Ten years ago, on a bright and crisp Tuesday morning, 19 men who claimed to be Muslims did what no American had ever envisioned. These 19 men did not just attack the most prominent landmark of the Manhattan skyline, but they attacked the very core of the American value of freedom and tolerance. It was a day that left Americans stunned and shook their sense of security and peace. Today, the tenth anniversary of this horrific event is being commemorated all across the country in many different manners.

Many of us are now remembering the day and recollecting where we were and what we were doing at that moment. Islam became a household word and began to be associated with “violence” and “terrorism”. Muslims in America suddenly began to feel as outcasts and pariahs. The ignorance of the public surfaced and more innocent lives were lost due to a backlash. Every Muslim became a possible terrorist and was subject to profiling at airports.

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