What If He Blows Up?
Ghassan Charbel Al-Hayat - 02/08/05//
A young man living in London told me a story and I felt that it was necessary to repeat what he had said. This young man who is in his early twenties, said that he was on his way to work at some stage in the second wave of explosions in the British capital. He took the underground and grabbed a seat. He was carrying a briefcase that contained nothing more than personal documents and papers. He added that after a few minutes he noticed another man who was sitting next to him left his seat and moved away. He turned around and saw other passengers were gazing at the briefcase and its owner. He also added that he felt an increasing apprehension among the passengers on the underground. This man had oriental features. If we add this to the marks of the briefcase he was carrying, fear becomes possible or justified.
This young man also added that he thought of changing his place, but he quickly remembered that this will only increase the suspicions and he feared the repetition of the same scenario in other parts of the underground wagons. It occurred to him that the best and quickest solution is for him to descend in the nearest station. However, such a solution was only temporary because after a few minutes he was bound to continue his journey to his working place. The scenario would be repeated if he chose to ride the bus instead of the underground. This young man said that he read in the passengers eyes in the underground a single phrase what if it blows up now?
The young man said that he works for a reputable company and he was able to obtain his job after a difficult and competitive examination. He also said that he carries a British passport, pursued his education in London and benefited from the public subsidies. He assured that he never felt any segregation neither in school nor in the company he works for. His Arab and Islamic belonging was never considered to be a weak point and his relations with other people were always the decisive factor. Suddenly, the man decided to be totally honest, as he said, stressing that Britain gave him an opportunity that he lacked in his native country. Britain provided him with an education in a university he would never even dream of attending in his native country. He was wondering about his future and that of many people like him, if these suicide or explosive attacks were repeated in Britain or in any other western country.
I mentioned the story of this young man because I felt that the Arab and Islamic communities in Europe are facing an unprecedented danger, as they found themselves in one way or another in confrontation with countries that they originally immigrated to, absconding from poverty or repression. Indeed, we could talk in length about the problem of blending in society or adapting; about the linguistic or cultural difficulties and perhaps the ethnic and religious barriers. However, it is almost certain the European laws do not include any call for segregation. The most dangerous thing that is currently going on is that the plea to dissociate from these societies is particularly coming from these communities. These are not mere pleas for disengagement but rather a call for deadly clashes. The danger of the resounding practices are not alleviated by the fact that they emanate from a minority. The explosions and suicide operations place an entire group of people under scrutiny. The inspection operations and search break-ins increase sensitivities.
It is true that some of the peoples of the communities objected to the policies of the states they are living in, especially with regard to the respective states policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also true that addressing the hosting communities with explosives damages the Arab and Islamic communities in the first place. There are fears along this course that Al Qaeda has succeeded within these communities, more than it succeeded in the Arab and Islamic countries. If it proves to be true, then front lines will be established in the heart of the European cities and suburbs. Most probably the infection of these lines was at the top of the 9/11 attacks objectives.
The growing fear among Europeans vis-à-vis the Arab and Islamic communities is extremely dangerous. As it is extremely dangerous for eyes to be staring at a certain passenger on a train or bus, or any other passerby, while wondering: “What if he blows up.”
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