“Do these Muslims Hate America?” August 22, 2003. By Jawed Anwar, Muslims.

On Thursday, August 14, around 4:30 pm, when I was looking at a fax just sent by Julie Alighieri, from New Immigrant Community Empowerment for Vigil against Violence on Immigrants, and I was trying to call her, all of sudden power broke down. Then I realized that, the line is not going through any number of 212. Then, I tried cellular numbers that also was not working. Later, I realized that there was a complete blackout and noted that we heavily depend on the "power." If there is no Power, there is no Life. Technology is a strength and weakness at the same time.

Every family living in the New York has their own story on the evening and the night of Thursday. My children, going to ICNA summer school was on a trip of Manhattan on that day. They were stuck on subway and got out from the emergency exit. "There was suffocation. it looked that I could not breath," said Tooba, my seven years girl child.

Around 5: 30 pm, I was in front of the gate of ICNA Markaz located at 166 street and 89th Avenue, Jamaica, to know about the summer school students visiting Manhattan. No body, had information. I saw non- Muslim neighbor teenagers in a group came towards me and asked; "Are you Muslim." The words struck my mind. I thought (as I was expecting) that a radio station might announce the culprit of power blackout and that might be "Muslim Terrorists."

Scared a bit, I replied with confidence: "Yes", I am a Muslim. "From Where You Are?" It was their second question. "I am from America," "I am American," I impressed them. They smiled, shook hand and gone.

Then I saw our African-American Imam Abdul Baqi, president of Jamaica Muslim Youth Center. He left his home after power break down for Con-Edison office to inform them that "he paid his bills and they are not supposed to cut his electricity." Later he realized that the history of November 9, 1965 and July 14 of 1977 was repeating.

"I am scary and I am expecting the same loot and arson as it was in '65 and '77," he said.

I came out after Asr prayer and till that time I got the news that our children are okay and going to reach home soon. But my mind was disturbed and boggling. "The natural light of sun is going to disappear soon and in the absence of artificial lights, mobs will start looting the stores and no indoor video camera is going to catch the images and telephone is not working to call the police. The prices of essential commodities like batteries, candles, and foods will increase excessively and storekeepers will try to get the advantage of the situation."

When I reached to 168 Hillside Avenue, Jamaica, I was surprised to note that there were long queues on the stores to buy candles, torches, and batteries and they were selling things at the same price. There was no looting, killing, arson on Thursday and Friday. The ratio of crime was less than normal day (See our editorial on this issue).

At 168 street, Tahoor Ahmed, age 68, founder President of Jamaica Muslim Center and one of the early Muslim immigrant living in this area was controlling the traffic with the help of some Muslim Youth. This was the only intersection on Hillside Avenue on Thursday evening, where the flow of traffic was smooth. He controlled the traffic till the sunset. I ran to get a camera from my office located at 169 and took some pictures (See the picture and story on the front page). We got similar news from area of Masjid Ehsan and Masjid Taqwa in Brooklyn and several other places, where Muslim volunteers controlling the traffic and providing other essential civic immunities to the people. I was recalling the question frequently asked by some "Superemist Americans," why they hate us? Are Tahoor Ahmed and all those Muslim volunteers were doing community service like this while they were hating America?

The question should be bettered asked by Muslims; why they hate us?