As we as a nation reminisce on the horror of 9/11, and all of the terroristic attacks that have happened, we have to reflect on the past years events and how cultural diversity has become somewhat of a thing to be feared. The article Turbans, Hoodies and Misdirected American Aggression by Christopher Emdin highlights the ever growing epidemic that has plagued the United States and other countries for decades. Ethnocentrism among even fellow Americans of diverse backgrounds has become somewhat of a cause for fear which in turn leads to hate crimes and ultimately death as seen in the Travion Martin case as well as the Sikh Shootings right here in our own front yard.
In the article, Mr. Emdim compares the Sikh shootings, and the miseducation that the Sikh community is in some way linked to Alkida and the Taliban, to the fear that Travion Martin was some type of threat, simply because of the hoodie that he chose to wear on that fateful day. He goes on to speak of us using certain socializing agents such mass media outlets and religious institutions that highlight what taboos we as Americans living the “ American way” or the American dream should take part in or have as standard in our lifestyles. For example, prior to last month’s shootings at the Oak Creek Sikh temple, many of us knew nothing of the Sikh religion. I too must say that I thought that they were Muslims, maybe not the Taliban, but some sort of Muslim religious offspring. In this Modern Culture we find ourselves in, we see a rise in killings sparked by fear of the unknown or a non-mainstream approach of living, working, or worshiping.
As I recall my feelings and thought on the Travion Martin shooting, and how out raged many African Americans where that still, in 2012, we had these types of misconceptions. I felt that same outrage at the lack of purpose for senseless deaths of a community of people