After being exposed to a more liberal university educational system, I had some preconceived notions about how Americans and Las Vegans would react to such events. The US was portrayed by my professors as almost an oppressive, hostile, aggressive, and bigotry-filled country. Immediately I had fears (now known to be unwarranted) that my Iranian instructor and Middle-Eastern friends would be targeted for retribution. I figured okay, two wrongs are going to try to make a "right." None of that happened. What we saw was a united country, albeit for a short time, that comforted one another, and met emotional and physical needs.
We are not like our enemy. We are set apart. I'm proud that I was born and raised in this city, in this country, and among its people.