Human Rights

Across the world, millions are subjected to physical and psychological torture and other forms of politically motivated violence and abuse. Now more than ever, The United States has become a safe escape for these victims of torture. The United States government estimates that over 500,000 immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the United States have been victims of politically motivated torture. According to the United States government, these survivors have come to the United States from Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the relationship between the general public and Arab Americans has changed dramatically. Prior to 9/11, Arab Americans had relatively similar experiences to those of other immigrant groups in the United States, and were recognized by many as being a politically, economically, and spiritually diverse group.

I had been to New York City before, enough times to consider myself more knowledgeable than the average tourist. After all, I have seen the Empire State Building, been to Times Square, and walked through Central Park. Hey, I can even work the subway system. I thought that I knew NYC.

I didn’t. New York City is more than beautiful clothes and people, as I quickly discovered during a trip there for serving the homeless. The trip was undoubtedly an eye-opener about the degree of homelessness and also, poignantly, about myself.

Imagine if suddenly your school banned the wearing of pants on school grounds. They gave you plenty of notice to prepare for the transition—to grow comfortable with the humiliating sensation of walking around… pant-less. To many students in France, these feelings of embarrassment and indecency would not be entirely unfamiliar.