The Impacts of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on Turkish Americans - Article Example

The impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Turkish Americans and their invisibility in the United s Introduction 9/11 World Trade Centre attack has created many changes in the world. In fact, it separated the world into two different cultures; one led by the Muslims and the other led by the Christians and other religions. It should be noted that Hindu dominated countries like India also aligned with America in their struggle against war on terror. War on terror is perceived by many Muslims as the war against their culture and beliefs. In any case it is a fact that 9/11 incident has created many changes in the global political and sociological spectrums. Immigration is one area in which America started to put restriction after 9/11incident. In fact, America started to conduct body checkups on all suspected visitors of America, especially from the Muslim community. Even former India’s president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam forced to undergo body scanning in one of the American airports recently. Before 9/ 11, United States was an immigrant’s paradise. However, after 9/11, the conditions has changed for immigrants very dramatically. In fact, Americans are still living in the terrible memories of 9/11 incident. They never experienced such an experience in the recent past. America has started to tighten the screws on immigration in the name of homeland security after the 9/11 incidents. It should be noted that America was ready to accept or welcome people from any parts of the world to their soil before the 9/11 attacks. However, at present they are not much interested in encouraging immigration of any kind, especially from Muslim countries. Because of the tightened immigration policies, immigrants all over the world are currently struggling to find a place in America. Turkish people are one of the major community which is facing severe problems in America. In fact there are many Turkish Americans in America who started to stay away from the mainstreams of American social life. Right after the 9/11; discrimination, stereotyping, and hate crimes started to increase dramatically in America. Americans started to visualize all people of Muslim origin suspiciously after 9/11. Aims and Objectives The first aim of this paper is to research about 9/11 and it is social, economic, and psychological effects on the Immigrants from Turkey. The second aim is to find out whether the immigrants were able to adapt with the social life of United States. The major objective of this paper is to show how the immigrants, especially Muslims, struggle to find a place in America because of the new policies. For convenience, this paper limits its focus on Turkish immigrants to learn more about the immigration problems in America at present facing by the Muslim community. Additionally, this paper shows how the backlash after 9/11 terrorist attacks interrupt the adaptation process of the Turkish Americans. Methodology In order to get more insights into the topic, I conducted a survey among the Turkish American people of New York. This survey has included many questions related to the social, economic, and political life of Turkish Americans in United States after 9/11 incident. Questions such as; Why did they live in United States; Which factors forced them to come here; Do they like living in United States at present; Do they interact with other cultures, and How did 9/11 affected their lives etc. Apart from the above survey results, interviews, document analysis (such as newspaper, essays about 9/11 and its effects on Turkish immigrants), media analysis, direct observations etc are used to write this paper. This research comprises of three parts. In the first Part, I give the immigration history from Turkey to United States and the adaptation of the immigrants to United States. In the second part I give information about backlash on Turks, and the consequence of that backlash. In the third part I evaluate the data obtained from my research. Turkish Immigration to United States Immigration from Turkey started during the 1880’s and since then over 428.000 people arrived in United States. Immigration from Turkey to America can be classified into three different periods according to Karpat; “from the end of the 19th century to beginning of the 20th century, From WW2 to the early 1980s, and after 1980’s” (Karpat). Even though, immigration from Turkey had started as early as in the periods of Ottoman Empire in Turkey, it started to create many problems. The problem embedded here is that the Ottoman Empire, consisted of many different identities (millets) such as, Arabs, Christians, Kurds, Muslims, Jews, Greeks Syrians etc and the first immigrants were labeled as Turks instead of their Millets in American records. As a result of such injudicious labeling, the exact numbers of Turkish immigrants to America is still unknown. Bali (2004) has pointed out that “Due to fear of discrimination, many immigrants hid their ethnic identity and their religion; Kurds hided their ethnic identities and Muslims hided their religion” (Bali). Ottoman Empire was exhausted and the living standards of the Turkish people were poor between the period of 1920 -1980. At the same time, United States was seen as a country of opportunities and that is why many Turkish immigrants started to migrate to United States. During that period, America attracted immigrants from different communities and cultures all over the world. The major objective of Immigration during that period was to work in United States and to send money to their home country so that the economy of Turkey could be rejuvenated. “Poor and low educated Turkish immigrants started to work at iron and leather factories, automobiles and soap factories under hard conditions’ ( Karpat). Turks immigrated to America both individually and in small groups during this period. Even after saving enough money to return back to Turkey, many of the immigrants remained in United States and they completely adopted American culture. Most Turkish immigrants to America during this period were males. During 1920’s, nearly 300000 people immigrated from Turkey to United States. However, Many of these immigrated preserved their identity and never integrated into the main stream s American social life. Such people choose to live in New England, New York, Detroit, and Chicago because of abundant employment opportunities. The National Origins Quota Act of America which came into existence during the 1930’s was successful in limiting immigrations and as a result of that, from 1930 to 1970s immigration from Turkey has been reduced considerably. However, immigration from Turkey started to increase again after the 1980s. Akgun (2000) has pointed out that “Turkish immigrants chose not to live only in closed societies during this perios, and they formed many associations during this period. Turkish Welfare Association in 1921 and the 1922 Kurd’s Red Crescent association were the examples ( Akgun, p.105) . Economic crisis and WW2 were the other major reasons for the decrease in immigration to America from Turkey during the first half of twentieth century. After World War II, immigration started to increase again. From 1950 to 1980, more than 25million people including doctors, engineers, architects, and academicians and craftsmen, immigrated to United States. Many of these immigrants established marital relations with their American counterparts; however, they tried to protect their Turkish identity In order to protect Turkish culture and identity, Turkish immigrants decided began the process of institutionalization during 1950-1980s. They established Mosques, culture centers, associations, restaurants, and gyms during this period in order to protect Turkish culture in America. They also established e American Turkish Society in 1949, The Turkish women’s league of America in 1958, American -Turkish Association in 1965, and The Assembly of the Turkish American Association in 1979. Through these associations they tried to strengthen their ties with Turkey in one way and tried to embed their American identity in another way. At the beginning of 1980, the sweeping changes in Turkey, initiated by the government of Turgut Ozal, transformed the characteristic of Turkish migration” (Guler, p.107). Instead of ordinary people, the immigrants were consist of professionals, students, and unqualified workers during this period. Some of these immigrants came to the United States illegally and worked illegally and choosing to detach from society and live in closed societies. Moreover “Turkish immigrants started to send their children to Turkish language classes offered by societies on weekends, and in the summer the children were sent to religious classes” (Guler,p.154) The effects of Post 9/11 policies on Turks Immigration has been a controversial issue which creates many debates in recent years in many of the western countries. There are many restrictions put on Muslim immigration in most of the western countries and in United States. The advocacy of allowing uncontrolled immigration to Muslim people to America like countries have been questioned by many of the locals, especially after 9/11 terrorist attack. After 9/11, America reshaped or redefined their immigration policies in order to restrict the Muslim immigration. Americans started to watch all Muslim people with a suspicious eye after the 9/11 incident. It should be noted that even before 9/11 terrorist attacks, there were discriminations in America. 9/11 attacks has increased the gap between the locals and immigrants in America. American media started to portray all people of Muslim origin as terrorists. Moreover, media started to spread the propaganda that Koran is educating its believers to kill enemies of Islam. As a result of these propaganda and rumors, many measures were implemented by the authorities in American social life. Both; ruling and opposing parties agreed on limiting civil liberties of immigrants for security reasons. The Homeland Security Act, Patriot Act, War on terror, ate are some of the security measures taken by Untied States after the 9/11 incident. One of the biggest changes made on the security measures was in airports. Some of the additional security measures implemented in American airports after 9/11 are; comprehensive baggage screening, image scanners, finger print scanning, biometric scanning etc. Moreover, passengers had to take off their shoes while passing the security band at present. As mentioned earlier, former Indian president APJ Abdula Kalam, Bollywood celebrities like Shah Ruk Khan etc are were some of the victims of intense body scanning in American airports in the recent past. All of these security measures show that government is tightening the screws on immigrant’s social life in America. Prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping etc are growing considerably among immigrant’s social life in America at present. Women who wears headscarf and man who have a darker skin and mustache seen as the Arab and for many U.S. citizens, Arabs or Muslims mean being terrorist. Americans at present consider Turks as Arab people because of their belief in Islam. Thus, Turks in America forced to face all the inhuman activities performed against Muslim people and therefore they are afraid to come into the main streams of American social life. “Particularly in the post 9/11 era, Turks, as a Muslim ethnic group, have experienced greater difficulties in becoming part of America” (Kaya, p.630). After the attacks of 9/11, the discrimination against the Muslims and the new policies against the immigrants, created immense problems to the American-Turks. The Homeland Security Act of 2002, signed in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has spoiled the peaceful life of American-Turks. Before Homeland Security Act, peace and security were the issues of the local administrations and the courts. However, after 9/11 attracts, peace and security issues moved to federal levels because of the Homeland Security Act. The controversial Home land security act made new arrangements about immigrants. If you are an immigrant in the United States you have to add your name in a file in the department of home land security. Moreover, the immigrants should inform the government about their address changes. In other words, immigrants were forced to inform everything about their social life activities to the government as part of the Homeland Security Act. It should be noted that America always upholds the values such as equality, liberty etc. However, immigrants, especially the Muslim immigrants are not getting any freedom or liberty in American social life at present. Their activities and movements are closely watched both knowingly and unknowingly. Many Middle Eastern and Muslim immigrants arrested and some of them were deported from the country. The patriot act meant for the suspension of the rights of the immigrants. In short, formulation of new laws with respect to Homeland security act, patriot act and war on terror have ruined the lives of immigrants such as American-Turks at present. “Although after September 9/11,2001, Islam lost respect it once enjoyed and started to be perceived as a terrorist religion hostile to democracy, it is still the only way for Muslim Immigrants to form a different and strong identity” (Guler, p.154). It should be noted that Islam is one among the three Abrahamic religions; the other two are Christians and Jews. In other words, the core principles of these three religions are the same. However, America is treating Muslims as second class people at present even though they have no problems with the policies and beliefs of Jews. After 9/11 attacks, immigration from turkey started decline for a while because of the second class treatments they received from United States. Along with other people of Muslim origin, Turkish immigrants were also suffered a lot in America. It should be noted that even after ten years from the Trade Centre attack, Turks are still struggling to lead a peaceful life in America. After 9/11, reactions emerged against the Muslims in general and these reactions made Turkish people not to perceive United States of America as the land of opportunity. In other words, attacks of 9/11 left deep black marks on American-Turks. Many Turks lost their jobs after 9/11 and moreover, woman who had head scarf seen as a target by many locals. The life of the illegal Turkish immigrants is more painful at present. They are living with the fear of deporting. Establishment of a Turkish community in United States is extremely difficult at present. In other words, Turkish immigrants can no longer think in terms of preserving their culture and identity in America. Right after 9/11, many Turkish people started to identify themselves by religion instead of their culture or community. They started to attend religious institutions more than before. Moreover, before 9/11, Turkish immigrants tried to participate actively in American social and political life. However, at present they are staying away from establishing any relationships with their American counterparts. Many of them wanted to go back to their home country because of the severe discrimination they face at present in American social life. “Many Turkish women in America are housewives and non-wage earners and they became second-class people”( Guler, p.167) Moreover, a substantial number of Turkish people in United States started to struggle with economic problems after 9/11. Since many of the Turks in United States live in closed groups now, the first generation and even some of the second generation do not know English. Lack or proficiency in English is widening the gap between locals and immigrants in America. Conclusions Turkish immigrants in America are facing severe discriminations in their social life at present because of the developments after 9/11 incident. American government has implemented many regulations upon the social life of the immigrants in the form of war on terror, homeland security act, patriot act etc. As a result of that many of the Turks staying in America are currently trying to return to their home land. Works Cited Read More