Chapter+5

Chapter 5 Tuesday September 11, 2001 Dear Diary, I was out of school today, because I had strep throat. My mom woke me up in the morning and told me something terrible had happened. Terrorists had crashed planes into the World Trade Center and also the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania that was directed toward the Capital. Thousands of people died and many were missing or seriously injured. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing on the TV and reading on the Internet. I couldn’t even focus on homework that night. When the news announced it was terrorists with Muslim connections I knew things would never be the same. People already made fun of me for wearing my **hijab** scarf, saying I looked funny. They even made fun of me in gym class, because I always wore it even in an intense game of basketball. Now students were going to think badly of me even more. I don’t want to go to school tomorrow.

Aasmaa

Wednesday September 12, 2001 Dear Diary, Today was weird. A lot of students didn’t come to school, and those who did were very upset or quiet. Other kids were really angry and shouted how we need to kill the terrorists. They also said we need to get the Muslims out of America whenever we talked about what happened. I felt weird in school sometimes with my hijab, but now I felt even weirder because everyone thought I was a killer. I quietly just sat in my seat and tried to make myself look even sadder than I really was. I figured if I did that students would believe I really am a good person and I had no part in this. I was angry at the people who did this. How dare they attack America? My family came here for opportunity and freedom. Now these terrorists are taking that away from me.

Aasmaa

Thursday September 13, 2001 Dear Diary, The days keep getting worse. In my neighborhood our **Mosque** was vandalized with all sorts of **racial slurs** about Muslims being killers. Beautiful artwork was damaged inside. I also hear on the news of other problems across the country. Many Muslims and “Middle Eastern looking people” are being attacked or their businesses are being **boycotted**. This is so terrible and I wish people would understand the difference between us and the terrorists. They think because we read the **Koran** that we must want to kill Americans too. I just want to scream, IT’S NOT TRUE! Tomorrow is Patriotism Day. We’re suppose to wear red, white and blue and we’re going to bake cookies and make ribbons to sell for a fundraiser the school is hosting this coming weekend.

Aasmaa

Friday September 14, 2001 Dear Diary, Patriotism Day felt like Anti-Muslim day. I wore red, white and blue except for my hijab, which I only have in black or brown. Right away kids starting making comments, “look at Aasmaa she didn’t want to participate today she’s not really American”. They called me a towel head, said I was part of the towel ban. I hear of all of these sayings on TV and they are happening right in my school. Today I just wanted to rip my hijab off and throw it in the garbage. Why can’t they understand I’m not a terrorist! I have a nice family, my parents work, we pay our taxes, we don’t litter. We pray and have our beliefs, but we also love America. Why can’t anyone understand that?! I decided I’ve had enough and something needs to be done to change this.

Aasmaa

Saturday September 15, 2001 Dear Diary, Tonight I heard on the news that a man was killed at the gas station he owned because he looked like a terrorist. He was actually Sikh and not a Muslim. He was wearing a turban and was mistaken for having “Middle Eastern”ethnicity. Here we go again with that definition and assumption people make about us. Today we had our bake sale at school and raised a few thousand dollars for a 9/11 charity. Some people stared at me when I was behind the booth, but I’m getting used to it now.

Aasmaa

Sunday September 16, 2001 Dear Diary, This weekend I talked with my parents about what was happening at school. They said they weren’t surprised, but only I can do something to change this. They said many people don’t know about people like us, so they make judgments. People also hear things on the news or the Internet or from other people that don’t know the truth and also become **prejudice**. My parents suggested I try to talk to people about what our culture and religion is like. Show them a good sign of being Muslim. I thought about it and decided on Monday I will talk to my guidance counselor about the idea.

Aasmaa