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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Ahsan Ali - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
Pakistan the root of the problem for Muslims? More like its a front line state against terrorism and we here have to put up with a lot of shit from Al Qaida.The Afghan war would have been impossible without Pakistan's support, as well as catching any of the terrorists that Pakistan is hunting down and handing over to the US.
Dont blame your most "effective" ally in the war on terrorism before you know the facts...
Gary - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
hey anand, idiots will always be idiotsif you really wanna feel foreign in america, go to the ghetto by UIC (by your chicago branch), I go there all the time... it REALLY makes you feel foreign, with the hatred, the speaking of a foreign language, all the cultural differences, and so forth
america has it's sub-cultures and you don't belong to the drunken-idiot sub-culture... it's not a big loss (or the white trash sub-culture, racist southerner sub-culture, etc)
#40... the irish potato famine was mid 1800s, not early 1600s, 400 years ago would mean your ancestors founded virginia or were here before then
anyway, we're all missing the point, anand should be busy benchmarking his wife and putting up pics for us
how's her floating point performance? how much faster than stock speed can she run stablely with air cooling? water-cooling? how would you rate her case? does she have any fancy case mods?
your public demands answers!
Brian E. - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
Am I the only one that thinks #31 is a little jealous? Got country envy pal?Can only be President if you were born here?
Well, I guess I will just have to be happy Schwarzenegger is govenor. After all it would probably scare the sh!t out of the rest of the planet. Bad enough we have a Texas cowboy for president. Imagine what North Korea or Iran would think if we had the Terminator!!!
Okay how about Anand Lal Shimpi for President?
2016 election of course. Here in America we still got that age discrimination thing going. Sorry Anand, you got to be at least 35 before you can run.
Brian E. - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
Reply to #41I guess you must be one of those rabid Hollywood Democrats. Oops, looks like we don't have enough real dirt so we must make some up!
Jesus, try saying something intelligent like you don't like this policy or that policy. You're almost as simple minded as that drunk guy.
There are several other things I would like to make clear before people start bashing on Republicans and equating them with racist.
(I hope Anand is a republican or at least more insightful than you.)
1) Bush isn't ignorant or stupid. (You try talking in front of millions of people and see how easy it is, although I wish he was a little better at it.)
2) Life sucks when you don't have money. Vote republican if you want to keep it in the bank.
3) If you are dirt poor you're more likely to commit crimes. How many people think there would be problems in the middle east if the standard of living was better? (if your economy sucks... blame your leaders, not ours!)
4) Everybody forgets that white, middle class, males have to put up with sh!t talk from other ethnic groups all the time because it is assumed it is okay to insult people "perceived" as being in a more advantageous position. Prejudice is everywhere!
To Anand: I am greatful you chose to utilize your first amendment rights and that you are a fellow citizen of the Republic. Please remember we both live in the best country on Earth. But, it is only through vigilence that we maintain our freedoms.
I hope that my remarks don't sound corny but I want you to realize that all of us experience prejudice at one time or another. But, unlike other countries in the world, Americans made it part of our culture to reject this evil and count all men as equal. There are always ones wanting to take this away from us. Some living in our own country that blow up buildings like McVeigh, others drunk in a bar.
So, it is our duty as Americans to stand up to these men. Be brave. You do not fight alone.
Jim - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
Unforunately about 25% of Americans ARE like the guy you encountered. They are called "Republicans". And there is a way to make them go away, vote democrat.Nate - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
I think that you are old enough, not to need a lecture. I'm 22 years old and I have a slightly darker complexion. Now my origins have been mixed with caucasian, scotch irish, black, and cherokee indian (Tiger Woods clone). Now, my economic upbringings have been around upper-middle class whites. With two parents holding masters degrees in mathematics and psychology, this has put, quite an awkward mix into how I see myself. While I see myself as a direct combination of these mixtures, I think classification sometimes puts a negative spin on those people who, well, like to classify.The only constant that I've seen in people is that there are those who really seem interested in the human condition, and those who lack the intellectual capacity. My interest include computer programming and music. I've held these same two interest, since for the most part, they were instilled into me in Elementary school, through my high school years, until the time until today.
My familys history dates back 400 years on American soil when the Irish came over due to the potato famine. In High School, I had the choice of standing up or sitting down while saying the pledge of allegiance every morning. I chose to stand. Repeating this pledge everyday reminded me of my allegiance to this country.
Its these simple facts of every day life that people casually neglect that evolve to the gradual erosion and corruption of American society. I definately do not have all of the answers, but there is one thing that also seems to remain a constant, we grow stronger as we go along.
ksherman - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
hey anand (first blog post!)Glad to see your back! Ive missed you! I am really looking forward to that Mac article you promised... As for what happened, That really sucks. The person whom i consider my best friend is Indian (im white) and I just dont see what the issue is. It must be maturity and being able to accept the fact that in America, We are all different. I still love ya, even though i dont know anything about you (othere than that AT rock!). Theres just too much racisim... But enough of that! Congrats on the union and keep keep those articles coming! (now that you have less time, you will soon become the Yoda of delegation!:D)
PCT - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
I do believe some Americans are rascist but not all of them are. Don't worry about that jack*** that called you a terrorist. You are an American citizen. You did a lot of good things to help America. That damn lower than a civillian person you met will probably not be respected in this country. Anand, you have my respect.Wotan - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
Everyone is different, this is true…but it is the individual’s choice to accept others or not. If everyone was black, people would still pick on other people for some reason whether it be those with big noses or huge feet. Please tell me why it is that people from different ethnic backgrounds seem to (for the most part) live together in a “China town” or “little Italy”? Why is there a “white” part of town and a “black” part of town?There are lots of people that are quite capable to think for themselves and do not need people such as you to dictate moral policy to them because it is popular opinion like rap music. Is it the right or wrong thing to do? Well that depends on who you ask, where they are from, etc.
It is not that they hate those people, they just don’t really want to have to be nice because society say’s so. If you think that so called “racism” is dying and will be gone soon; you are sadly mistaken. Call it what you want, tell me how stupid I am, blah blah blah. You will then be caught up in something that makes no difference to me and is a waste of time. Who the @#$% are any of you to judge, after saying that being prejudiced is wrong? Where the hell do you guy’s get off setting peoples moral compass for them? Believing that your friends are your friends, that they are on your side, and would really put themselves out there for you (a person of another ethnicity) is the very definition of naivety. What people say, and what they think, are two completely different things.
FLiNT - Monday, September 13, 2004 - link
I'm an adult white male who resides in NY.I work about 30 miles from where the towers fell. I left work early that day not knowing what to expect after hearing the Pentagon was also hit. On the way home I stopped at a gas station to fill my tank (just in case I couldn't get any gas later on). The attendant had a full beard and a turban. He looked really scared. After paying him I wished him good luck. He thanked me and shook my hand.
I was concerned for this poor guy. I hope he wasn't hurt by any of the crazy's on the way home that horrible day.
I'll never forget the scared look on his face.
Guys like that drunk you ran into are products of their enviroment as much as anything else. I have always taught my children to treat others the way they treat you and also to treat others the way you want to be treated. It's probably a waste of time to try to change someone like that drunk. What we have to do is educate our children as to the wrongs of racism in any form and hope it sticks. If we ALL teach our children this, hopefully, eventually we can change most or maybe all of human society to accept one another. It's not going to happen in our life times but we have to start with our kids or it will never change. So all of you parents & future parents remember this when some of you are tempted to say something nasty about someones heritage or lifestyle or anything else that makes them different from you in front of your kids. It has to start with us if there is any hope for a change.