Should answer query

On 9/11 I watched all of the commemoration ceremonies of this tragic day in the history of our nation, and celebrated the heroic acts of the firefighters and first responders who managed to evacuate over 14,000 people from those towering infernos. And as I watched the video of those jets slamming into the buildings, it brought back to mind one of the most infuriating stories that I have heard related to 9/11.

A close friend related to me that shortly after 9/11 he was having lunch with a fellow employee of the company he was working for at the time. The fellow employee was of Middle Eastern descent, an engineer who was a Muslim. And as they conversed at lunch, the conversation came around to 9/11. The fellow employee made the statement: “You know, America brought this upon itself.”

So what did that mean? Did America deserve to be punished in this way? And why is that? Are we as a people so morally deficient? Or is that because we are defined by the Koran as being included under the term “infidels” who deserve to die? Are we infidels because of countries we ally ourselves with such as Israel?

Since hearing about this conversation, I have always thought that every Muslim who claims citizenship in this country should be asked these questions: Did America bring the attacks of 9/11 upon itself? Did America deserve to be punished in this way? If you know a Muslim, I would encourage you to ask them these questions. I think we deserve to know where Muslim people stand in their allegiance to this country. I would love to hear from any Muslims reading this to see what they really believe about the events of 9/11 and to directly answer the questions above.

GREGG MUELLER Little Rock