Prejudice
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| Sat, 01-27-2007 - 6:29am |
A few of my kids friends were over the other day and well they all of a sudden started talking about muslims. I was surprised to hear but one of the kids began talking about them in the most racist and prejudice manner. I didn't say anything but I think I should've. Whats even sadder is that if he talked this way about black people, everyone would go against him, but in this case noone really cared and even seemed to agree at times. I guess in todays environment bashing muslims didn't really seem like a big deal.
Have any of you noticed this? You know people bashing muslims and noone really says anything? Has anyone noticed it with teens?
I've always tried to teach kids about respecting people of other races and they do have a lot of hispanic and black friends, but I hate to admit that I'm not exactly fond of Islam or muslims either.

I think Muslim bashing is considered politically ok in our world since 9-11, in a way that gay bashing or "black bashing" is no longer acceptable.
My DS is currently serving in Iraq with the USMC, and has seen things that no 22 y/o should ever be exposed to - heck, NOBODY should see the things he's seen in the past 7 months. In some circles, I suppose that would give our family free license to do a lot of Muslim bashing and "arab bashing." But you know what my son told me? The average Iraqi family man isn't that much different than the average American family man - he wants to provide for his family, he wants his family to be safe, he wants his children and grandchildren to have a better life than he has. The Muslims that we hear about on the news every day are extremists and don't represent the majority. They have their extremists, and we have ours - the far left and right politically, the KKK, militant Christians, hard core inner city gang members, organized crime families, you name it. None of those groups represent the "average American" any more than extremist Muslims represent the "average Muslim." I think this is a concept that more in America need to make themselves familiar with.
Rose
I would have said something but that's me. I would just have a really difficult time keeping my mouth shut.
I think that with all the newfound security measures and cautionary protocols in place now whether at the local mall, airport, post office or DMV, many people blame that on muslims. How many times have you heard, "Well, since 9-11 and the Patriot Act, we've had to change the way we do things"?? Just this morning I went to register my 19dd's car for her. I had all the paperwork, everything is signed, etc. This being my 3rd try I was SURE I had everything right. Then the woman at the information counter told me that I needed a photocopy of dd's license. "It's already on the forms" I said. She said, yep, you guessed it, "well, since 9-11 and the Patriot Act..." I can tell you the first thing I thought, and I know it's not right, was, "those danged terrorists - they've ruined everything!" The difference is that I thought 'terrorists' and not 'muslims'.
I think the only way to stop this is to step in and say something about it at every opportunity...especially with youngsters and young adults.
Here, we now need passports to visit the US. Before we know it, the US will require finger prints and a visa and who knows what. Given the long lines at the passport office, it takes months to get a passport or to renew one.
Gone are the days of the day trip across the border,just for the "h*ll" of it. I remember one weekend I decided to drive to Seatle from Vancouver just to sightsee. I drove there, looked around and was home late that night. As a kid we use to go to drive-in movies across the border.
I haven't crossed the border in years (and it is only an hour away).
I think we parents need to speak up when we hear our kids making prejudicial comments, and let them know that stereotyping, of any kind, is wrong.
DS17 sometimes will say something like, "you look like white trailer trash", or "he can't come, he's black." He'll say it seriously, and his close friends and I know he's joking, but sometimes there are kids around who do not know him well and I'm sure they wonder about him. I tell him someday he'll get beaten up if he talks like that. (I know he's joking cuz when he was planning on a spring break trip to Mexico, he said I'll room with R (black) if he goes, cuz the other two friends will get drunk. And cuz he empathizes with those less fortunate than him.)
It gets me mad when I see uneducated people being treated worse than I am by bank tellers or store clerks, simply cuz they cannot speak or write well, or because they are dressed shabbily. I try to teach my kids that every human deserves the same amount of respect--it's an opportunity to make someone else feel good. But it's not always easy for them, or for us adults, to put into practice.
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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM
I live in Canada. I was on an adult course where approximately five of the students were Muslim from other counties who later became Canadian Citizens. We were in school when 9-11 happened. About a week or so after this our course had a discussion on racism and prejudices. One of the Muslim men from Egypt spoke about how the United States Government isn't doing enough to help the poor and needy people from the Middle Eastern countries and went so far as to say that it was a sin. A couple of the other Muslims agreed. They were from Iraq and Iran. I am not prejudice but I was a little offended that they would say this when their own governments are quite rich and powerful and quite able to help them. I do believe that the USA does help with aid a trememdous amount to not only the Middle East but all around the globe.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, yes there are extemists who want the USA to be hurt but if what the Muslim people from this course said it sounds like there is some anger held towards the USA from more than just extreme Muslims. Actually, I was very surprised by it all. But, I must say that I also know of Muslims who just want to live a quiet peaceful life without predjudice and are very happy to be a Canadian or American citizen and who want to be treated as such.
Aslo, I suppose I should add that I am aware that there are also a lot of people who have a bone to pick with their own government no matter what country they are from.
<<(I know he's joking cuz when he was planning on a spring break trip to Mexico, he said I'll room with R (black) if he goes, cuz the other two friends will get drunk. And cuz he empathizes with those less fortunate than him.)>>>
Correct me if I'm wrong or perhaps don't get the whole picture here but, Why does your son think that his black friend will empatahize with those less fortunate? Is it because he is black???? or should I be reading that your son empathizes with those less fortunate? I just couldn't understand the last part of your post.
Thank you for sharing that.
Sorry....that was not clear. The "empathizes with those less fortunate" describes my son, and it should have been linked to the "white trailer trash" prejudice, not the prejudice vs. blacks.
I know a lot of people don't like the use of "black" rather than "African-American"(AA), but I simply can't switch to the use of a 7-syllable adjective in place of a 1-syllable one. I don't like being called Caucasian instead of white, either. Anyone who know me knows that I have worked with blacks in the inner city most of my adult life, and that I respect them no less than people of any other color. Although he's not AA, DH's skin is "blacker" than that of many "blacks". Some of the most beautiful (physically and personality-wise) people I know are blacks.
As for the "white trailer trash" term--don't know where my son picked that one up, but I would never use that language. He must have gotten if from his friends, or maybe TV? It is disgusting, though, and he's charged when I hear it, just like he is for swear words--$1 every time.
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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM