I am angered, scared and repulsed by this act of terrorism. It has caused incredible suffering for thousands of friends and families who lost their loved ones. The emotional carnage for many will take years to heal, if at all. The financial and economic impact cannot be measured. Saddest of all is the sense of well being that has seemed to completely vanished.

I, as many others demanded immediate action by the US, and thought we should annihilate someone, some group or some country, for it was the only way that we could show the world who the real boss is. We should get rid of those crazy religious zealots! No mercy I thought as I stormed around the office in the following days. I went home and put up the US flag in the window.

Like the rest of the country I was glued to CNN, MSNBC and anyone else that had new information. Even during lunch we went to places with TV’s so we could see if there was a new development. I slowly started feeling nervous and scared because of the threat of more terrorism on our soil, and because everyone was looking at me?

Then it dawned on me…..I look like ‘one of them’ Look like who? A terrorist? What is a terrorist? It is a person with darker skin and black hair. Oh, I see.

If another terrorist group committed this act, such as the IRA, would we single out people with red hair? Is that not the hair color of people from Ireland?

Not that it matters, but I am not Muslim and I am not from the Middle East. I grew up in this great country have paid my taxes, taken lumps in the stock market and supported the economy with reckless spending. Hell, I have only left the country a few times.

Well I am of Indian decent, but I am an American Citizen born in this country, and my father has been here for 35 years. I even attend parochial school when I was younger and attended church frequently.

I heard on the radio tonight, that an Indian gentleman in my home town that was working at his convenience store was shot dead by a lunatic who went on to shoot at a couple of more ‘terrorist types’. I immediately felt nauseous. He did not do anything, he is not affiliated with the terrorist, and the Indian government is supporting and cooperating with the US. Why kill him? In fact India as a nation is one of Osama Bin Laden’s ‘most hated countries’.

Oh, by the way, as I filled up my American truck with gas, I was told that I was not welcome here.

I now feel first hand the effects of racism and can only imagine what other cultures have had to endure such as African Americans.

I am excited though, because one day I will be a real American. Apparently after a long time, maybe a couple of generations or so, you become one of the gang. So maybe my kid will be part of the in crowd.

I have a question though for everyone that has come over from, Europe, Latin American or any other country (which I assume to be the majority of the population), how long did you have to wait before you were an American?

While I wait, let’s go kick some terrorist ASS!