Where were we before Sept. 11? Did the people in this part of the world have an inkling of the terror about to unfold? Looking back, in the aftermath of the disaster on that day and of the subsequent madness that followed, just where were we indeed?

Muhammad was eagerly looking forward to his first year at the local university. His lifelong dream of becoming a dentist was in the throes of coming true. Worried all summer long that his 94 percent grades might not just be enough, what with limited seats and all, he was ecstatic with the news that he had made it through.

Hasan, a teenager, was excited about the upcoming NBA season. His idol, Michael Jordan, was considering returning to the courts, and Hasan vowed to watch all Wizard games broadcast on his satellite channel, even if that meant staying up into the late hours of the night. He had even picked up a No. 23 Wizards tank top from the Filipino Souq to emulate his hero. That and the new Britney Spears CD he had freshly purchased made his day.

Jamila, middle-aged and freshly divorced and with no visible means of income, had been worried sick about her fate. Her husband had left her this past summer for a much younger woman. In a society where the fate of women without male guardians is akin to being thrown into an uncharted lake of voracious piranhas, she felt extremely depressed and alone. Her world was squeezing in rapidly on her, and anti-depressants were of little help.

Bilal was pleased that his investment in a new catering business at the onset of summer was beginning to take off. He had gambled away all his life savings in starting it and after the initial rigors of dealing with our bureaucratic brothers at the Municipality and other government agencies, his books were finally beginning to show a positive cash flow.

Rania was already missing her son who had recently enrolled at a city college in Pasadena. This was his first time away from home, and her precocious son had just called her with the events of his first days in college. He sounded very happy and seemed to be adjusting well in his new environment. Like a kid in a toy store, she mused, as he chirped on excitedly about his teachers, fellow students, Hollywood and the Pacific Ocean.

Abdullah was distressed about deteriorating health of his mother suffering from an advanced case of diabetes. There was a possibility of gangrene setting in. The doctors had even gone so far as to discuss amputation privately with him. He suffered many a sleepless nights in torment.

Ali was eager at the start of the new season at work. His old boss had just retired and Ali was promoted to fill his place. Ali felt that the skills he had earned with his MBA from Stanford University would finally be put to good use.

Sara was daydreaming of her upcoming wedding in October to the man of her dreams. In between her daydreams and countless hours on the phone with her fiancé, Sara would participate with her mother and aunts in the preparations of the wedding. The wedding dress, outfits for bridesmaids, hair and make-up appointments, and the wedding guest list were the topics of the day. Her father however, made feeble attempts to hide his concern at the added drain to his wallet associated with each added guest.

Ismail, a civil servant, had been worried sick. His youngest son and the joy of his life suffered from a spinal disability, and required extensive corrective surgery. Ismail, already reeling from the dramatic hike in electric and other utility dues and with a static salary, simply could not afford the high hospital fees. His efforts to find a connection‚ to get his son hospitalized at a government hospital had borne no fruit.

No, America! Contrary to what some of your media may have you believe, we were not assembling in caves or underground cells planning away the destruction of America.

These are real people and their plates were already full. They would neither have considered such an atrocity nor have condoned it.

Sadly today, the atrocity continues. Innocent victims, young and old, frail and helpless, faceless and unknown to most Americans, are being victimized through a media-guided cruel act of revenge, and on evidence that would not hold up in any court. The thirst for blood has been planted, and that needs to be quenched.

And to what purpose? In the pursuit of one man, a people who have cast no sin are slowly and distressingly being annihilated. Would that bring closure to a voracious appetite for more bombs, more helpless lives? Is this vengeance enough?

— Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [email protected]