But he was NOT overheard speaking about ISIS. I have a BIG problem with the fact that some fucking idiot simply sees someone wearing middle-eastern clothing and that person is then tackled to the ground and held against his will. This is completely fucked up to me. If there had been any suspicious behaviour, that's one thing, but there wasn't. None at all. People who make calls like this are really stupid racist assholes as far as I'm concerned.
PJfan, why are you "glad" this happened?? Unless you think it might raise awareness about how someone just looking middle eastern isn't a good reason to call the cops, I don't see how any decent person could be glad this happened.
I just started reading all the funny posts, this is great ! (Tony the tiger impression)
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
True but the important distinction is that it is not a legitimate government who want to punish American citizens for the crimes of its government, it is terrorists without a political mandate
Ultimately, does it matter?
You'll need to be clearer for me to understand what distinction serves to separate the two. Motivation or mandate mean very little to the victims.
Eh but we're not actually talking about a terrorist here, just some innocent Muslim who was wrongly harassed simply for being Muslim and speaking his language. So the point is that while terrorists may tar all Westerners with the same brush, legitimate governments and their representatives should not be found guilty of stereotyping all Muslims and persecuting them accordingly.
Come to think of it... I can recall a thread either here or in the Warehouse where people spoke to the relative hostility US citizens travelling abroad faced given their country's foreign policies and how Canadians were generally much more well received (it was important to identify as one).
Further to those said comments... many replied with the 'Can you blame them?' comments (defending the perceived hostility and painting all Americans as ruthless war mongers).
Come to think of it... I can recall a thread either here or in the Warehouse where people spoke to the relative hostility US citizens travelling abroad faced given their country's foreign policies and how Canadians were generally much more well received (it was important to identify as one).
Further to those said comments... many replied with the 'Can you blame them?' comments (defending the perceived hostility and painting all Americans as ruthless war mongers).
There's still a difference between hostility and perceived unfriendliness and actually calling the police to report someone as a suspected terrorist. I don't imagine any American tourist has ever found themselves the victim of such an incident
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
True but the important distinction is that it is not a legitimate government who want to punish American citizens for the crimes of its government, it is terrorists without a political mandate
Ultimately, does it matter?
You'll need to be clearer for me to understand what distinction serves to separate the two. Motivation or mandate mean very little to the victims.
Eh but we're not actually talking about a terrorist here, just some innocent Muslim who was wrongly harassed simply for being Muslim and speaking his language. So the point is that while terrorists may tar all Westerners with the same brush, legitimate governments and their representatives should not be found guilty of stereotyping all Muslims and persecuting them accordingly.
Hope that makes more sense
It does, but I disagree. Being a legitimate government doesn't necessarily place you above a terrorist group.
Further, in this case, a legitimate government never harassed and persecuted an innocent Muslim man. A legitimate government investigated a concern and found nothing to be concerned about.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
True but the important distinction is that it is not a legitimate government who want to punish American citizens for the crimes of its government, it is terrorists without a political mandate
Ultimately, does it matter?
You'll need to be clearer for me to understand what distinction serves to separate the two. Motivation or mandate mean very little to the victims.
Eh but we're not actually talking about a terrorist here, just some innocent Muslim who was wrongly harassed simply for being Muslim and speaking his language. So the point is that while terrorists may tar all Westerners with the same brush, legitimate governments and their representatives should not be found guilty of stereotyping all Muslims and persecuting them accordingly.
Hope that makes more sense
It does, but I disagree. Being a legitimate government doesn't necessarily place you above a terrorist group.
Further, in this case, a legitimate government never harassed and persecuted an innocent Muslim man. A legitimate government investigated a concern and found nothing to be concerned about.
Well I agree that it wasn't really the fault of the police here at all, more the ignorance of a citizen, on whose concerns they were obliged to act. So we have strayed off the point of the original post somewhat
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
True but the important distinction is that it is not a legitimate government who want to punish American citizens for the crimes of its government, it is terrorists without a political mandate
Ultimately, does it matter?
You'll need to be clearer for me to understand what distinction serves to separate the two. Motivation or mandate mean very little to the victims.
Eh but we're not actually talking about a terrorist here, just some innocent Muslim who was wrongly harassed simply for being Muslim and speaking his language. So the point is that while terrorists may tar all Westerners with the same brush, legitimate governments and their representatives should not be found guilty of stereotyping all Muslims and persecuting them accordingly.
Hope that makes more sense
It does, but I disagree. Being a legitimate government doesn't necessarily place you above a terrorist group.
Further, in this case, a legitimate government never harassed and persecuted an innocent Muslim man. A legitimate government investigated a concern and found nothing to be concerned about.
Well I agree that it wasn't really the fault of the police here at all, more the ignorance of a citizen, on whose concerns they were obliged to act. So we have strayed off the point of the original post somewhat
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
True but the important distinction is that it is not a legitimate government who want to punish American citizens for the crimes of its government, it is terrorists without a political mandate
And TRUE . . . the legitimate American government did not punish this UAE citizen for the human rights violations of his government. In fact, this man was afforded the same legal protections all Americans are when accused. The person making the false accusation is now being investigated and may be charged with a crime herself. Those of you wanting to make more of this, please do some reading about what goes on in the UAE and then try to tell me again with a serious face that this man's human rights were seriously violated: This is what happens when you are raped: clarionproject.org/news/united-arab-emirates-arrests-woman-after-she-reports-rape# This is what happens when you get harassed while waiting for a cab: businessinsider.com/ap-us-woman-faces-insult-charge-in-united-arab-emirates-2016-4 This is what happens when you rant about your boss on Facebook: cnn.com/2015/03/05/middleeast/american-arrested-in-uae/index.html This is what happens when you make a lemon poppy seed muffin: thenational.ae/uae/courts/father-and-sons-must-see-out-jail-term-for-selling-poppy-seeds-dubai-court-rules This is what happens to migrant workers who make the princes' wealth possible: https://hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/united-arab-emirates I don't recall any apologies coming from the UAE when they arrested all these people. Maybe they did, but for some reason we don't report on them here in America because apparently every culture around the world is awesome except for our own. We are so lucky here in America to come on a rock band's website and bash our country all day long without threat of arrest. Too bad that when this guy returns home after paying cash for the best health care in the world (I assume he doesn't have Obamacare), he will not be afforded the same rights of self-expression. His false accuser, I imagine a high school grad who probably got paid $8 an hour with no health insurance offered, will likely be out of a job and face a hefty fine, possibly jail time, and is now splashed across our free media as an ignorant racist who let her unfounded fears ruin this man's life (which really isn't ruined). Ah, the irony that could only exist in America.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
True but the important distinction is that it is not a legitimate government who want to punish American citizens for the crimes of its government, it is terrorists without a political mandate
Ultimately, does it matter?
You'll need to be clearer for me to understand what distinction serves to separate the two. Motivation or mandate mean very little to the victims.
Eh but we're not actually talking about a terrorist here, just some innocent Muslim who was wrongly harassed simply for being Muslim and speaking his language. So the point is that while terrorists may tar all Westerners with the same brush, legitimate governments and their representatives should not be found guilty of stereotyping all Muslims and persecuting them accordingly.
Hope that makes more sense
It does, but I disagree. Being a legitimate government doesn't necessarily place you above a terrorist group.
Further, in this case, a legitimate government never harassed and persecuted an innocent Muslim man. A legitimate government investigated a concern and found nothing to be concerned about.
Well I agree that it wasn't really the fault of the police here at all, more the ignorance of a citizen, on whose concerns they were obliged to act. So we have strayed off the point of the original post somewhat
Like all good conversations do, my friend.
Have a good day.
True, often leads to even more interesting discussions too
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
True but the important distinction is that it is not a legitimate government who want to punish American citizens for the crimes of its government, it is terrorists without a political mandate
And TRUE . . . the legitimate American government did not punish this UAE citizen for the human rights violations of his government. In fact, this man was afforded the same legal protections all Americans are when accused. The person making the false accusation is now being investigated and may be charged with a crime herself. Those of you wanting to make more of this, please do some reading about what goes on in the UAE and then try to tell me again with a serious face that this man's human rights were seriously violated: This is what happens when you are raped: clarionproject.org/news/united-arab-emirates-arrests-woman-after-she-reports-rape# This is what happens when you get harassed while waiting for a cab: businessinsider.com/ap-us-woman-faces-insult-charge-in-united-arab-emirates-2016-4 This is what happens when you rant about your boss on Facebook: cnn.com/2015/03/05/middleeast/american-arrested-in-uae/index.html This is what happens when you make a lemon poppy seed muffin: thenational.ae/uae/courts/father-and-sons-must-see-out-jail-term-for-selling-poppy-seeds-dubai-court-rules This is what happens to migrant workers who make the princes' wealth possible: https://hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/united-arab-emirates I don't recall any apologies coming from the UAE when they arrested all these people. Maybe they did, but for some reason we don't report on them here in America because apparently every culture around the world is awesome except for our own. We are so lucky here in America to come on a rock band's website and bash our country all day long without threat of arrest. Too bad that when this guy returns home after paying cash for the best health care in the world (I assume he doesn't have Obamacare), he will not be afforded the same rights of self-expression. His false accuser, I imagine a high school grad who probably got paid $8 an hour with no health insurance offered, will likely be out of a job and face a hefty fine, possibly jail time, and is now splashed across our free media as an ignorant racist who let her unfounded fears ruin this man's life (which really isn't ruined). Ah, the irony that could only exist in America.
so we should act depending on how another country treats its citizens? that's preposterous. just because his home country sucks at justice, doesn't mean what he was put through should be diminished.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, should I be held responsible for millions of deaths caused by my government?
You're going to hate this response, but to some degree you are.
I don't hate it but it is an interesting way to look at things.
Lest I be accused of ignorance, I've been reading up on the United Arab Emirates tonight. As suspected, it's a pretty horrible place. genderindex.org/country/united-arab-emirates I think it's unfortunate that a visitor to our nation was treated so unhospitably because, like everyone else, I wish the world and the people in it were perfect. But considering that women in the UAE can be and have been arrested for being raped, that 1/3 of women in the UAE have been genitally mutilated, that women can't even legally work outside the home or travel outside the country without their husband or father's permission (to treat their heart disease in America, for example) -- I'm not really so troubled that this guy experienced a few moments of discomfort at the hands of the American police. I mean, on the global scale of injustice, it could have been much, much worse.
I don't see what one has to do with the other unless you have some reason to think that this man is personally responsible for these terrible conditions for women in the UAE (which is totally true - the conditions for women in the UAE are completely disgusting), or that he supports this kind of treatment of women. We actually don't know either way. Some men in the UAE support women's rights believe it or not. But either way, that's not the point. The story isn't really about this specific man. It's about the behaviour of the idiot who made that call to police. That person most certainly did NOT make that phone call because of the way women are treated in the UAE. Also, this kind of thing creates more problems. It's just one more thing that lends to the encouragement of Islamic radicalism.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
But he was NOT overheard speaking about ISIS. I have a BIG problem with the fact that some fucking idiot simply sees someone wearing middle-eastern clothing and that person is then tackled to the ground and held against his will. This is completely fucked up to me. If there had been any suspicious behaviour, that's one thing, but there wasn't. None at all. People who make calls like this are really stupid racist assholes as far as I'm concerned.
PJfan, why are you "glad" this happened?? Unless you think it might raise awareness about how someone just looking middle eastern isn't a good reason to call the cops, I don't see how any decent person could be glad this happened.
I just started reading all the funny posts, this is great ! (Tony the tiger impression)
Godfather.
I don't know what the fuck you're talking about.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Come to think of it... I can recall a thread either here or in the Warehouse where people spoke to the relative hostility US citizens travelling abroad faced given their country's foreign policies and how Canadians were generally much more well received (it was important to identify as one).
Further to those said comments... many replied with the 'Can you blame them?' comments (defending the perceived hostility and painting all Americans as ruthless war mongers).
Sure. Two wrongs don't make a right.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I guess you're not aware that Allahu akbar means "God is great," not "I pledge support to ISIS." You're a lot more likely to hear an Arabic speaker say it when they get good news, they congratulate someone, or their favorite team scores a goal. In another life, I taught English to Arabic students and they said it all the time, including when they got a good grade or were talking about everyday things.
Exactly. Imagine white folks having the police called on them and tackled, having their lives put in danger, & arrested every time someone heard them say "Thank God!"
well if you said God is great in the middle of a Muslim state it wouldn't go over too well.
and if I heard someone dressed in that manner and saying that i would report it absolutely. as a US citizen i have the right to report what i think might be suspicious activity. It is them up to the authorities to decipher if the supposed activity should be investigated and/or is criminal. that is all that happened in this case. as i stated above the man was NOT arrested despite the headline and reports.
So any time someone speaks in a foreign language, you're gonna call the cops and let them decide if the speaker is doing something wrong? Come on, man.
I'm happy to get back on point. Sorry I got distracted by my investigation into the serious injustices of the world.
I'm wondering about the girl and her family members involved in the phone calls. Exactly what was the content of her conversation with the sister? How did that information then get communicated to the father, who then called the police? I'm smart enough to know that it's always way more complicated than "she's an ignorant fucking racist."
I'm under the impression this is a young girl with very little experience in the world. It probably isn't a normal occurrence for an Emirati to book a room at a Fairfield Inn 20 miles outside of Cleveland. It probably was the first time this girl ever heard some man in a white dress speak Arabic. I'm unclear about the chain of events and the exact words spoken in the hotel or on the phone, but I don't blame the father one bit for jumping on his instinct to protect his daughter if he got some mixed up message that she felt afraid. I can forgive this girl for simply being afraid. It does not matter if I or you believe her fears are rational. Her fear was very real to her, and we don't change people's feelings by simply stating "it's wrong for you to feel that way."
I just think we all need to be careful about our assumptions every way around. I'm not thrilled this happened to the guy, but I also know that immediately shouting "Fuck You Ignorant Racists!" at the offenders will not get the desired results either. This girl is human, subject to the same imperfections that all of us are capable of experiencing. None of us are perfect in our tolerance for other human beings. It took me half a page in the "Relationship Pet Peeves" thread to see that you all are a pretty harsh group when it comes to showing tolerance for human behavior that doesn't match your own.
It took me a much longer time, a lifetime, for me to come to understand that name-calling and shaming a bigot will only get one response -- a heightened defense of their bigotry. I honestly can't say I have ever successfully changed a racist's mind, but I do know I make more progress toward a peaceful world (or at least maintaining my own sanity) by acknowledging their normal human instinct to be afraid of what they don't know or can't change or feel powerless over. I try to listen for understanding, and I ask a lot of questions. I do my best to check my assumptions --
Can someone please remind me if the forum still has that button where you can turn people off and pretend they don't exist? That's how I deal with people I can't tolerate.
Can someone please remind me if the forum still has that button where you can turn people off and pretend they don't exist? That's how I deal with people I can't tolerate.
I took down my Rebel flag (which you CAN'T buy on eBay any more) and peeled the NRA sticker off the front door. I disconnected my home alarm system and quit the candy-ass Neighborhood Watch. Then I bought two Pakistani flags and put one at each corner of the front yard and purchased the black flag of ISIS (which you CAN buy on eBay) and ran it up the flagpole Now, the local police, sheriff, FBI, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, Secret Service and other agencies are all watching my house 24/7. I've NEVER felt safer and I'm saving $69.95 a month that ADT used to charge me. Plus, I bought burkas for my family when we shop or travel. Everyone moves out of the way and security can't pat us down. Hot damn — Safe at last — Is America great or what? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAH !!!!!!!!!!!
I took down my Rebel flag (which you CAN'T buy on eBay any more) and peeled the NRA sticker off the front door. I disconnected my home alarm system and quit the candy-ass Neighborhood Watch. Then I bought two Pakistani flags and put one at each corner of the front yard and purchased the black flag of ISIS (which you CAN buy on eBay) and ran it up the flagpole Now, the local police, sheriff, FBI, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, Secret Service and other agencies are all watching my house 24/7. I've NEVER felt safer and I'm saving $69.95 a month that ADT used to charge me. Plus, I bought burkas for my family when we shop or travel. Everyone moves out of the way and security can't pat us down. Hot damn — Safe at last — Is America great or what? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAH !!!!!!!!!!!
Not one misspelled word. Nice copy and paste
that's how I knew it wasn't his.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
Comments
Godfather.
Hope that makes more sense
Further to those said comments... many replied with the 'Can you blame them?' comments (defending the perceived hostility and painting all Americans as ruthless war mongers).
Further, in this case, a legitimate government never harassed and persecuted an innocent Muslim man. A legitimate government investigated a concern and found nothing to be concerned about.
Have a good day.
Those of you wanting to make more of this, please do some reading about what goes on in the UAE and then try to tell me again with a serious face that this man's human rights were seriously violated:
This is what happens when you are raped:
clarionproject.org/news/united-arab-emirates-arrests-woman-after-she-reports-rape#
This is what happens when you get harassed while waiting for a cab:
businessinsider.com/ap-us-woman-faces-insult-charge-in-united-arab-emirates-2016-4
This is what happens when you rant about your boss on Facebook:
cnn.com/2015/03/05/middleeast/american-arrested-in-uae/index.html
This is what happens when you make a lemon poppy seed muffin:
thenational.ae/uae/courts/father-and-sons-must-see-out-jail-term-for-selling-poppy-seeds-dubai-court-rules
This is what happens to migrant workers who make the princes' wealth possible:
https://hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/united-arab-emirates
I don't recall any apologies coming from the UAE when they arrested all these people. Maybe they did, but for some reason we don't report on them here in America because apparently every culture around the world is awesome except for our own. We are so lucky here in America to come on a rock band's website and bash our country all day long without threat of arrest. Too bad that when this guy returns home after paying cash for the best health care in the world (I assume he doesn't have Obamacare), he will not be afforded the same rights of self-expression. His false accuser, I imagine a high school grad who probably got paid $8 an hour with no health insurance offered, will likely be out of a job and face a hefty fine, possibly jail time, and is now splashed across our free media as an ignorant racist who let her unfounded fears ruin this man's life (which really isn't ruined). Ah, the irony that could only exist in America.
-EV 8/14/93
I'm wondering about the girl and her family members involved in the phone calls. Exactly what was the content of her conversation with the sister? How did that information then get communicated to the father, who then called the police? I'm smart enough to know that it's always way more complicated than "she's an ignorant fucking racist."
I'm under the impression this is a young girl with very little experience in the world. It probably isn't a normal occurrence for an Emirati to book a room at a Fairfield Inn 20 miles outside of Cleveland. It probably was the first time this girl ever heard some man in a white dress speak Arabic. I'm unclear about the chain of events and the exact words spoken in the hotel or on the phone, but I don't blame the father one bit for jumping on his instinct to protect his daughter if he got some mixed up message that she felt afraid. I can forgive this girl for simply being afraid. It does not matter if I or you believe her fears are rational. Her fear was very real to her, and we don't change people's feelings by simply stating "it's wrong for you to feel that way."
I just think we all need to be careful about our assumptions every way around. I'm not thrilled this happened to the guy, but I also know that immediately shouting "Fuck You Ignorant Racists!" at the offenders will not get the desired results either. This girl is human, subject to the same imperfections that all of us are capable of experiencing. None of us are perfect in our tolerance for other human beings. It took me half a page in the "Relationship Pet Peeves" thread to see that you all are a pretty harsh group when it comes to showing tolerance for human behavior that doesn't match your own.
It took me a much longer time, a lifetime, for me to come to understand that name-calling and shaming a bigot will only get one response -- a heightened defense of their bigotry. I honestly can't say I have ever successfully changed a racist's mind, but I do know I make more progress toward a peaceful world (or at least maintaining my own sanity) by acknowledging their normal human instinct to be afraid of what they don't know or can't change or feel powerless over. I try to listen for understanding, and I ask a lot of questions. I do my best to check my assumptions --
Not one misspelled word. Nice copy and paste
-EV 8/14/93
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce