Young Americans Discuss Challenges, Solutions for Post-9/11 American-Muslim Relations

I mentioned a conference in DC that Americans for Informed Democracy organized a few weeks ago on the 5th anniversary of the WTC attacks. Fortunately, I got to attend and actually take a more active role than that which I anticipated, but it was well worth it.

I got the opportunity to introduce South Asian rock legend Salman Ahmad when the conference started and after the closing of the event, was whisked away to the CNN studios for an interview on CNN International. What a weekend that was!

As mentioned before, the 9/11 plus Five topic has generated much interest from all quarters and present at the conference were some people who were covering it for their media outlets. This link will take you to a PBS Newshour webpage where some youth are discussing their views on the state of affairs five years after the tragedy that befell all Americans on 9/11.

9/11 plus Five: The State of Affairs for Muslims in post-9/11 America

I promised to post something on this topic last week and now it just seems like it's not newsworthy anymore, considering the anniversary was commemorated almost two weeks ago.

Irrespective of this lapse of time - and my indolence! - I will go ahead and provide my readers with this guest blog posting of mine on ThePeopleSpeak.org website. It's a project run by the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and Victoria Baxter at UNF is the coordinator there. It's been a real pleasure working with her and her intern, George Lomsadze, as they try to make global issues accessible to all people and have the assistance of many influentials in the process.

Frankly, I am quite privileged to have my writing featured on the same forum where Newt Gingrich and Jane Holl Lute (UN ASG for Peacekeeping Operations) have their writing published. I just hope the message gets across and that we learn important and crucial lessons instead of repeating history.