Poem Explication of First Writing Since - Paper Example

Suheir Hammad is an American poet of Palestinian descent. Hammads parents immigrated to the United States when she was a child. Hammads poems talk about social and political issues. "First Writing Since," is Hammads reaction to September 11, 2001, attacks. Hammad reveals consequences that September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks had on Americas Muslim community. The poem advocates for American Muslims to be treated with respect and dignity, the same way that Americans of different religious affiliations are treated. In "First Writing Since" details pain and suffering that American Muslims contend with courtesy of the negative stereotypes and misconceptions that are leveled against them by the American Society. If the negative stereotypes and misconceptions continue to prevail, America will continue to be a nation that is divided along religious lines. Islamophobia is a serious problem in the United States. It is high time that Americans candidly talk about Islamophobia and find long-term solutions to the problem. The paper discusses discrimination, stereotypes, and misconceptions that people of Arab descent who live in the United States have to deal with on a daily basis.

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"First Writing Since," discusses September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The speaker wishes that on September 11, 2001, the first terrorist attack would have been caused by a failure of the pilots heart and the planes engine problem. The writer wishes that after the second attack, the perpetrators would not have been of Arab descent. Most Americans assume that there were no Arabs and Muslims who were killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Most people assume that Muslims who live in the United States are related to perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The poem reveals that it has become difficult for Muslims to practice their faith after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The poem reveals that there are accusations that the Muslim community in America has a reputation of tolerating terrorist activities.

Stereotypes against American Muslims are prevalent in the American society. However, negative stereotypes are very disturbing to individuals who are affected by the stereotypes. In "First Writing Since," Suheir Hammad reveals that Muslims in America have to deal with negative stereotypes on a daily basis. Hammad reveals that she is always being judged by other people because she is a Muslim. Hammad states that there is a day she was asked if she knew perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks! Hammad reveals her anger for being misjudged in the American society by calling people who incessantly give her negative labels motherfuckers. The poem reveals that the stereotypes leveled against Muslims in America are done so out of ignorance. Hammad reveals that most people have a habit of degrading something that they do not understand. Most Americans do not know the difference between Indians, Syrians, Hindus, Sikhs, Afghanis and Muslims. Hammad is unafraid of writing what she feels. She states that it is wrong for Muslims to be discriminated against because of their religious affiliation. It is revealed in the poem that Arabs in America have been greatly affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The speaker beseeches the rest of America to understand the pain, fears, and difficulties that Arabs in America have to contend with on a daily basis. Arabs in America continue to live a nightmare after the terrorist attack. Arabs and Muslims in America continue to be treated with suspicion after the terrorist attacks. Arabs and Muslims have continued to be feared after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. American Muslims continue to find it difficult to live normal lives because of the anxiety that comes with being treated as a suspect. American Muslims are treated as if at any time; they can wreck havoc to the rest of Americans. Hammad reveals that she has a brother who works in the military. There is a point Hammad is asked which Navy her brother was in. Apparently, Hammad brothers Arab looks betray them! Apparently, people believe that an American of Arab descent cannot faithfully serve in the Navy. There are people who believe that there were no Arabs or Muslims who were killed in the terrorist attacks. There are people who believe that Muslims are a representation of evil. All Muslims in America are being vilified for the actions of few Muslims who perpetrated the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Women of Arab descent who live in America are incessantly bothered and afraid of their lives and those of their family members because of the negative stereotypes leveled against the Muslim community in the United States. Muslim women are very worried about the fate of Muslim men because, apparently in the United States, all Muslim men are terror suspects. The women are afraid that their men may be rounded up at any time by government officials and taken to secret prisons where they would be tortured. After September 11, 2001, attacks, many Muslim men were rounded up and taken to secret prisons where they were tortured by the United States government officials in an attempt to obtain information from them that would help the government tackle the threat of terrorism.

Misconceptions about Muslims in America are prevalent. Hammad reveals that journalism plays a major role in creating the misconceptions and perpetuating them. The generalization that all Muslims are related to terrorists or they support terrorism has been developed by inaccurate information that journalists have disseminated to the public. Americans of other religious affiliations have preconceived perceptions of Muslims. There are many thoughts and judgments that have been imposed on Muslims in the United States by individuals who belong to other religions. It is a shame that even though literacy levels in America is one of the highest in the world; Americans cannot tell that there is a difference between few Muslims who subscribe to extremist ideals and a majority of Muslims who are peaceful and law-abiding individuals. Fear and suspicion that Americans have of Muslims have prevented them from truly knowing who Muslims truly are. Muslims in America continue to live with anxiety because of being treated in a suspicious manner. The poem reveals that American Muslims wish September 11, 2001, never happened. American Muslims are of the opinion that had the terrorist attack never happened; they would probably not be treated with suspicion by the rest of Americans. Apparently, the rest of America does not know that there were American Muslims who killed in the terrorist attacks. It is assumed that American Muslims did not lose their loved ones in the terrorist attacks. The poem reveals that the truth of the matter is that American Muslims were also heartbroken by the loss of lives that were brought about by the terrorist attacks. American Muslims were also mournful when they saw the collapse of buildings and felt the pain for families that lost their loved ones in the attacks.

In conclusion, "First Writing Since" reveals issues that American Muslims contend with after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Negative stereotypes have been developed against American Muslims that label them as individuals who shield terrorists and support terrorism. Muslims in the United States continue to be profiled as sympathizers of terrorism. There are many misconceptions in America about Muslims that have been perpetuated by journalists. There are misconceptions that all Muslims are a threat to the security of America as a country. The anti- Muslim sentiment is prevalent in American society. American Muslims continue to be victims of negative perceptions. American Muslims have to contend with Islamophobia on a daily basis. The majority of American Muslims are children of immigrants. Like Hammad, American Muslims who are children of immigrants have to prove that they are not what the negative stereotypes suggest. Anti-Muslim bigotry was at its fringes before September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but after the terrorist attacks and subsequent terrorist attacks such as the San-Bernardino terrorist attack, anti-Muslim bigotry has heightened to a level never seen before in American history. American Muslims continue to live in fear because of the negative stereotypes perpetuated in the society against them. It is unfortunate that the misconceptions suggest that Muslims are predisposed to be violent individuals. Being a Muslim should not make a person less of an American!