Subject: married to an Arab, passing as one

Hi Bart,

I read your page every day.  An interesting question you have posed asking for commentary
from an Arab or someone who looks like one. I am married for 12 years to an Arab American.
She was born here, her father was born in Iran and is of Syrian descent.

Oddly enought, even with my German heritage, I somehow look Arab in some situations.
If I wear the traditional Arabian clothing  - which I own several outfits (gifts) - I find that other
Arabs will begin speaking to me in Arabic, assuming that I am one of them.

Quite Frankly, I am honored to be considered a member of the Arab community.
I have never experienced prejudice from any Arab, but plenty of times from non-Arab folks.
At my workplace there are several people who are very anti-Arab and I get their anger and mis-treatment.
Even after I tell them my last name, which is very German.
Remember, Frank Zappa was Arab as is Paula Abdul.

Do people look at me funny? Yes. they do.
Have they been caught in the web of the ports deal? Yes, they have.
The day after the regular media had the story (I read about it on Salon.com a few days before)
one of the people at work came in and started the day screaming about how the government was
gonna hand over the ports to the "stinkin' Arabs."

As chance would have it, I was wearing a shirt from a festival that the local Arabian community holds
at work and walked over to him to ask if there was a problem. He saw my shirt and settled down.

My parent-in-laws have flown several times since 9/11 and have not had a problem. Of course, they are
also not paying members of an Arab organization, or have attended protests and "die - in's " as I have.
I plan to take a flight next month. I'll wait to see what the experience is like.

 Tim
 

 Comments?

Subject: I'm an Arab

Here is my rant to the American People.

I'm a Lebanese Muslim with an Arab-sounding last name.

To be honest, I don't mind spending some extra time at a security checkpoint (within reason).
Racial profiling has been the hypocrisy of U.S.A's ideology for all of its history, so people are use to it by now.
But you have to keep in mind that eventually this will no longer work, when AlQaida will start using white terrorists.  

But somethings really do bother me.  I shave and I'm mistaken for Italian most of the time.
Usually, I'm treated with respect until they see my last name, then their behaviour changes.
Anyone who says there is no racism in America is kidding themselves.
Many Arabs are very racist too, but the Arab youth has been fighting this insanity lately.
I heard that the Lebanese Revolution was supported by 90% of Lebanese youth regardless of religion
(All credit goes to Rafik Harriri and zero credit to Bush).
So why is it that the US and Europe are going after MiddleEastern Youth? 

a Crazy Leb in Canada

Subject: what does a terrorist look like?

Bart, you wrote:

How unfair is racial profiling concerning terrorism?
Arabs who act like Eddie Haskell for years, then slit your throat, that doesn't change things?
I should feel OK boarding a plane with a Mohammed Atta lookalike?
If I don't feel OK, then I'm "Bush's clone and Rush's biggest fan?"
   Are we against the majority of Americans on this issue, too?
 

~ Just thought I'd mention that the guys who scare ME the most are usually white, mid-20s to mid-50s, and loud.

~ Tim McVeigh wasn't "Arab", he was home grown.

~ Yeah, actually, bart, it shouldn't matter WHAT the color of the skin of a fellow airline passenger is.

~ Since you don't post YOUR picture, what do YOU look like? White? Middle aged?
   Why, golly, you too could be another one of them there Aryan Nazis. What, you're NOT?
    How do I know you're not? Prove it. ( ß-----sarcasm)

No, you're not a bush clone for being racist .they come in all sizes, types, colors, genders and
political persuasions .but I do think you're giving in to the media hype when you are afraid just
because of what someone looks like. I think you've been in OK-drag for too long and maybe have
forgotten what regular people of another color look like (unless if they play football).

Sarah aka ducks
 
 

I meant to attempt to get deep into this, but I ran out of time.
I think racial/ethnic profiling is necessary in some situations
when it comes to young men who look like Muhammed Atta..

I realize MLK said skin color doesn't matter, but you'll never know the content of a man's character
if he blows your plane out of the sky before you get to know him - and even if you do get to know him,
we can't forget those Londoners who turned on their multi-year friends to murder them..

Like I said, I wish I had more time to get into it...
 

 Comments?

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