Comments on: Call 911! There’s an Arab on the Train!

By: Muhammed

Muhammed — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:14:16 +0000

A similar story happened to me on the train to DC with my Omani friend. Apparently a drunk woman with her idiotic boyfriend looked at both of us and yelled in her own “smart” way that we were both terrorists because of the unfortunate Arab looks that we were blessed with. Fortunately and calmly enough, they were both kicked off the next train station and we both continued on our way peacefully after some Americans apologized to us for the misbehavior. Things like that happen in the U.S.; nevertheless, the experience of living in there is one of its kind …

By: Yasser

Yasser — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:07:52 +0000

Don’t you know AlJazeera starts with AL…

By: cc

cc — Sun, 09 May 2010 11:57:20 +0000

I have not been to the US in years, but next time I go I will avoid bringing my Arabic flashcards. Are you studying in Boston? It is a nice town.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:05:36 +0000

That is pretty unbelieveable. I’m sorry you had to go through that and I know exactly what you feel right now – wanting to confront him, but at the same time trying to keep sane.

Brazilians do not have such a hard time at US (though it is not easy either), but Europe is harder on us. We don’t need visas to go there, but more and more often we have cases of people being sent back because they suspect we are illegal immigrants. For women traveling alone it is even worse – we are treated as prostitutes.

Last year, there was a case of a professor who was invited to speak in a spanish university. She had all her papers right and still they sent her back.

I understand they are afraid of terrorism, or they are afraid that their country will be “flooded” with prostitutes. But still, it doesn’t justify the humiliation and constant mistreatment. I’m flying to Madrid in June (then getting a flight to London where I’ll be studying for a couple of month). I really reaaally hope they don’t think I am some kind of hooker.

Oh, and I am not too excited about the “full body scan” (new machine in London airports that scan your body and it looks like you are naked on the screen. Have you seen that thing?) either.

By: Lurker

Lurker — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:06:51 +0000

“Jesus taught me to share.” Now that’s a classic.

You should have replied “My prophet taught me to be self-sufficient and respectful of others.”

By: Anas

Anas — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:07:01 +0000

لك الأنكى من هيك إنو لما زلمي أبيض بيدمر مبنى فيدرالي لمصلحة الضرائب بطيارته الإعلام بيقول عنو إنو هوي رجل مضطرب وغاضب وما بيجيبوا كلمة إرهابي بتاتاً. يعني المعايير المزدوجة شي بيفلق الراس.

صديقي لو كنت طلعت بالطيارة كنت لا فتحت لابتوب ولا فتحت تمي، ما بتعرف شو ممكن يجنوا عليك بالطيارة، يعني للعربي الطيارة سجن طائر ما بتسترتجي تحفص لا يمين ولا شمال.

By: علوش

علوش — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:48:08 +0000

مافي أكتر من المجانين، موجودين بكل الدول طبعاً.

الولايات المتحدة هي أمة المهاجرين، وصعب كتير أتقبل فكرة الخطر القومي عليهم!، الولايات المتحدة انطلقت للأمام لأنها كانت أرض الفرص ومكان ليبدأ كل انسان حياته بغض النظر عن عرقه وعن دينه، لكن المجانين على ما يبدو معهم جنون الاضطراب وانو جميع الناس بدها تقتلهم، وهذا ما بيتعلق مع أحداث 11 أيلول، عملوا هل الشي مع جميع الجنسيات المختلفة عن العرق الأوروبي، لك حتى الايطاليين تعرضوا لنفس القصة.

الأحلى من هيك كانوا يحتلو أراضي القبائل المحلية ويدبحوهم ويسخلوا فروة رأسهم ويعتبروهم خطر قومي!.

طبعاً عم أحكي عن فئة المجانين، والمصيبة الأكبر هي انو واحد من هل المجانين يستلم مقاليد الحكم!!.

لك منيح طلعت بالقطار، لو كانت طيارة شو كان صار

By: Anas

Anas — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:50:04 +0000

On the train I looked nothing like the stereotypical Arab/Muslim. I was close shaved and had long hair. I believe racism doesn’t let stereotypes hold it back.

By: F

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:14:11 +0000

My husband and I arrived in Boston in August 2009.
We’re South Africans of Indian descent – I’m a hijaabi and he sports a beard.
Thankfully we have not had any major episodes so far.
The one interesting encounter my husband had was when he refused to give a freeloading passerby a cigarette. (Btw, what is up with Bostonian’s trying to freeload cigarette’s off every smoker they see?)

Immediately, the man decided to challenge him on the basis of Religion.
‘That’s the problem with you ‘Islamists!”
‘Jesus taught me to share’

All this over a cigarette!