LG – At the time it seemed unreal and far away, but soon the flow of information and the many conversations I had with other affected me deeply. Like most Americans I feel a strong sense of belonging to America and its ideals, and I was moved by the many vigils and rallies of solidarity..

Here in downtown Seattle residents have filed a million bouquets of flowers (the latest figure was given) and I believe our university 5000 people gathered, and many sung in memory of the victims.

I was very impressed by the speed with which the population was mobilized to protect and provide support to the Muslim and Arab-American region. All mosques in Seattle that I’m aware, have been covered with flowers and American flags available in their majority by non-Muslims. Muslims and non-Muslims are aligned together, waving to cars and staying there to avoid reprisals.

There was, unfortunately, attacks against mosques and Muslims (or others, including Sikhs and Christians Sudanese have been mistaken for Muslims), but the overriding message of the media and individuals that I I encountered was that these people should be regarded as compatriots.

This is in sharp contrast with what happened in the U.S. during World War II, during which my wife, who is of Japanese descent, grew up in a concentration camp set up by our government in Idaho.

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