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Narrative and Descriptive Essay
Dressed in my woollen coat, a scarf carefully wrapped around my neck and a glove in each hand, I was standing at the airport in a chilly afternoon with bags in my hands eager to go back home after almost three years. Everything here looked calm, but with long queues of passengers checking in. As usual, airports are very busy at this time of the year with many people travelling to various destinations to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. I patiently waited in line for my turn. In a business suit and reading a newspaper while he waited was a white man who looked as though he was travelling for business. He seemed very composed and not like the person behind me who was constantly nagging complaining about the congestion issue in airports.
You know, after the September 11 incident people of my religious believes have been viewed differently as supporters of the bombing that led to the death of thousands of Americans and others from different countries (Moore 2009). Since then I have learned to keep to myself by refraining from engaging in any discussions with people that might lead me to trouble. “I really can not stand this kind of congestion; the airport management has to do something about it. What do you think?” the lady behind me asked. Without a definite answer, I solemnly agreed by nodding my head. By now, I could get a slight pinch from my left shoe because I had been standing for hours and could not wait to get to the front of the line.
Finally, it was my turn. I felt some excitement since it would be just a few hours, then I would be with my family back in India. The lady welcomed me with a broad smile as the airport authority has tutored them to. “Good afternoon, can I have you ticket and passport please?” the lady asked politely. I handed them to her with my left hand since my right hand was overwhelmed with all the bags that I was carrying. She examined my passport very carefully checking all the important details. By looking at her, I could tell that she was newly employed since she looked very enthusiastic about her job. She was wearing a blue suit with a blue scarf wrapped around her neck to match her outfit. Her name was Mitchell as clearly indicated on the badge hanging by her neck. “Please wait at the corner for you to go through the security checks” she said and again with that broad smile on her face.
At the corner where, I was directed, two men and a lady with security uniform were waiting eagerly for me. They hurriedly snatched my bags from me demanding that I take my coat, scarf and shoes for a thorough inspection. My bag was ruthlessly opened and all the clothes that took me hours to pack were now lying on the floor. The lady and one of the men were going through my bags as the other man searched my coat carefully examining what his colleagues were doing. “With these people you can never be sure of what they are carrying” the one holding the coat said in a stern voice. Looking back at the other passengers on the queue, all were paying close attention to what was going on anticipating for pulling out of any suspicious item that resembled a bomb from my bag. That had to be the most embarrassing incident that I had been through. It could not even match up with the time that a white man stopped me in the streets as though to ask for something. “If it was not for you, my daughter would be alive today” he shouted at the top of his voice in an angry tone attracting the attention of other people passing by. That moment has lingered in my mind ever since, but I have to admit that my experience at the airport wins the award for most humiliating and embarrassing moments of my life.
After searching all my belongings, I was directed to join the other passengers waiting for the flight which was that was going to finally reunite me with the rest of my family. I collected my clothes carelessly putting them in my bag with tears running down my cheeks. Everybody looked at me suspiciously avoiding me like plaque. I could see the disappointment in their faces since they all expected that the security officers would find something in my bag to make an arrest.
As discussed in the article “In a Virtual Internment Camp: Muslim Americans since 9/11”, Muslims in America are living with constant fear and discrimination. What happened to me at the airport and even on the streets has happened to many Muslims after the September 11 terrorist attack. It is therefore our responsibility to accept what happened and look for possible solutions without always looking for someone to point fingers at.
Works Cited
Moore Jina. “Post 9/11, Americans say Muslims face most discrimination” The Christian Science Monitor. September 11, 2009.
Mujahid Abdul. “In a Virtual Internment Camp: Muslim Americans since 9/11” Mission Islam.
