Yes, Ms. Omar, Some People Did Do Something
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and her political allies are today vigorously flooding social media, defending recent comments made by the Congresswoman. Omar and her allies are saying political opponents are taking her words out of context. Here is the context.
Far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen, and frankly, I’m tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.
I do not see how the context improves her position.
It was exciting and fulfilling; I loved my job. For twenty years I served as a Firefighter and Lieutenant in The New York City Fire Department.
On September 8, 2001, I worked what I thought would be my last tour of duty with Engine Company 5 in Manhattan’s East Village. On the morning of September 11th, I was onboard a flight bound for Hawaii. The wheels of my plane lifted from the JFK runway at 08:44 AM. As my flight gained altitude, I witnessed a plane crashing into the north tower of The World Trade Center.
My decision to retire saved my life. The Lieutenant who replaced me at Engine 5 died at the Trade Center that day along with 342 of my FDNY colleagues. Contained within that grim statistic are the lives of twenty personal friends, men I loved. My flight was grounded in Dayton, Ohio where I rented a car and retruned to work, retiring a second time in January 2002.
The days and months following 911 were tumultuous, to say the least. In the Fire Department we were keenly aware of the possibiity of anti-Muslim backlash. I remember conducting preparedness drills specific to the Mosque nearby on 1st Avenue and 12th Street. There was inter agency cooperation with NYPD regarding tactics focused on protecting the East Village Muslim community as well.
I am not a Muslim. Most members of my department were not Muslim. While we were angry, wanting the people who murdered our friends and neighbors held accountable, I do not recall much animus directed at the Muslim faith. But yes, there was plenty of anger and hatred toward murderous Muslim extremists and their suicidal ideolgy. Social distinctions are tricky. As a leader, I took it upon myself to model tolerance.
Just a week prior to 911, I was a guest at an East Village birthday party for an eighty year old Imam. I was very happy to be there. The crowd of about one hundred followers of this pleasant, elderly holy man were having fun. They were drinking Raki, a potent, Turkish version of Ouzo. I participated in a dance where about thirty men and women held hands in a circle and moved in toward the center, then out again in a full, arm extended circle, moving to uplifting Turkish music. When the group reached the extremes of the undulating circle, they would yell, with a whoop, punctuating the song they were singing, the Turkish song. I had no idea what they were singing. The experience, however, was exhilarating, joyful. After the dance I was sitting next to my host as he swallowed a big gulp from his drink, his potent, alcoholic Raki. It hit me.
I thought Muslims didn’t drink!
With a smile my friend responded, we’re not that kind of Muslim, and took another swig. My friend’s congregation were Turkish, Sufi Muslims. The experience underscored the common sense notion that Islamic beliefs are diverse; murdering Jihadist do not represent the whole Muslim world.
Every day I gratefully reflect on my good fortune. I have had a very good life in many ways. The serindipitous good fortune that saved my life on 911 is breathtaking. I am playing with house money. My post FDNY retiement days have taken me to many countires around the world. Today I live in Bangkok Thailand. I am acuely aware of, and grateful for, my unearned good fortune to have been born in America. It is a special place with unrivaled prosperity and cultural diversity. Such diversity, however, requires tollerance and enlightened leadership.
If I, Congresswoman Omar, were talking to a group about some dark, violent aspect of history, say a school shooting, I would never describe it as some people did something. That is gaslighting of the highest order, no matter the context. You, Madam, are now in a leadership role, a Representative of the United States Congress. In the future, please be a more worthy role model.
