American_4275 From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 1076 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 years 4 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 733 times:
I don't mean to sound like one of those people with excessive problems in life, but I take this rather seriously and it's been bugging me.
First of all, I should let you know I am Iranian but was born right in Boston. I don't have an accent, I don't wear a turban, I don't say "praise allah" every 5 minutes let alone twice every year. I'm not even that religious yet I consider myself a Muslim since my parents are Muslim.
Ever since the September 11th shit, people have been treating me differently. Some of my friends like to joke around about me being a terrorist etc. and that really doesn't bug me much unless it becomes excessive. At that point, I let them know and they stop saying it. They are understanding about it and I take it very lightly most of the time. Then there's times where people I hardly ever talk to will say behind my back, or online, "fuck you, Arab" or "Go back to Afghanistan" or something to that effect. The other day in French class I was talking to my friend and this girl was pissing me off so I told her to be quiet and she told me to "shut up you Iranian terrorist". I didn't expect a girl to say it. I asked her to say it again and she said "you heard what I said". I don't know what to do. It's not like I am an outcast. I have many friends and for the most part people like me. But it really hurts when people start accusing you of being a "terrorist". Can I ever expect this kind of crap to stop? I have a lot of upper classmen friends and not ONE of them has EVER said anything like that to me. When I hear something like that, my day is basically ruined. I don't really know if I have a point to this or not...I just need some advice or just a place to vent I guess.
American_4275 From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 1076 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (11 years 4 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 702 times:
ILS,
lol, thanks for the advice. I'm not being racist at all, but the fact that she's black really confused the hell out of me. Out of all people, SHE uses racial slurs against me! She should know how it feels or at least remembered segregation etc. I don't know I just thought that was icing on the cake.
ILS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (11 years 4 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 697 times:
OH man! She is black! You should have included that! She has nothing to talk about whatsoever. I AM NOT RASCIST AT ALL. It is just that the blacks have been opressed for thousands of years. I hardly think that it is her job to call you the insult that she did. Tis tis on her part!
NWA742 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (11 years 4 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 690 times:
I'm sorry people do that to you, but after 9/11, what were you expecting?
People will be doing this to you for quite awhile now, there are always racist people everywhere, there's really nothing you can do about it except ignore them. Shouting back insults is not a good idea, it may cause a fight.
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6208 posts, RR: 42 Reply 4, posted (11 years 4 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 685 times:
I applaud you for not using the race issue against this airhead. She obviousky has the social skills, and intellect, of a rutabega. Don't sweat it. The ones who don't say anything such as this nust surely outnumber those that do by a wide margin.
Perhaps if someone who is lily white says this to you you can pull out a picture of Timothy McVeigh? Don't say a word, just hand it to them and walk away. For a black person, Idi Amin. For an oriental, the idiots who tried to gas the Tokyo subway several years ago.
Better yet, find examples of the fact that most people of any race or nationality are good people. Why dwell on idiocy.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Ryanb741 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 3219 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (11 years 4 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 664 times:
I get that to an extent, even though I am white and ethnically half English, half French. People at work know that I was born and raised in the middle east, and know loads about the area and Islam as a result. I have been called Osama 'Bridg-maden' (my real name is Ryan Bridgman) since Sept 11th, and I always get jokes like 'Ryan, it's the FBI on the phone for you', or, 'Ryan, if we don't close this deal I'll tell them you're going to put a fatwa on them!'.
Thing is, it's only harmless joking, so I don't mind. I can understand that if you are ethnically from that area it must really piss you off, but that's ignorant people I'm afraid.
I used to think the brain is the most fascinating part of my body. But, hey, who is telling me that?
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (11 years 4 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 660 times:
It is a sad fact of life that some people will believe that everything is black and white. All Arabs are terrorists (did you mention to her that Iranians are not Arabs?), All rich people are exploiters, all poor people are lazy, all black men have big schlongs, etc. etc.
You can ignore such people (even though it may hurt). You can show your true feelings constructively, for instance by becoming involved is some Iranian expatriate movement centered around supporting the moderates in Iran who have been gaining popularity there over the past few years. But I don't think that you can ever hope to change all the ignorant people you will come across.
Paraphrasing the old prayer, have the strenth to accept things you can't change, and to do something about the things you can change.
Turbolet From Cape Verde, joined Nov 2007, 0 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (11 years 4 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 645 times:
Racism is a terrible thing. As for myself, I just don't get it why some people should think that others are inferior etc. It's a very stupid thing.
I don't know what advice I should give you, American_4275, I've never been through anything like this. My parents are Czech and I live on the small island of Gozo (Republic of Malta). I was born in Malta and lived on the Maltese islands for most of my life, but even so the Gozitans are very to-themselves (get what I mean?) and whenever I meet someone new one of the first questions is usually "Where are you from?". It does piss me off sometimes, especially considering the fact that I'm doing my best to improve my Maltese etc., and I'm very proud of being a Maltese citizen (I consider myself much more Maltese than Czech). But luckily enough it's limited to Gozo only, in Malta most people don't even realize, they're not surprised by my foreign surname, sometimes they're actually surprised that both my parents are foreign.
Well anyway, pay that "terrorist" b*tch back as soon as you have a chance!
-turbolet
EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Reply 9, posted (11 years 4 months 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 637 times:
Oh come on, who cares? I get called Dutch all the time (I was born there, but British by nationality and raised here). It used to annoy me, but now I just get used to it. Even if someone tries to use it as a hard insult, its just funny, they can't come up with anything interesting or amusing..
Marco From United Arab Emirates, joined Jul 2000, 4161 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (11 years 4 months 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 631 times:
American_4275,
I guess I would fight fire with fire, even if that's not the best solution. My best friend is Iranian, and I know for a fact that Iranian people are pretty normal, they aren't all religious ayotollah's! Next time she calls you a bitch you know what to call her!
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