Does Anyone Else Fear People of Middle Eastern Descent?
@CallieWVU2 (520)
United States
June 19, 2008 9:34am CST
I don't dislike anyone, but September 11th is burned into my brain, it doesn't take that much effort to recall what I was doing that day. Sitting on a park bench at my college in WVU, the sky a brilliant blue, a few clouds in the sky, and I could hear kids screaming into their cell phones crying trying to get a hold of their families. Since most of our college population comes from New York and Jersey.
I know that there were people of Middle Eastern descent who died as well in the towers, and I know it's an irrational fear, but I am just still scared. Maybe i'll get over it.
I'm still fearful, I don't dislike, just fearful of the possibilities that could come.
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5 responses
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I'm not. There is a greater chance of harm done to you by your regular old white American than by outsiders. I mean think of the Oklahoma City bombing. The sniper shootings that happened for a while in Virginia. All done by Americans. Something bad could happen to you at any time, from anybody around you. The guy next to you, good old American boy, looks like he could harm no fly, could contemplate raping and killing you. Point is, if you let fear dictate your life, if you let prejudice rule it, you miss out on some great opportunities to enjoy life and even another culture. Don't let a few rotten apples spoil the fun. You can't hide in a cocoon and think you are safe. Enjoy life while you can.
1 person likes this
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Well, the Oklahoma City bombing was one bombing, whereas how many Islamic terrorists blow themselves up in a week? Not analogous.
And the Beltway sniper was actually an Islamic terrorist as well:
http://michellemalkin.com/2006/05/25/the-jihadi-snipers-revisited/
The point still stands that you would be more likely harmed by an average person in our country, a white person, since there are far more white people than Muslims. But the point also stands that even in this country, you are more likely to be BLOW UP by a Muslim than a white person or non-muslim.
@koharukusumi (1539)
• Malaysia
19 Jun 08
It's a normal reaction to a traumatic event. But sometimes we need to tell ourselves that one rotten apple shouldnt makes us view other apples in the barrel as rotten too.
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@shamsta19 (3224)
• United States
23 Jun 08
There is a general fear of people of Middle Eastern descent because of the propaganda being drilled into our brains everyday! 9/11 was our own governments responsibility, not anyone from the Middle East though. Its like if you constantly hear these people are evil or terrorists you become programmed to believe this. The picture that has been painted of these people is a biased (and racist if you ask me) one and it in a lot of ways is not your fault for feeling this way.
I watched our government murder its own citizens and I FEAR THEM!!! I am scared of what these a**holes in the white house and senate are doing everyday right under our noses! If CNN reported the injustices that they are practicing everyday we'd probably all be scared!!! Instead they spread hateful rhetoric about the people of Middle Eastern Descent or more specific of Islamic heritage. People in the Middle East probably are scared of us too you know?
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Jun 08
yes I still have that same fear as I still remember vividly
that awful morning of Sept 11th I was at my podiatrists office
waiting to be called and we were all watching this wall hung
televison screen.I do not dislike anyone but am very leery of
people of middle eastern descent also.we all lost our trust that
day. we are all no longer the innocents we once were.
@banadux (630)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I wouldn't say fear applies, but more of a lack of trust. It only takes one bad egg to ruin the bunch so to speak. I know middle eastern people who are great and I'm sure that is usually the case, but it takes a lot of good people to cancel out the effects of one. The amount of good people it takes to cancel out the effect of something like 9/11 is enormous. I doubt that most americans will encounter enough middle eastern people in their lifetimes to cancel it out. If there were more around and you say had a couple hundred great friends you'd say, well it was some bad seeds, but it's really hard to feel that way when you have no counterbalance.
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