Terrorists come from all the cults

By Janice Podsada

Herald Writer

EDMONDS — Pranab Kumar was scared. He had walked out of a laundromat near 220th Street SW last week when a pickup truck stopped in front of him and three men got out and walked menacingly toward him,

"How do you like your buddies blowing up the World Trade Towers?" they asked.

A hush crept over a crowd of 300 college students as Kumar related his story — how he ducked back inside the laundromat because there would be witnesses. But the men did not follow him.

The Edmonds Community College students skipped class or forfeited their lunch hour to hear a panel of five speakers — instructors at the college, advisers and alumni — talk about how the terrorist attacks have affected their lives. The topic, "Thinking Out Loud: A Community Reflects on 9-11," was part of a college brown bag series. Some panelists were Muslim; Charles Cox, an EdCC instructor, advises the campus Arab Friendship Group.

Learn more

Everett Community College plans a free forum at noon today during which the college faculty will discuss the terrorist attacks from historical, cultural, political, sociological and religious perspectives.

The forum, which is open to the public, will be in the Parks Student Union multpurpose room. A question-and-answer period follows.

Kumar came to the United States from India 14 years ago. Now an American citizen, he teaches English at EdCC.

In recent weeks, his dark skin and black hair have made him a target. To an extent, he said, he understands it: the anger, the being singled out. But he wanted students to know that people from all over the world come here because they want to, because their own countries are full of terrorists.

"There are some of us who came here to escape the same kind of madness that took down the trade towers," he said.

Kumar’s admission surprised Cameron Clark, 18, of Edmonds, a student in the audience. "They want to be here to get away from terrorism," he said, repeating the phrase, allowing it to sink in. "I came here hoping to find some different point of views from people that are Muslim," Clark said. "I found them."

Panelist Farhana Kazmi graduated from EdCC in June. The religion she follows, Islam, does not tolerate terrorists. "I was saddened to learn that some Muslims were suspect."

Farhana Kazmi

"It is forbidden in Islam to kill human beings," she told the audience.

Kazmi, who is from Pakistan, said her country is a friend to the United States. "I hope we can relieve the world of terrorists. God bless America,"

Cheers from the audience followed her words.

Cox, an instructor at EdCC who teaches English as a second language, said the Arab students he has spoken with would agree with Kazmi.

This week, Cox spoke with 19 Arab students who attend EdCC that are members of the Arab Friendship Group.

The Arab students knew he would be speaking Thursday. There was a great range of feelings, he said. Some said they could understand why some people might be angry at the United States, but their anger did not justify terrorism.

The Arab students were emphatic. Please tell other students, they said to him, "What happened does not represent Islam. These people were acting politically, not religiously," Cox said, repeating the group’s collective thoughts.

Tony Barger, 32, of Edmonds, who skipped lunch to attend the panel discussion, said afterward, "In any religion you get people who are religious fanatics. Jim Jones ordered hundreds of people to commit suicide, and he called himself a Christian."

"Terrorists come from all the different cults," Barger added.

You can call Herald Writer Janice Podsada at 425-339-3029 or send e-mail to podsada@heraldnet.com.

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