Mosin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist shows a lot of the differences before and after the 9/11 attacks. Security measures prior to the terrorist attacks of September 2001 were much more relaxed compared to today. They were so relaxed, in fact, that “The FAA allowed knives of up to 4 inches in length on board an aircraft” (Schaper). But after 9/11, these restrictions were completely changed. No longer can you board an airplane without going through layers of security and multiple screenings.
These restrictions have made it much more difficult for Muslim-Americans to make it through security. Sometimes it is almost impossible for them to return to their home country. A lot of these hurtful views towards Muslims stem from Americans who are scarred from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. According to a study done by Washington State University, “58 percent of Americans favored a requirement that Arabs have a special and more intensive screening process at airports” (Brooklier). The unfair treatment of Arabs cannot even be blamed solely on the FAA. Americans are allowing their fear of terrorist attacks to unfairly profile people trying to enter their own country.
This disparate targeting of Muslims is completely unfair. It should not be allowed for TSA to screen certain people more than others. The same security measures should be taken for each person attempting to enter the country. The current way that TSA functions treats many Muslim Americans as if they have committed a crime, despite having done nothing wrong. This treatment is also only observed in airports. A Gallup poll reveals that “31% of the respondents agreed that some racial profiling of motorists was justified on roads and highways, while 45% supported it at security checkpoints at airports” (Selod). There need to be changes made in the airport security field in order to have equality among all people trying to leave and enter the country. Security should be equally strict on every single person.
Works Cited
Brooklier, Nicholas. “Washington State University.” Law and Justice in Real Time Islamophobia The Stereotyping and Prejudice Towards Muslims Since 911 Comments, 17 Dec. 2015, https://hub.wsu.edu/law-justice-realtime/2015/12/17/islamophobia-the-stereotyping-and-prejudice-towards-muslims-since-911/.
Schaper, David. “It Was Shoes on, No Boarding Pass or ID. but Airport Security Forever Changed on 9/11.” NPR, NPR, 10 Sept. 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/09/10/1035131619/911-travel-timeline-tsa.
Selod, Saher. “Targeting Muslim Americans in the Name of National Security.” Scholars Strategy Network, https://scholars.org/contribution/targeting-muslim-americans-name-national-security.
Hi,
I liked your post, and I agree with your point on how this discrimination against a majority of Muslims is unfair, it only proves Adichie’s words on a “single story”. In this case after 9/11, we see how a large amount of Americans subjected anyone who was Muslim under the assumption that they were terrorists, evil, etc. In “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”, Changez receives unfair treatment on boarding and in New York just for being a man from Pakistan who had a beard. I still think we see some of the resentment towards Muslims that was prevalent after 9/11 in modern day, and it’s something that needs to change.
Hi! Really great post. I couldn’t agree more with your argument. The stereotyping of Muslim Americans has gone to extreme lengths since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is very sad to think that some individuals are studied in much more depth when entering and leaving the country than others. This stigma against Muslim Americans needs to end. We see threats everyday in this country made by individuals of all races and ethnicities. America needs change.
Hello!
I completely agree. In America, we have made many discriminatory actions illegal as we come to realize their harmfulness. This discrimination in airport security against Muslim individuals is outrageous and needs to stop.
I agree that everyone should be screened equally. I think as a country will still believe in stereotypes way too much especially when it comes to travel (on the road or by flying). We see way too many Muslim-Americans being stopped and asked questions for no other reason but the way they look.
Hi! Very interesting presentation! It is horrible how targeted the Muslims are in the US. I agree. that it should not be allowed for TSA to screen certain people more than others. The TSA should screen everybody equally and fairly, and not certain races or cultures more than others.