The wedding was incredible, easily the best day of my life. The honeymoon was a continuation of just that; 2 weeks in heaven to start off a wonderful marriage. I've got lots to talk about both of those matters, but given the significance of today's date I'm going to talk about one particular thing that happened while we were off on our honeymoon.
We were returning to our hotel one night and as we got out of the cab and walked to the entrance of the hotel a young guy (I'd say late 20s) holding a drink came up alongside me and said "hey pal." I looked at him at which point he said "I thought you were Osama's brother." I ignored him and walked away.
Now I was born in this country, I'm a U.S. citizen, I pay my taxes, I donate to charities, I vote, I contribute to the economy, I love my country and I wouldn't rather move to any other place, yet for the first time in my life I felt foreign than night. I felt unwelcome in the country that I had the right to be in, I had just as much right to be there as the guy who made me feel so very wrong for being there yet because of his one line I felt like I truly didn't belong. I didn't think something like that would bother me so much, after all I'm pretty good about taking things as light hearted as possible, but that one incident struck home.
And I began to wonder, had I just been really lucky since 9/11? Were there more people like him who would see me and based on the color of my skin would brand me a terrorist? What made me any less of an American than him? Haven't we been through this before? I thought the civil rights movement brought forth the idea that we can't just single out a group of people based on the color of their skin. For the first time in my life I wanted to leave, I wanted to be at home and I didn't want that home to be here.
It may not seem like much, after all it was just a 5 second interaction with some drunk jerk; drunk people say things all the time, get over it right? Well I am over it, but that isn't to say that I'm afraid of something like that happening again. I've said it before, that it all boils down to education and understanding of people and cultures other than our own.
Muslims don't hate Americans, that's just not how things work. My mom is a muslim and she'd never hurt a fly, she cried at 9/11, she donated to the relief fund, she condemned those who did it - just like everyone else. She isn't a fanatic, I'd say she follows the Qua-ran like many people follow the Bible, she doesn't interpret it strictly but she takes it to be a set of morals that she attempts to uphold in her daily life. And to those who don't believe it, must muslims are just like that. They don't walk around with AK-47s plotting ways to attack the West, they lead normal lives and have normal families just like everyone else. I've been to Iran around 5 times now, the only current example of a true Islamic state - did I see people running through the streets plotting to kill Americans? No, I saw normal people doing normal things. Sure their customs are different, but none of those customs include hating Americans. Yet I read through some of the discussions that happen online, even in our own forums, and I'm disgusted. I read statements of people who are clearly ignorant of what they are talking about, attacking people and cultures they don't understand. What if we were all judged by the acts of the D.C. sniper, McVeigh or Dahlmer? Everyone would think that any American was a crazed mass murdering psycho.
As I write this, I'm worried that my point won't get across, that everything I've said here will be dismissed at the hatred will continue. I was just as angry as anyone when the towers fell, I wanted to see someone pay, I wanted revenge - but we must all understand that the revenge isn't against every middle easterner you see. A group of people hated our government, so they took that anger and hatred not out on the government, but on over 3000 innocent people. What sense does it make to attack that group of people by targeting those that honestly have nothing to do with it, some of which are just as American as anyone else in this country.
Today we should all remember the tragedy of 9/11, but we must also remember not to let one tragedy lead us to another one. American doesn't mean white; keep in mind how this country was founded, the melting pot has evolved to include a few new shades but the fact remains the same that we are all Americans. I may not look like everyone else, but I feel the same attachment to this country - please don't make me feel unwelcome.
Take care.
We were returning to our hotel one night and as we got out of the cab and walked to the entrance of the hotel a young guy (I'd say late 20s) holding a drink came up alongside me and said "hey pal." I looked at him at which point he said "I thought you were Osama's brother." I ignored him and walked away.
Now I was born in this country, I'm a U.S. citizen, I pay my taxes, I donate to charities, I vote, I contribute to the economy, I love my country and I wouldn't rather move to any other place, yet for the first time in my life I felt foreign than night. I felt unwelcome in the country that I had the right to be in, I had just as much right to be there as the guy who made me feel so very wrong for being there yet because of his one line I felt like I truly didn't belong. I didn't think something like that would bother me so much, after all I'm pretty good about taking things as light hearted as possible, but that one incident struck home.
And I began to wonder, had I just been really lucky since 9/11? Were there more people like him who would see me and based on the color of my skin would brand me a terrorist? What made me any less of an American than him? Haven't we been through this before? I thought the civil rights movement brought forth the idea that we can't just single out a group of people based on the color of their skin. For the first time in my life I wanted to leave, I wanted to be at home and I didn't want that home to be here.
It may not seem like much, after all it was just a 5 second interaction with some drunk jerk; drunk people say things all the time, get over it right? Well I am over it, but that isn't to say that I'm afraid of something like that happening again. I've said it before, that it all boils down to education and understanding of people and cultures other than our own.
Muslims don't hate Americans, that's just not how things work. My mom is a muslim and she'd never hurt a fly, she cried at 9/11, she donated to the relief fund, she condemned those who did it - just like everyone else. She isn't a fanatic, I'd say she follows the Qua-ran like many people follow the Bible, she doesn't interpret it strictly but she takes it to be a set of morals that she attempts to uphold in her daily life. And to those who don't believe it, must muslims are just like that. They don't walk around with AK-47s plotting ways to attack the West, they lead normal lives and have normal families just like everyone else. I've been to Iran around 5 times now, the only current example of a true Islamic state - did I see people running through the streets plotting to kill Americans? No, I saw normal people doing normal things. Sure their customs are different, but none of those customs include hating Americans. Yet I read through some of the discussions that happen online, even in our own forums, and I'm disgusted. I read statements of people who are clearly ignorant of what they are talking about, attacking people and cultures they don't understand. What if we were all judged by the acts of the D.C. sniper, McVeigh or Dahlmer? Everyone would think that any American was a crazed mass murdering psycho.
As I write this, I'm worried that my point won't get across, that everything I've said here will be dismissed at the hatred will continue. I was just as angry as anyone when the towers fell, I wanted to see someone pay, I wanted revenge - but we must all understand that the revenge isn't against every middle easterner you see. A group of people hated our government, so they took that anger and hatred not out on the government, but on over 3000 innocent people. What sense does it make to attack that group of people by targeting those that honestly have nothing to do with it, some of which are just as American as anyone else in this country.
Today we should all remember the tragedy of 9/11, but we must also remember not to let one tragedy lead us to another one. American doesn't mean white; keep in mind how this country was founded, the melting pot has evolved to include a few new shades but the fact remains the same that we are all Americans. I may not look like everyone else, but I feel the same attachment to this country - please don't make me feel unwelcome.
Take care.
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Denis - Monday, October 11, 2004 - link
Anand, I am sorry this still happens. Maybe you would feel more at home if your political representatives were more like you. Gone through the same experience as you.Some people made a point that by posting this entry about that guy, you are merely "whinging". Maybe they are right. Maybe you can do something about it. Engage in making the world a more educated, more tolerant place. You have a name, you can help.
Hunter - Monday, October 11, 2004 - link
And isn't it funny how all the people...or at least most of the people who are using the foul language and ignorance don't leave their names? Why is that? Just a thought...Hunter
Hunter - Monday, October 11, 2004 - link
Wow, and all I wanted to say was congratulations on your wedding. I'm hoping yours was as special and unforgettable day as mine was. Good luck and hope you and your wife live long and productive lives.Hunter
Nath - Sunday, October 10, 2004 - link
#271Countries like India and the Philippines etc, have tried to be on the good books of the rest of the world, as they fight Islamic terrorism. Fat good it has done them. Terrorist trained from across their borders come in and commit atrocious terrorist acts.
America chooses to have the war on Islamic terrorism in fought the Islamic world itself (where it is bred). It is always better to fight the battle on a foreign soil rather than on the home front.
Anonymous - Sunday, October 10, 2004 - link
#27290% of mother fucking Muslims are terrorists. Islam is a terrorist religion, it's founder the bastard Mohammed is a fucking morally bankrupt pedophile, gigolo, mass murderer and terrorist. Islam is the cause for disruption of world peace since the fucking Mohammed started hallucinating. All Muslim countries are ignorant, intolerant, misgoverned shit holes. You fucking Muslim bastards contemplate on this.
Anonymous - Sunday, October 10, 2004 - link
More than 50% of these mother fucker Americans are bastards. I really mean bastards (no origin of fathers). The society is morally bankrupt, now they gonna be financially bankrupt (as their bastasd Prez keeps 'waging war against terrorist(?)' and squander billion of dollars in the process. He is voted one danger man in the world. Americans are most ugly goddam mother fucking ignorant+arrogant nation in the world. It is time of self reckoning.Anonymous - Sunday, October 10, 2004 - link
Anon: you are acting like a jerk. America under the present Government has made itself alienated from the rest of the civilized world. All that it can do is to kill innocent people around the world, create more terrorist and like blood sucking leeches, tries to dry up wealth, resources of another country. So don't be so proud. As you are not doing anything to be proud off.Anonymous - Thursday, October 7, 2004 - link
Well said Nanook from the North.Nanook from the North - Thursday, October 7, 2004 - link
Grow up you snivelling little brat. If this is the first time you've been insulted, then you were probably born with a gold spoon in your mouth. At seventeen not everyone in this country was driving a BMW to high school. We were cleaning the old used spark plugs, vacuuming our air filters, using duct tape to patch muffler holes.When the muslim community was questioned about the movements and contacts of Mohamed Ata (Flew one of the planes into the WTC) here in Portland Maine where he lived and planned all of his movements, in this free country, not one muslim spoke up to offer information, the community leader did not feel at all a little resposible and refused further comment.
Don't try to tell us that Iran would not behead a black or white American walking down a street in terhan with his wife uncovered. Can you ask where the local Catholic Church is in Iran.
Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech. That 1s what you have here in American but you only choose to defend Iran and the muslim way of life. Some people just don't give a shit, what they do give a shit about is that no one is going to harrass another American except for another American. The clerics in iran are the ones making all the decisions in the muslim world. Only the muslims can police thier own people.
You kiss Iran's ass like it was one of the best countries in the world. I am proud of my French heritage but I surely would not be proactive to a country like France except for the bunch of cowards that they are.
I was born in this country and had a french accent growing up because of my parents and I was always critized about being in America and speaking english, being called a frog. A Big Deal?, no. Why, because I was calling the dude with the bulgarian accent comrade, and communist, we were friends.
Get over it!! GROW UP, BE AN AMERICAN!!! Get witty, you should have told the asshole, "that's right and I know were you live.
Make no mistake about it, the people that died for this country did it for you, your Irish neighbor, your German Mechanic, your Israli shop owner, your blue blooded Englishman that burned down the White House.
Read up on our History for once. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT, IN THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM, THE BULLET I'D TAKE WOULD BE TO DEFEND YOUR WAY OF LIFE AND THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO BE IDIOTS. THE BULLET I PUT BETWEEN THE EYES OF A TERRORIST MAY JUST WELL BE A MUSLIM. COULD YOU DO THAT "I AM AN AMERICAN". WOULD YOU KILL ANOTHER MUSLIM IN DEFENSE OF BEING AN AMERICAN?
WOULD YOU DO IT FOR US.
Anonymous - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
#267Read posts; 165, 196, 216, 232, 239, 260 for why it sucks.