Why 9/11 Anniversaries Are Also Devastating For Muslim-Americans

On the morning of the terrorist attacks orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, the Saudi born heir to a massive fortune, who used his influential status as the launch pad for the militant organization known as al-Qaeda, I was living in Jersey City, and getting prepped for the commute to the Upper East Side for another long day as a salesperson for a high-end retail store.

I had just wished my beloved mother a very happy birthday via a phone card that always allotted no more than two minutes of static-free conversation regardless of how much you shelled out.

The weather was gloriously beautiful like most days in early September, and as usual the television was on while I raced around the apartment I shared with my younger brother who was already at school.

When the first plane hit the tower, there wasn’t any cause for alarm, and it actually didn’t resemble the gigantic airliner that it turned out to be. The impact exposed the urgency of the situation, and while the anchors speculated that it could be a commuter plane, I quickly grabbed my bag and robotically walked out the door.

As soon as the Path Train pulled into the 33rd Street Station, we were informed that service had been suspended. Once we emerged from the underground, the gorgeous blue sky and temperate…