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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Anonymous - Saturday, September 25, 2004 - link
orrection; #206 & #212Disgusting creeps. Arseholes like you give Muslims a bad name.
Martin - Saturday, September 25, 2004 - link
You are wrong when you write that people from Iran would not dislike Americans. In fact they (and all other people from the Mid-East) hate America(ns) for its steady support of Israel. If not half of the USA government was Jewish, that would be better for the USA, as they could stop then support for Israel.Perhaps not all Muslim people are potential terrorists. I noticed that there is much sympathy for the terrorist attacks, though. Muslim people hate Christian, Jews, and the Western life-style (the American way of life).
As far as I know, the D.C. sniper was also an Muslim.
All terrorists are Muslims!!!
Think about it.
Anonymous - Saturday, September 25, 2004 - link
#216 & #212Disgusting creeps. Arseholes like you give Muslims a bad name.
Anonymous - Saturday, September 25, 2004 - link
Infidels, Islam is the ONLY way to Paradise. Islam is the ONLY way to good governance and Peace.dre - Friday, September 24, 2004 - link
To Anand and to all,I attribute the cause of the world's senseless acts of hate, disrespect, and spite to the human tedency to want to see things in "black and white." It is easier to make certain choices or to form beliefs when you do not know (or choose to not know) more about the involved subjects. As an example, if one believed everything on TV or on the Internet, he/she would believe that all SUVs are evil and have no beneficial uses at all; they would believe all Microsoft products are worthless. People often do not to take the time to evaluate their beliefs or more importantly, why they have the beliefs they do. I believe it is this laziness and apathy that has caused much of the strife in human history.
On the other hand, I do not believe it is necessarily true that if you become more educated or understand the origins of your own beliefs that your discontentment with others will go away. Facts and figures can only do so much--the innate spirit of a person will determine his/her relationships with the world around them.
That said, I believe Anand's encounter is no different in cause than the conflicts during the Civil Rights movement, the conflicts during the reign of Adolph Hitler, the conflicts involving sexual preferences, conflicts of religion, and conflicts of other kinds. Some conflicts in the world are started by those in power who know too well that a common enemy brings people together. What better way is there to do that than to play off people's ignorance and lack of motivation to "dig deeeper"?
The sad thing about all of this is that people measure "success" in terms of "hurdles." They think, "ok, we got over this problem! We have learned our lesson!" Years pass and the same thing happens again, but it happens in a different form. Then they say, "Ok, we've conquored this problem AND the last problem! That means we are strong!" Well, not quite. They really tried to solve the same problems twice! Those problems are really the SYMPTOMS of a bigger problem--they are NOT the cause. If you can fight the CAUSE of the problems, you will have no hurdles to jump over!
As long has humans live in America (or any other country for that matter) there will always be blind hate, disrepect, and spite in all different shapes in forms. That is human nature to a point. But until people stop, think, and realize that it is not everyone else who needs to change but it is "I" who needs to change, we are just going to keep patting ourselves on the back until the next atrocity.
-dre
Anonymous - Friday, September 24, 2004 - link
to post #209 Brian....Ugh are you being sarcastic and fasicious here or what man? C'mon lets just all try to get along..'don't worry and be happy'.Brian - Friday, September 24, 2004 - link
Anand,Let me also say that I am your biggest fan. No one writes a technical article/review like you do...NOBODY. I would love to watch you and participate in your follow up RAID article. To be apart of something like that would truly bring meaning to my life.
Is it too late to be in your wedding? Perhaps I can be the DJ or pick up any poodle turds outside the building. I'm yours to command. Did I mention that I am a good person too? You got a friend in ME man!
Your friend,
Brian
Anonymous - Friday, September 24, 2004 - link
Anand,You got a friend in me man, there are hateful people in this world but there's also many good people too and I'm one of em.
Congrats on the wedding
brian
Youdon'tknowcrap - Friday, September 24, 2004 - link
194 - Posted on Sep 24, 2004 at 1:29 PM by brownguy////You need to spend some time in that 3rd world hellhole they call India to see what makes the USA so special. If you like it there, well, good riddance :) :)///////
I live like a King in the so called hellhole. So please STFU!
Anonymous - Friday, September 24, 2004 - link
Infidel dogs. Islam will rule the world.