War against terrorism, not Afghanistan. Review on Afghanistan, General

First & Foremost

I'm an American teenager and feel I must clean the slate for my country amongst MouthShut.com. Although citizens of the U.S.A. have shamedly discriminated against Arab-Americans, there are many more who are doing what they can to help the people of Afghanistan during this time of war. Please do not consider us all tyrants.

Elementary schools help

Last Wednesday, while going to our Writing Buddies program for my Creative Writing class at an elementary school in my town, we stopped at a small popcorn stand in the hall where little kindergarteners and 1st graders were selling tiny bags of popcorn for fifty cents. While they were getting our popcorn, they smiled showing us the teeth they were missing in the front of their mouths and explained how the money was going to the children of Afghanistan.

When people first started doing this back in September and October, I was confused. I felt that this money could go to help the unfortunate children in our own country before helping kids in a country that hubbed Public Enemy #1, Osama Bin Laden. I did feel anger at first, I won't lie. But over time I realized that it isn't Afghanistan we're fighting, it's terrorism and the Taliban.

Understanding

Unfortunately, many Arab-Americans have been discriminated against since September 11th. They've been yelled at to ''go home,'' shot at, their stores/businesses have been ransacked, and at least one has been killed as far as I know. Right after Sept. 11th, colleges and universities had to protect Arab-American students by putting them in their own dorm and giving them security for their own safety...it's nearly segregation.

It's so very unfortunate but I think everyone must remember that this is what we call human nature. The same thing happened after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Japanese-Americans were put in concentration camps for their own safety. It's sad, but it's reality.

Recently, people have become more understanding of what is actually going on. It's not just any Arab-American that we should hate. We shouldn't hate anyone for their ethnicity. It's the evil Taliban/terrorists that are trying to destroy the United States.

Uniting/Dividing

Immediately following the WTC and Pentagon attacks, candlelight vigils, flags on cars, TV specials, and benefit concerts brought Americans together more than I've ever seen in my entire life. If this is what it means to be patriotic, then I'm all for it. Discriminating against Arab-Americans is not patriotic.

What I found to be really sad was the fight between the NYPD and the FDNY at ''ground zero'' in New York. It was understandable that they didn't want to stop working to find more of the victims, but it made that united feeling break up a tiny bit. We're letting the terrorists win if we can't hold together.

Big bangs and invisible threats

Well, first were the undeniably grusome sights of two planes hitting the WTC and one hitting the Pentagon, then along came an invisible threat from our friendly terrorists (ugh). Anthrax (ok, maybe it hasn't been 100% clarified that terrorists did this, but COME ON). They hit us with a bang and then kick us while we're down. Quite cowardly, they are.

In Conclusion

All I want to get across is that it's not the Afghani people we hate, it's the terrorists. My travel ratings: I put Best Time of Travel: Never because come on, do you want to be visiting Afghanistan right now? Anyway, please know that we should all love our fellow man and not be so vile. Hate is the destruction of our known world.