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New Yorkers and Islam
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I’ve encountered a lot of adversity lately, which is surprising and not surprising at the same time. At the mention of going to Saudi Arabia, most people express a genuine concern, which I can understand and appreciate. However, I've encountered numerous people who take this as their opportunity to express their views on terrorism. Frankly, it's getting so frequent that I try my best to not even mention it at all, to avoid these awkward moments. The distaste and hatred I’m encountering lately is coming from people of all different backgrounds, most notably, a Frenchman.
At first, I laughed it off a lot. While I can say that I have studied Islam extensively, I have never been to Saudi Arabia. I have lived in Muslim countries before (Turkey and Mombasa,) but these were also countries where non-Muslims lived and were accepted. I don’t claim to know what it’s like to live in a strictly conservative Muslim country, and then again, that is why I want to go.
My Israeli friend was the first person to express an opinion on the matter. Even though I disagree with some of what she says, I have to respect her opinion because, the fact is, I didn’t grow up on the Gaza strip and I don’t know what it’s like to have bombs go off in my backyard. If I did, there’s a good chance I might hold similar opinions. Regardless, I like her as a person and would never judge her for holding a political opinion, even if it’s radically different from my own. At the same time, I’m starting to wonder if she judges me for mine.
I guess I consider myself liberal, but I don’t like to identify with being liberal. It’s because there are a large number of liberals, who, in my opinion, have gotten the whole concept wrong. To me, a large part of being liberal means being open to the ideas and views of other people. I know way too many liberals who express a strong hatred for people with opposite views to their own. While I don’t try to surround myself with all Republicans, I would never disassociate myself from a friend, who held a different political opinion.
The same basic thing happened with my French friend. Granted, I don’t know the guy that well, but enough to consider him a friend and an acquaintance. Immediately, when I mentioned that I was going to Saudi Arabia, he made this look of disgust. He started ranting about how the Arabs are bad people and how no one in the right mind would ever go to Saudi Arabia. I kept completely quiet this whole time, smoking my cigarette and gazing off into the distance. When it became too much, I quietly added that I’m planning on going back to school for that sort of thing, thinking he would chill on some of his comments. He looked at me, puzzled, then said, “I feel sorry for you.”
This made me pretty annoyed. I don‘t look down on him for pursuing a career in Business Management, but we were at a party in midtown and I really didn’t feel like getting into it just then. But then he kept going!! “Have you ever lived in a Muslim country?!” he demanded accusingly.
“Well, not exactly, although I have lived in Turkey for a time..” I start to say, but am quickly interrupted by French guy who looks at me mockingly and says, “Pssh yea that is not nearly the same.”
“Well yea, I’m not claiming that they are the same,” I try to explain. “I know that Turkey is far more liberal and different than Saudi. You asked me if I had ever lived in a Muslim country. I’m just answering your question. So I take it you have been to Saudi Arabia then?” I ask.
“No, but my family is from Morocco, so I know all about the Arabs.” I couldn't believe how stupid this guy was. Did he hear himself? I wanted to laugh but kept completely silent again, trying not to cause a scene in the street. French dude was obviously unaware of his own hypocrisy, and my telling him was not going to make any difference in his mind. Luckily, it was not a party killer. I went back tot the party and ignored him the whole time, talking with hippies about lighthearted things like yoga and Portland, Oregon. French dude eventually got pissed and left. I was not sad about it.
I know firsthand that ignorance in the world exists. I’m guilty. We’re all guilty of being ignorant, in some form, at one time or another. What disappoints me is how obvious some people are about it. Because I’ve encountered a few Jewish elitists in the past few months, I’m not going to go ahead and say that all Jewish people are ignorant. What bothers me, is that these particular people will go ahead and say that all Arabs are bad. I don’t even think French dude has met an Arab before and yet he can somehow generalize a whole culture. This is stuff we learned in grade school, people. Come on now. One thing is for certain, people being complete ignorant has only made me want to go more.
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