No one knew i was muslim or half pakistani in college so once these girls were talking about the muslim bombings that happend in london, And basically saying muslims are ALL terrorists etc, I confronted them and asked them why r u bein so disrespectful coz im muslim. They were so shocked and didnt even realise i was asian let alone muslim.. They apologised, and i said 'exactly not every muslim is the same' I still remember that..
I also once had a friend tht was irish and everyone used to call him a terrorist etc. It used to get to him but then he jus laughed it off, i mean what can u do? Its not peoples fault they think like that its the media, ppl r gullable and like to believe everything they read and watch. Un-educated people no doubt.
Lived all of my life in America.... and have to say that those that have put in the effort to get to know me... family and friends and co-workers have never made me feel awkward or weird about my ethnicity and religion. You can imagine what the atmosphere over here is and was post 9/11. But alhumdullilah I have never had any issues. I studied in a huge university that was extremely diverse. The muslim student associations was the third largest associations... Indian student association was the first... and Arab association was second largest. So you can imagine. The topic of terrorism and the "why's" have been discussed alot throughout my education ... I was a political science major in undergrad and then went on to law school. People were curious - yes... but respectful. I feel like people have been tactful in the way they discuss this topic in general in front of others and especially with me.
I think the only time I ever feel weird is crossing the border btw canada and america.... they look at the pakistani visa in my american passport and immediately take me in for questioning. It has gotten really annoying. I used to cross the border alot so I think they just got suspicious for that (hey .. i lived 15 minutes away from the border... and the shopping and food is better on the other side :D).
I have heard unfortunate stories about ignorance obviously. It definitely unfortunately exist. I have heard its particularly bad down south. Hey... Bush is from texas.... the majority of his followers are southerners. Makes sense why I have heard there are more ignorant people down there.
PunjabiRose its great to hear that you've never had any issues, even during 9/11... The Irish people too are very polite and respectful but their mood kinda changes when something like 9/11 happens... I've never had a direct racist attack or anything but u know u can just feel what the other person is thinking... And this is what I felt in the explosives lecture today... nobody gave me dirty looks or anything like that but I could just feel them looking at me with questioning eyes...
Well I am an utter ****. If I meet a European or an American and they ask me where I am from I say a Terrorist nation and then spend the rest of the time *ing with them. Nothing makes gorays more uncomfortable when you use their own words against them to mock them.
If I was in the bomb class I would do everything in my power to **** with the teacher. Ask about suicide bombings, ball bearings and the like.
^ I would have probably started a political conversation if any one had said anything to me but as I said, only a few of them were only looking at me in a weird way... no one said anything, otherwise I probably would have spoken up too.