before, and I think it worked. They haven't made a racist comment in my presence since.

The level of discrimination taking place during this national emergency is unparalleled since the internment of the Japanese in World War II. In the last few months, ignorance and ethnocentrism have swept across the nation like wildfire. News of hate crimes crowd our newspapers and headlines. In fact, in my hometown, a gas station operated by Americans of Turkish decent has seen a decrease in revenues of 90%. They have also been victimized by verbal insults by some in the local community.

Prejudice and derogatory remarks denouncing Muslims are occurring more frequently across the nation. Muslims, who for years have been upstanding American citizens, are now living in fear. The reality is that there are seven million Muslims in the United States, yet, only a handful practice this distorted ultra orthodox version of Islam. I am not saying all Americans are acting irrationally. In fact, I believe the majority of Americans feel the same way I do, including the President of the United States, who has made several speeches and an appearance at a mosque in defense of our country's Islamic community. Unfortunately, there are some Americans not listening to him.

If I do not speak up when someone says or does something in my presence I feel immoral, and then I am just as guilty as that person. Anyone who inflicts violence or hurls insults at innocent Americans to exact vengeance undermines our nation's commitments to the ideals set forth in our constitution. Attacking fellow Americans is not the answer to the problem terrorism presents to our nation today. I completely support seeking justice for the event of September 11, 2001. I also believe that we, as independent citizens, should not take the matters into our own hands. We should remember the guiding principles or our founding fathers: liberty, equality, and justice for all Americans, no matter race, color, or creed.

As a nation of immigrants, our strength has always come from our diversity.