9/12/07:

"This I Believe" - by Abdulaziz Alaqeel

    Everything in the world changes including technology, politics, and how people experience and perceive things around them. We can notice that people's thinking is affected by events that occur in our world every day, but I believe that people should be careful not to judge others without making sure of facts and events. I am one of those individuals who was exposed to this injustice because of the actions of a small group of bad people. I am Abdulaziz Alaqeel, I am Muslim from Saudi Arabia.

    I believe that my love of the U.S started when I was young. When I was a child, my father taught me how to judge other people in the right way. He told me that every country has some bad people but at the same time it has good and innocent people who love each other and respect human life, and he always says: "Don't ever judge a book by its cover." He planted love and good intentions in my heart and I believe that this love is still growing in me until this moment, and it will not be stopped. I believe there are many people in Saudi Arabia who love the U.S, just like me, if not more. Saudi Arabians respect American people, and they like the way Americans value their own culture and believe in it in their hearts.

    What happened on September 11th hurt us. Our tears fell that day, as if we were Americans. A group of bad people in the Middle East were very close to destroying our relationship with you. Some people think that Saudi Arabians support terrorism and they hate the U.S. I believe that if most people in Saudi Arabia were in my position and my situation right now they would give one response and answer from one heart: “We love you people regardless of religion, suspicion and misunderstanding.”

    This is my chance, and it is an invaluable chance, and I have the opportunity to prove how Saudi Arabians regard  Americans and their beliefs. I am glad to stand in front of you and explain my emotions. I am also pleased to scream these words as I close my reflection: “ We love the United States” and “God bless America.”