Posted: 1/14/2004 8:20:46 AM EDT
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Yesterday was Taco Tuesday and a bunch of my friends went out like usual. We always gather at a place called Tortilla Flats which is near a nice lake. Most of us were there and we were waiting for some stragglers. A good buddy of mine comes in and then he immediately says he has something to do and starts to leave. I go after him because this happened before and I want to know why he sometimes just leaves. He's seems pissed and doesn't want to talk about it. He gets in his car and drives off. One of my other buds pull me aside and says he doesn't like my buddy, Hue. I ask why? Hue is one of the nicest person I've ever met. He's quiet and would give you the shirt off his back. My bud answers that my other buddy lost an uncle in the Viet Nam war and that Hue was Viet Namese. I've never consider Hue to be anything but a good person, regardless of race or whatever. I call my buddy up and say what he's doing is wrong. He tells me to back off. He doesn't really hate Hue. He just instinctively dislikes Viet Namese. I tell him that Hue didn't pull the trigger that killed his uncle. He answers with, "No, but you didn't lose an uncle to the Viet Namese, either." I had no come back for that and we hung up. After that, I start to think about how I've been unconsciously been suspicious of Arab Americans after 9/11. Most of the ones living here didn't have anything to do with it. So why do I feel like this? |
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You feel the way you do towards Arabs because 9-11 was only 2+ years ago , you are directly affected, and it is on going. We are still at war. Your friend wasn't directly involved and is transfering his anger over an event 30 + years ago. He needs to move on... Sgtar15 |
| I think some of what you feel is natures way of stoping you from getting hurt. If you get snake bit then you'll naturally have a "fear" of snakes from there on out. If you didn't you may get bit again and die from the bite. In the same way, "Arabs" caused a great deal of people to die on 9/11 so as a result you naturally be fearful of them. I don't hate Vietnameese people but I don't have much respect for the ones that turned tail and ran to this country when the communists took over their country. If communists tried to take over this country I'd stay and fight to my last breath, not turn tail and run off. I've worked with people from "Nam and all in all I find them very hard working people. One guy that I worked with had a day job working at a car dealership as a mechanic and a night job as a machinest. I think you need to talk to your friend and tell him that his Uncle died trying to defend the freedom of the Vietnamesee people and if he was willing to give up his life for them the least that your friend could do was make peace with Hue and go on from there. JMHO. Talk to ya' later. |
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I don't know about that last part. The day after 9/11, an Iranian girl at work said "It is bad, but of course, I have to side with my Arab brothers, too" I am her immediate boss. I told her to fuck off. I wan't concerned about consequences. If she complained, I knew no one would care. She lasted about another week there. |
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Tell your buddy to get over it. My Stepfather was a WW2 veteran and Jewish. Combat infantryman, 2 bronze stars, silver star, purple heart, and a few other things. He never hated the japanese or germans. We even had a German exchange student in high school and owned both Japanese and German cars. Many German business contacts, etc. My dad and 4 of his buddies since high school enlisted on Dec 8th 1941. Three of them did not come home. Tell your bud he's full of shit and after 30 years its time to put away the hate. The war is over. If he must hate, he is free to hate our current enemies. |
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Quoted: Most of the ones living here didn't have anything to do with it. So why do I feel like this? Because you ain't too bright! [nana] You're buddy is the actual boner, and is likely engaging in some type of perverse hero worship to fill a void in his life. Sadly, it's part of what drives him, and if you looked hard, you'd probably be suprised how wrapped up in it he actually is. As far as you are concerned, you are looking for someone to take your anger out on, and viola, there you go. You probably also thought it was a good idea to pour out any French wine you had, even though you already bought it. Seriously, it's natural to be initially suspicious of other cultures (especially when one aspect of that culture dislikes you), but when you assign a 'culture' to someone based on their race (or what you think they are), you are pushing it, like your buddy does. |
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Quoted: I call my [red]black[/red] buddy up and say what he's doing is wrong. He tells me to back off. He doesn't really hate [red]white people[/red]. He just instinctively dislikes [red]white people[/red]. I tell him that [red]my white buddy[/red] didn't [red]own slaves[/red]. He answers with, "No, but you [red]never had ancestors that were enslaved[/red]" I had no come back for that and we hung up. Think about it. He's acting just like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. |
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I think your buddy has issues, but on the other hand, racial profiling is natural. That is really whats happening here. It happens in all species and humans, even at the top of the food chain, are no different. Animals use species and apperiance to identify threats, friends and food. Color used to tell posionous snakes from non-venomous. It used to impress females, and to fend of attackers. Why should we be different? I understand the civilized argument, but really it is one of the most retarded forms of PC we ever encounter in our lives. We are born with these instincts and surpressing them is all we can do. Much like hunting for our food, we have the instinct to kill our food and the bodies designed to consume it. But it has been candy coated so people can remove themselves from that actual act by getting what they need at the store. Racial profiling to humans is no different then it is for animals, we only think it is. Most cant avoid it even if they truley believe they are. Before you start to flame me about being a racist, let me say I believe we all are. Its the degree that we surpress it that seperates us. Also, listen carefully, I AM NOT A WHITE SUPREMIST! Again, your buddy needs to fight his own demons and learn that forgiving can be more fullfilling then hating. CH |