hijab@ucbcad.BERKELEY.EDU (Raif Hijab) (08/10/86)
> In article <136@belfry.UUCP>, geoffk@belfry.UUCP (Geoffrey Kim) writes: > > Can someone out in Net land tell me WHY??? Why is it everytime > > you see a Pontiac TA (shiny black, no dings, tinted windows, lowered > > to the ground, blaring stereo and driving obnoxiosly), it is always > > driven by someone wearing a turban or people named Achmed Bengari? > > Does Middle Eastern governments have special "help-the-emigrator-out- > > by-giving-him-a-substantial-discount-on-a-Pontiac Program" or what!!! In article <436@argus.UUCP>, ron@argus.UUCP (Ron DeBlock) writes: > Trans-Ams, HAH! In the NY Metro area, they give out Mecedes-Benzes! In an age where racism is supposed to have been conquered (?), when it is no longer acceptable to ridicule ethnic and religious minorities of all sorts, the Middle Eastern or Arab image remains the perfect cartoon character, the one it is kosher to attack, vilify and malign in any way one pleases. It sickens me to see this attitude reflected in net postings. As someone of Arab Middle Eastern origin, I resent the stereotyping. For some it may seem an amusing joke. I bet they won't think so if the joke is directed at them. Aside from the fact that Pontiac TransAms and Mercedes-Benzes are owned by a whole lot of people who are NOT of Middle Eastern origin, and that driving shiny black cars with blaring stereos is hardly limited to one group, I will explain some relevant facts for the benefit of Ron DeBlock and Geoffrey Kim, if they really want to know: The United States is an expensive country to visit/live-in/study-in. It is also on the other side of the earth from the Middle East, and its people, by and large, do not view Islam and Muslims kindly ( thanks in large part to the diligent efforts of certain groups who have a stake in portraying Arabs and Muslims in the worst possible light.) As a result, many who come here as students are young sons (and daughters) of rich politicians and merchants from the oil-rich states. One thing that fascinates them is luxury and sports cars, the flashier the better. Their parents accomodate their wishes because they can afford it. This is something one sees in other ethnic/national groups as well. Has anyone studied the habits of the sons and daughters of rich Latin Americans, rich Chinese, or the (teenage?) sons and daughters of rich Americans? This description certainly does not apply to immigrants, who typically come from a different economic stratum. There is also a very large number of students from the Middle East who do not own flashy cars. Rather, they are likely to own no car at all. They are not flashy, and generally try to blend in. They even tend to forget that they are different from young Americans, until they turn on the evening news, or hear a callous comment from an American!
geoff@ism780c.UUCP (Geoff Kimbrough) (08/11/86)
In article <956@ucbcad.BERKELEY.EDU> hijab@ucbcad.BERKELEY.EDU (Raif Hijab) writes: >> In article <136@belfry.UUCP>, geoffk@belfry.UUCP (Geoffrey Kim) writes: >> [ various objectionable ethnic slurs ] >It sickens me to see this attitude reflected in net postings. As someone >of Arab Middle Eastern origin, I resent the stereotyping. For some it Right on Raif! To whom it may concern: My name is Geoffrey Kimbrough, and I am no relation to this "Geoffrey Kim". I object strenously to this stereotyping, especially when the casual net.reader might erroneously attribute it to me! I try very hard to be non-racist, non-sexist, non-ageist (and trustworthy, clean, reverent, brave... 8^) ), and my terminal would explode if I tried to post anything like the cited message. Geoffrey Kimbrough -- Director of Dangerous Activities INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, Santa Monica California ihnp4!ima!geoff || sdcrdcf!ism780c!geoff || ucla-cs!ism780!geoff If I can be of any help, you're in worse trouble than I thought.