Shieks On A Plane
I'm dark olive skinned, because of that people where I live often ask me where I'm from. (I do the same thing myself.) Often my reply is, well the truth; "I'm Pilgrim and Arab."
That's what I am. My father came over here from Qatar for school, but that's all I know. I don't know anything about my father, or Qatar, nor do I have any attachment to those places. My mother's family came over before there was a USA. But your background doesn't matter, or at least it shouldn't.
With 20% of the world’s population being Muslim, I don't think xenophobia should rule the day. I've gotten in trouble many times for looking Arab. Mostly in Airports, and mostly before 9/11 2001. I once got yelled at for sitting in line waiting for my bag in customs, apparently my looks upset a customs officer. The guy was very upset with me. I didn't have to do much to make him angry though. He walked up to me in directly and deliberately. He had his badge and his dog and it gave him power. This was his chance to exercise it.
Sitting in the customs baggage claim area he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was waiting for my bags and for a friend. He didn't like that and asked about where I was from. "Bellevue, Washington" I replied. Thinking somehow that I didn't quite understand his question he thought about it for a second and asked where my parents were from. I replied the same as before "Bellevue, Washington." He didn't like that answer, he was apparently expecting something else to come out of my mouth. He asked again, this time very frustrated, pausing between each word as if he was trying not to explode; "Where are your..., parents'...parent's from?" Now you've got to understand, just like how my family helped found the US, my parents' parent's helped found the City. I looked at him with a straight clear honest face and replied, "Bellevue, Washington." He exploded, loudly by the carousel, dog on hand, weary travelers and baggage all around; "BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON! BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON! ALL THE TIME BELLEVUE WASHINGTON?!"
Before his outburst I was slightly perturbed...but now this was funny. It was hard to keep a straight face. I don't know where he got off asking where I was from. As if somehow my answer would make a difference. I was just answering his questions. He was staring at me now, angry. His chest was tight, heaving as he took angry breaths ready to lay the smack down. I decided I’d better play it cool. Don’t mess around. I looked at him in the eyes, trying my best to keep a straight face, and like some idiot who'd only leaned two words his entire life, I replied calmly, "Bellevue, Washington."
He stormed off realizing there was nothing he could do. Oh he hated me. I'm not really sure why, there's not much else I could have done and I was really just minding my own business when he came up and decided to take his shit day out on me. I was just lucky it worked out that time. Lately other travelers haven't fared so well. Getting kicked off of planes and being held at airports.
I'm flying to Portland next week and with xenophobia running high I'm thinking about getting a t-shirt so I can be identified more quickly.
That's what I am. My father came over here from Qatar for school, but that's all I know. I don't know anything about my father, or Qatar, nor do I have any attachment to those places. My mother's family came over before there was a USA. But your background doesn't matter, or at least it shouldn't.
With 20% of the world’s population being Muslim, I don't think xenophobia should rule the day. I've gotten in trouble many times for looking Arab. Mostly in Airports, and mostly before 9/11 2001. I once got yelled at for sitting in line waiting for my bag in customs, apparently my looks upset a customs officer. The guy was very upset with me. I didn't have to do much to make him angry though. He walked up to me in directly and deliberately. He had his badge and his dog and it gave him power. This was his chance to exercise it.
Sitting in the customs baggage claim area he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was waiting for my bags and for a friend. He didn't like that and asked about where I was from. "Bellevue, Washington" I replied. Thinking somehow that I didn't quite understand his question he thought about it for a second and asked where my parents were from. I replied the same as before "Bellevue, Washington." He didn't like that answer, he was apparently expecting something else to come out of my mouth. He asked again, this time very frustrated, pausing between each word as if he was trying not to explode; "Where are your..., parents'...parent's from?" Now you've got to understand, just like how my family helped found the US, my parents' parent's helped found the City. I looked at him with a straight clear honest face and replied, "Bellevue, Washington." He exploded, loudly by the carousel, dog on hand, weary travelers and baggage all around; "BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON! BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON! ALL THE TIME BELLEVUE WASHINGTON?!"
Before his outburst I was slightly perturbed...but now this was funny. It was hard to keep a straight face. I don't know where he got off asking where I was from. As if somehow my answer would make a difference. I was just answering his questions. He was staring at me now, angry. His chest was tight, heaving as he took angry breaths ready to lay the smack down. I decided I’d better play it cool. Don’t mess around. I looked at him in the eyes, trying my best to keep a straight face, and like some idiot who'd only leaned two words his entire life, I replied calmly, "Bellevue, Washington."
He stormed off realizing there was nothing he could do. Oh he hated me. I'm not really sure why, there's not much else I could have done and I was really just minding my own business when he came up and decided to take his shit day out on me. I was just lucky it worked out that time. Lately other travelers haven't fared so well. Getting kicked off of planes and being held at airports.
I'm flying to Portland next week and with xenophobia running high I'm thinking about getting a t-shirt so I can be identified more quickly.