<Begin Segment 24>

TI: Okay, so here's another question. On September 11, 2001, remember when the terrorists (attacked) the towers in New York City?

MA: Oh, yes.

TI: Some people have said that that's very, it was kind of similar to when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in terms of a national tragedy. And I was curious, when you heard about the, the attack on 9/11, what kind of things were you thinking about when that happened?

MA: Well, I was surprised. I said, "Oh no," especially when I, you see it on television where that one airplane hits that tower, and then another one comes and hits the second tower, and then that tower blazing and it all collapsed. And oh, it just shocked me, yeah, to see that happen. I especially don't care for this Iraqi war. I think, personally, we should pull out of there, although President Bush doesn't think so. [Laughs]

TI: So, but how about in terms of, like, how we are perhaps suspecting certain people, like if they're Arab American, if that... do you hear, do you sense that the United States might be doing some similar things with Arab Americans that they did with Japanese Americans? Do you ever feel that?

MA: Yeah, we thought about that, especially people of the Muslim religion, especially that minority. I hear there were some being boycotted. You know, they have businesses here, too, you know, there was one up on Hamilton, I forgot the name of the restaurant, but they finally closed. And then there was a gas station on Seventeenth that's owned by a... well, Arab originally, I can't remember. But they're still operating, but some people boycott them. I don't believe that should happen, but what are you going to do? Complain, well, that's about all.

<End Segment 24> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.