Rhetoric 1101

Big Willie,
I am so sorry that you feel this way. I think you are absolutely a doll! I mean that in a good way. You are so cute and funny. You just make me laugh and smile during class. I can't answer why people act like that towards you, but trust me Americans have a problem with letting go of stereotypes. It isn't just you. Everyone has problems with someone. But you better learn that I DO NOT think that way about you, and it hurts to know someone feels that way. People are sometimes afraid to do a certain something, like ask a question. Trust me, I am the queen of asking questions, but I do so in order to learn. Most likely someone has the same question you do, but are just too afraid to ask. You are helping at least two people out by asking that question; yourself and the other(s) who don't have the guts to ask themselves. I hope I helped a little bit. Take Care!

Yeah, it's sad how ignorant some people can be. A lot of people live sheltered lives and aren't around much diversity, so all they can do is believe stereotypes, which is sad. All you can do is prove them wrong. Many times when people see me they think I'm going to be and act one way, and I show them that no, you are wrong, don't judge me before you get to know me.

I think it's unfortunate but so many people act without thinking and act on a subconcsious level where they do a lot of things just because they were taught to as a child or feel the need from inside. Reading the things you said that you experience, I realized that often times I don't trust people but I can honestly say that I don't descriminate, I don't trust strangers in general. I think with the social climate of America, there will always be a lot of uncertainty because the country is such a melting pot and so much is human instinct, though that doesn't give anyone the right to be racist though or anything.

I have to say I know how you feel man...many times here in America people look at me funny or avoid talking to me because of the scarf that I wear. I am a Muslim, and it is part of my faith to dress the way I do. In fact, (though this may seem strange to most people) I enjoy dressing the way I do. i don't know why just because I dress differntly people suddenly get scared and think TERRORIST ! WEIRDO ! BAD ARAB BAD MUSLIM ! It's extremely annoying...I don't see what their prob. is if I am different. I never asked them to wear a scarf or believe what I believe in did I? So whats the deal ? Its very sad that there are so many misconceptions here, and it's also sad that most people cannot get over these conceptions. When I read your post I thought "Hey here is someone who is aking questions that I often ask..." It's very sad, very sad..and I just wish that people don't have to go through this awful discrimination thing, because it really hurts deep dowm inside.

I am originally from Kazakhstan, and some people think that I would look very Asian- or Oriental- as Americans approach this issue. I am lucky that I don't look very Asian, and that people I meet don't know that I am from Asia. A lot of people I know thought that I was from Jordan, Minnesota, where I currently reside. I don't thinl that the minorities should be treated in that way, because in some cases I would be more safe trusting a black person than a white person. I do not have any prejudice to any race, therefore I feel comfortable in any group of people in any race.