My Name is Khan

              When the first plane hit, everyone was surprised. No one knew what was happening, some thought it was a mistake, and others thought it was an act of war. 9/11 is one of the most memorable days of American history. When the second planes some camera hadn’t seen the plane so they had thought it was an explosion from the first plane. The other camera’s had saw the second plane come flying down into the second building. Many people died that day. Nearly three- thousand people had died. Many innocent people died in an act of war.

                At first we as American’s blamed the Muslims and people from Iraq or Afghanistan. Once we were sure it was not them, we turned to Al Qaeda. Now Al Qaeda is one of America’s most hated countries. But what if it wasn’t an act of war? What if it were an act of reasoning? The government does not listen to reason but instead kill or destroy anything or anyone we do not like. Thousands of Mexicans attempt to cross the U.S. Mexico border to find freedom, to find salvation. But many of those thousands are refused their happiness.

                There is a new law where if a Mexican wants to become an American citizen, that person would have to join the U.S. military. So to enjoy their happiness in America they must join what they are trying to get away from? This does not seem the American way. Our forefathers had promised that this land would be a free land, a land where you could learn your religion freely. Where you would not be judged on the color of your skin, nor where you are from. And yet so many Americans are so racist that they only see evil in the average Muslim.

                When a young Muslim male comes to America he has a small happy life in Brooklyn, New York. Only after a short time is Rizwan Kahn marries an Indian named Mandira Kahn. They have a happy home in Los Angeles, California. Rizwan and his wife and her son Sameer (Sam), and joined by their neighbors who are Americans. This of course being before 9/11 had happened, they were all happy Sameer was doing fine in school he had befriended his neighbors son and then tragedy happened. No not the 9/11 attack. Rizwam’s neighbor’s husband was to join the war in Afghanistan, where shortly after he died.

                Outraged Sam and his friend began to drift away. Sam wanted to make things work out but Mark saw otherwise. Mark wanted Sameer to leave him alone and not talk to him but only a few months later Sameer couldn’t stand Mark being so frustrated with him. Sameer and Mark were on their way to soccer when Sameer caught up with Mark, Mark began yell. High school students also asked Sameer to leave Mark alone but Sameer only made things worse. When Sameer offended one of the high school students he kicked a soccer ball at Sameer. The impact of the ball had killed Sameer.

                Mandira had blamed her son’s death on their name being Khan. Rizwan didn’t want his beloved wife to be mad at him so he asked her what she wanted him to do to make her happy. She told him that he couldn’t come back to her until he met the president of the United States of American and told him; “My name is Khan. And I am not a terrorist.”

                To this day many people are still judged by what had happened on 9/11. Some people are told to leave, others have their belongings broken or stolen. Many Muslim people died because of what happened that faithful day. Many innocent Muslims. War does not change. All wars end with an act of death or some sort of symbol of death. The war against Al Qaeda, that war won’t end until either all American’s can forget and forgive or until all Muslims are dead.