9/11 to Springfield, OH
Every September 11, like many of you, I take a moment to reflect on my experience on that fateful day. In 2001, we were living in Richmond, Virginia. We had a young family; our daughters were just four years old. I was working for General Electric at the time. I remember watching the dreadful events unfold on the TV in the entranceway.
Around lunchtime, the office closed. Just before leaving, I received an email from a colleague who sadly asked: “Why are you doing this to us? Why don’t you go back home?”
That jolted me. What would a stranger think if someone who knew me and my family could think that? I headed home, fearful and uncertain about my family’s future and safety. What would the average American believe upon seeing me and my family?
As a Sri Lankan, this fear was compounded by our own history. In 1983, a minority Tamil terrorist group ambushed and killed thirteen members of a Sri Lankan Army patrol, which led to a week of violence on the island. Thugs and extremists of the majority Sinhala race killed, looted, and burned minority Tamil families, homes, and businesses. The leadership at that time watched it happen and did nothing to protect its own people. It was the beginning of a 30-year civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans.
With that on my mind, the fear and uncertainty only intensified. The political climate was different then. George Bush was president. Republicans and Democrats came together and ensured the safety of minorities, predominantly Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern people. There were a couple of incidents, but nothing spiraled out of control. An Indian gentleman who was mistaken as an Arab owing to his turban was tragically killed, but in most cases, people were safe and felt safe. The leadership’s response in the US stood in stark contrast to what I had witnessed in my homeland, leaving a lasting impression on me.
Even today, years later, the memories of that September day linger. It serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and compassion in the face of tragedy and leadership’s critical role in shaping our collective response to such events.
Let’s fast forward to a second Trump term. Given the constant demonizing of immigrants. The anti-immigrant vitriol you hear from Trump and his right-wing base, especially towards immigrants of color. Calling them criminals and rapists, how are they here primarily to kill us.
The lies they are currently perpetuating about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are seeing bomb threats to hospitals and schools. The KKK handed out leaflets calling immigrants filth, and the Proud Boys organized rallies to intimidate immigrants.
I’m dreading to imagine an incident, not that it needs to be as significant as September 11, even a more minor event, where a dozen people get killed by a Middle Eastern terrorist group.
Trump’s right-wing white supremacist base, his militia groups like the Proud Boys, will go on a killing spree and hurt a lot of innocent people.
As Trump did on January 6, 2021, he will watch it happen. He will not stop it. He will encourage it.
I know a fair amount of South Asians who support Trump. Maybe it is lower taxes or being anti-woke are more important than the morals and character of the man.
I hope they all take a moment to think whether Trump will keep them safe. Just think about it — will he keep you safe?
