The special dread of terrorism for Muslims in the west

[Turborama]

For Muslims in the US and Canada, terror's enduring damage is the erosion of trust and an unjust stain of guilt by association

Murtaza Hussain
Tuesday 23 April 2013 12.30 BST

I was born in Pakistan but have been fortunate enough to have had a happy life growing up in Toronto, Canada – a place where I have always felt at home and for which I have more attachment than any other in the world. In my mind, the mere idea of a terrorist attack ever occurring here provokes feelings of anger and sadness: it is painful to imagine something bad happening to a place you care about. I imagine Americans feel exactly the same way about their country.

On Monday, in the wake of last week's events in Boston, Massachusetts, it was reported by Canadian media that an alleged terrorist plot had been uncovered, which involved individuals in the United States, as well as in Canada. Full details of the police operation have yet to be revealed; there are reasonable grounds for a degree of skepticism due to its timing, coinciding with a parliamentary debate on anti-terrorism, and to the purported support of "al-Qaida elements in Iran&quot . Yet, I feel immediate relief that this potential terror attack came to light when law enforcement agencies announced its prevention.

If it had been otherwise, if there had been another outrage, what would have happened? Would a lifetime of hard work and good citizenship have been cast aside, and would friends and acquaintances begin to view me and others like me with fear and distrust?

It is a curious experience to feel that the benign normality of your life is constantly held hostage to forces outside your ability to control. That effort of cultivating a positive image – building relationships, respecting the law, living honestly, giving charity, contributing to civil society – could potentially be degraded or wiped out by forces far beyond your scope of influence as an individual.

Continues: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/23/special-dread-terrorism-muslims-west