RE: [TechRhet] talking to students

["Fadi Akhtar" <fbakhtar@ibisnet.net>]

Well....things were interesting at USF today.  I had a discussion about
the events in both my classes.  The first one was pretty silent, either
due to shock or boredom, but asked salient questions and I did my best to
explain everything to them and to make them wary of everything they see
and hear.  I could barely keep up with my second class.  They were
extremely open and curious about everything, and I could not give them any
definitive answers, but I did make sure they understood not to be ignorant
and not to point fingers at people of different colored skin and
attributes that are supposedly "Arab."

This was the first time in 7 years that I have not seen international
students milling about the library.  In talking to several teachers, many of
their Arab, Muslim, and Int. students either did  not show up to class or
left during the discussions.  I heard some reports of harrasment (one muslim
girl was "thrown down" at the school ATM) and I personally dealt with
several dirty looks and muttered slurs.  Nothing I did not face when I first
came to the country and people suspected I was an Iraqi spy...at 12 years
old mind you.  I hope it does not get worse and I hope my students will be
responsible in helping others understand and tolerate.  The school is having
a vigil tonight so I hope they address this problem.  I am lucky enough that
I am socialized in th American culture that I am an American in every way
except on paper.  Many of these International students, especially the new
ones, don't know what to make of any of this.  I sent an editorial to the
school newspaper, so hopefully that will help .  Gotta find some way to do
my part.

What has been distrubing is the way the media is using all these images and
replays to build fear and panic through vengeful patriotism.  Revenge is one
thing, justice is another.  I was appalled to find a whole page length in
the school newspaper occupied by a shot of someone in mid-fall from the
tower.  There is just not need to go to those lengths.  It will be
interesting to see how things progress.  I hope things are better when I get
back to school on Monday.  I just can;t imagine being so scared that you
can;t go to class.  Very sad.

Fadi 8{)