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• Thursday, September 21, 2006 10:36 AM

  Because they want to.....

  I thought I share my experiences in America, having studied, lived and worked there for 10 years. I am originally from India and lived in Milwaukee.Even before 9/11 most of my peers at work used to think Indians were all Arabs and did not know the difference between Moslems or Hindus(which I am). Most Americans and especially Evangeslists(from my personal exp terience as someone who "looks" like an Arab) could not care less about the fact that more than a Billion people in South Asia, SE Asia and China are not Muslim.

  I had to leave a nice internship after 3 years because of the harrasment from a coworker who started picking on me after he saw a movie called the Thirteenth Warrior with Antonio Banderas.The movie is about a medieval Arab warrior who goes to Finland to fight with some Vikings.My coworker used the lines in the movie to say how Arab horses were smaller than their Nordic counterparts!

  All this in 1998 way before 9/11.

  After 9/11 even my closest friends used to say how difficult it might be for my parents in India because Iraq was bombed!!!

  They have absolutely no clue and frankly do not care or want to know that there is a huge difference between a Arab and a Hindu.

  I think this mostly conservative Christian strain was ingrained over the centuries going back to when Europe was ruled by the Turks.

  I strongly feel this has been passed down through the generations.Prosletyzation does not help I am sure.

  I think 9/11 bought to the surface feelings that were hidden inside. Believing in the link with Saddam gives vents to those feelings.After all some Arab(s) have to pay for the terrorist act.If they cannot catch Bin Ladin,Saddam is good enough.

  I think this will never change because of Religious fundamentalists on both sides.I do not know why the authors , the editors of Salon are surprised at this data.Just open your eyes and ears your own friends I am sure have similar beliefs.

  —amruth1 Read amruth1's other letters
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