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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Drunk - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
Congrats Anand,I just wanted to point out that there is far too much drunk bashing in this thread. Just as there are many types of people in the world, there are many types of drunk.
I am one of the happy kind. The one you encountered was one of the sad, bitter, jerk kind.
So, everybody stop bashing drunks and start bashing jerks.
Drunk
Anonymous - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
#90: you are a fucking dumbass. never talk.Brian - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
Just as the USA is not a monolithic race of people, neither is our ability to express fear, concern and yes hatered of those you intend to do us harm. Many, as seen in the previous comments however, help to balance the scale of ignorance and enlighteded thought. But it will never eliminate ignorance.
Stay true and hope the rest see some light.
Brian
Jiro - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
Dear Anand,Sorry to hear about your experience. You are lucky things didn't turn out for the worse. I'm Japanese-American, i have been putting up with this type of non-sense my whole life, as you will (do) too. Its amazing how people feel the need to voice their opinion (or their fist) for no reason... I can't pump a full tank of gas w/o someone yelling a racial slur.
Take care.
-Jiro
David - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
Hey Anand,I just wanted to let you know that the complaint you just made is extremely common and happens all of the time in the United States, at least from what people tell me. It's honsetly disgusting.
It's a strange co-incidence that the other night, I met a guy from New York City who complained about similar issues. It was his first time in Toronto, Canada and he couldn't stop going on about how much he loved it here. He said that Toronto is basically a "Mini New York", citing a similar urban culture, but that we have "somehow found a way to co-exist". I've lost count of the number of tourists which have shared similar sentiments with me.
The type of racial tension that you describe is extremely rare here. I just wanted to let you know that there indeed *are* places where people from all over the world can co-exist peacefully. I myself grew up in the most multicultural community on earth, located in the northeast end of Toronto. Within walking distance of my house, there was a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque, and a handful of Christian churches. In 20 years of living there, I never witnessed a single racial incident, and none of those churches were ever defaced or vandalized.
The bottom line: Move to Toronto, people like you enrich our lives and our collective culture.
Tonyukuk - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
I don't understand how a human can be stupid as an american?All your high-life standarts require blood of "others". You have large-houses, expensive cars, hive-perf. comps, degenerated religions and brains full of hamburger spoils.
First of all; the reason of attacking in Iraq and Afghanistan by Usa wasn't 9/11 story. "Others" in Iraq live 9/11 everyday. Because Us citizens must have cheap petrol -even cheaper blood.
If you believe the 9/11 story, then how can u tell Vietnaem, Cuba, first Iraq war etc..?
You escaped from Vietnaem because of China, and also escaped from Cuba bec. of U.S.S.R. But Iraq seems they haven't got a strong country on b-ground.
Usa is a dummy in crash-tests using by Israel and i have to say this time test will be end with a tragedy.
It's certain that America is going to attack Iran in near future and also to Syrian.
Arabians and Persians will loose this war, because Usa has great weapons, but American soldiers won't understand the meaning of war until they face with Turks.
We are not the others, time will show...
Madelga - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
Hi Anand,'I'm sorry for your experience. I know it bothers you, on the other hand that's an eye opener - it is good sometimes to have a wake-up call.
Don't make from the exception the general rule.
I have also an event that pissed me a lot last year. I work for an american company (top 5), you cannot tell where I came from just looking at me, I have B1/B2 Visa valid for 10 years to enter US and last time I went through US Customs (after 9/11), I was threated like garbage by the immigration officer. I was almost turned back, without reason, without provocation, no explanation. My sin was to have a passport from a country he didn't like....Brazil - that by the way, is peaceful, hosts no terrorism and had nothing to do with 9/11.
I could avoid this using my other passport, european, from a country that belongs to the "friends" list, but I stand for where I come from.
And for the americans that vote, please do the world a favor and just cast Bush out. That's the worst guy, ever.
Anonymous - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
#31 Vancello: Let's not even get into the whole grammar issue. First of all, we are not discussing grammar here and secondly, you don't have to be grammatically correct in order to express your opinions. Who cares if someone didn't put a common or if the sentence is a run-on; as long as the sentence makes sense and the idea gets through, everything is good.BTW, you are not gramatically correct. "Your's is" does not make sense in any way so it is better to proof read your thread 100 times before you click the post button. I think you showed your ignorance by posting that message. If you don't have something to add to the conversation, it is better to stay out of it rather than making a fool out of yourself by posting a completely irrelevant comment.
Don't even think about attacking me with my post because I know that mine is not perfect either.
crimson117 - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
Anand,You're infinitely more welcome in my home than that drunk jerk.
bbomb - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
All this over the comments that one person made. Every country has their assholes and I seriously doubt that he was the first one you have encountered and wont be the last. Americans hate other Americans just as much as some hate Muslims. Its all part of the melting pot and humanity.