Sick Of Being Judged

[Canadian Dude]

I am at the stage in the planning of my next adventure that I have started to tell people that I will be going away in Sept. They are all like, wow, cool, wicked...then they ask where I am going, and I tell them, The Middle East

Common Reactions:
Are you crazy!
Are you nuts!
Do you wanna get shot?
Don't you know we are at war over there (Canadians are in Afganistan not Iraq)
Why do you want to go there? (snoty attitude)
And some coments are down right racist
etc,etc,etc....

I am tired of explaining my reasons for wanting to go to that region, I just want to go, I am not brain washed by CNN, There are good people there, and there is more history than almost anywhere else in the world, the real question should be, "Why do more people not go there?"

It has gotten to the point that I do not bring it up any more, the progress in my planning, I keep to my self, the places I will visit, I keep to myself...I just don't want to be judged anymore, and told by people who no nothing more than what the news tells them why I should not be going there.

Sorry to rant, just in that kinda mood right now....

[Sijuki]

C-Dude, I can understand your frustration. I had an optional leg of my trip where I was gonna take a quick sprint through part of the middle east. I get such aghast reactions from people. That if they seem rude at all about it, I just tell them, "I'm going for the same reason as anywhere else, to see something new" I hold very little thought on fear of me dying. I figure I am just as likely to die here in my hometown, or in some other city as I am in the MIddle East. sure people there might not like americans, but there are people in america that might not like me cause I am white, or because I drive a green car, or whatever. They might like my green car and want it and kill me for that reason. But I just tell people they are paranoid and need to get a f'ing clue. I hate the stereotypical comments and the brainless fact spewing that people do. It's irritating, and we wonder why people are so hateful towards each other. Maybe if they were more open minded the world would be a better place.

Oh well, sorry ranting on the rant.

[Somnambulation]

Yeah, that area would be incredibly cool to visit. I remember reading a news story about a guy who was backpacking across Iraq this fall. The army was so surprised to see him there that they picked him and showed him a grand old time, let him stay at the base any everything. He said he had had no problems whatsoever thus far on his trip.

The hostilities in that region would almost make it a better trip - the hint of danger adds excitment. Probably not a good idea for a 1st time traveller, but someone with experience should have little problem.

[Mocassin]

CD...Do what you want to...I'll never tell you you are crazy!

[Columbia]

I know just what you mean. 'Cept it's whenever I tell people I'm going to Ireland. I get the "Why do you want to go there?!" "You'll be killed!" and "IRELAND! Those people are f'ing insane!"

And yes, I know there's violence yattayattayatta but like you and the Mid E., I'm still going.

And well you should go. Why deprive youself of exploring a new culture?

[worldwidemike]

I'm probably repeating myself, but I always tell people with the "why are you going there?" reaction:

Imagine if all the bad news from the U.S. was condensed down into one page...all the shootings, kidnappings, drugs, etc. And someone in another country read that. Their reaction would be: "My God, you're going there? It sounds like a war zone."

I feel it is the same with many, many places all over the world. We hear only the bad news, and a super condensed expresso strength version of it.

That said, there are SOME places where I think it is sensible to wait until the shooting dies down before you go...like Iraq, Afghanistan and Columbia.

worldwidemike

[Aisha]

I know exactly where you're coming from - I've got 3 trips planned for the next coupla months, to Spain, Ireland and Turkey. Everyone's cool with the first two, but Turkey is getting some odd and, in some cases very racist, reactions. One guy even said straight out, 'oh, i wouldn't go there, I don't like the Turks'. WTF? How can you not like an entire country full of people? 'Specially since he'd never been there in his life.
OK, so some coutries will be experiencing more unrest than others at any given time. And occasionally, even i'll admit, there are some places you just shouldn't go at certain times. But damned if i'm gonna sit at home all safe and sound when there's a whole world out there. At the moment i'm in the extremely fortunate position of being five months into a couple of years of travelling, mostly around europe. And yeah, some of the things i'm doing and places i'm going do carry some risks. But I'd rather do as I am now and take the chance of dying tomorrow in the midst of living my dream, as opposed to living to a ripe old age of 108 having never done anything worth remembering. Geez, if travelling was gauranteed to be smooth and comfortable. i'd have to go and find myself a new hobby, wouldn't I?

[voyd]

All I have to say is:
STUPID, IGNORANT, RACIST F'N AMERICANS & OUR F'N MEDIA! :greenguy:

Our monolithic media has become our new religion, and our population blindly-zealous followers.

Basically, the top eight Hollywood studios that control around 98% of the US film business, and the top five control around 80%.

In particular, the anti-Arab sentiment you witnessed is direct fallout from decades of negative US media propaganda:

Arabs and Arab-Americans have often complained about being negatively or stereotypically portrayed in American movies, an obvious pattern of bias virtually ignored by Medved in his important work Hollywood vs. America.

Considering a more narrowly-defined population, Hollywood historian George MacDonald Fraser reported in 1989 that based on his studies, Hollywood movies about ancient Egypt " . . . have helped to fix in the public mind the idea of old Egypt as a cult-ridden, curse-stricken land of mystery given over to embalming, necrolatry, interbreeding, and the worship of gods with animal heads."

Patrick Robertson reported the very next year (1990), that "[w]hile the greasy, knife-toting Mexican, the shuffling, wide-eyed Negro and the perfidious American Indian have been discarded as offensive stereotypes, there is no such constraint on depicting Arabs as oily and oversexed or shifty-eyed and violent.

In addition, Nicholas Kaldi, is a U.S.-based Iraqi who makes his living playing terrorists, but he deplores the racial typecasting. "There are other kinds of Arabs in the world', he said in a 1990 interview with the Washington Post. 'I would like to think that some day there will be an Arab role out there for me that would be an honest portrayal.'"

The negative and stereotypical portrayals of Arabs in Hollywood movies has been a consistent feature of American films for many years. The study, for which the results are summarized below, covered 81 Hollywood movies featuring Arabs during the 73 year period from 1921 through 1994. The study demonstrates that in sum, Hollywood, throughout its history, has consistently portrayed Arabs as evil, barbaric, oversexed, depraved, villainous, shifty, possessed, hostile, fanatical, criminal, mystical, wicked and crazed. Arabs have also been portrayed as thieves, shady, kidnappers, enemies, mysterious, murderers, assassins, terrorists, blood-thirsty, saboteurs, extremists, cult-ridden, curse-stricken, oily, shifty-eyed, violent and as idiots. Also, based on this study, it would appear that Arabs in general are, in more modern times, most commonly portrayed in Hollywood films as terrorists.

This review of Hollywood movies involving Arab characters clearly demonstrates that the U.S. film community consistently portrays Arabs in a stereotypical or negative manner and that little or no effort has been made by Hollywood filmmakers to balance their portrayals of Arabs with positive portrayals in the same movies or a similar number of positive portrayals in other movies. Thus, the overall presentation of Arabs in American movies is clearly one sided, clearly negative, and propagandistic to that extent. There is nothing more unethical in the extreme than to see a specific population such as that small group of Jewish males of a European heritage, who are politically liberal and not very religious (i.e., the Hollywood control group), using the power of the moving image in American motion pictures to consistently portray some of their long suffering arch enemies in a negative manner, thus, in effect seeking to brainwash the American and world publics with a very powerful form of propaganda.

As 1995 got underway, and the tragic Oklahoma City bomb blast occurred, many news commentators and others were quick to point an accusatory finger at Middle East terrorists and Muslim Fundamentalists. One Arab-American spokesman, when asked why people in the U.S. were so quick to lay blame on Arabs, included in his response a short list of recent Hollywood movies that included negative portrayals of such persons. Much of our nation's population, including political leaders and the press, had been seduced by Hollywood propaganda.

People's minds have already been poisoned - without them even realizing it. So, I salute you for thinking past that and hopefully you will dispel some unfair stereotypes by visiting there firsthand. We need more people like you seeing the world with your own eyes versus the highly-distorted media lens. My hatred of our monopolistic media just keeps growing every day...gggrrrrr! :greenguy:

[Sijuki]

Voyd, that was a most excellent post. I always love the fact that you find so much information to quote. Especially about such highly interesting topics. I agree 100%. Working in retail, many of my pharmacists, and even the pharmacy techs are from the middle east (Palestinian, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, etc.) They are all wonderful people. I remember when 9/11 occured. I kind of felt bad because some customers would judge them on their race. I had a couple customers that came up to me and made a comment that he doesn't trust that arab filling his prescription because he is probably giving him the wrong pill and trying to kill him. It's just sickening. My friends that work in retail have come here for a better life, have worked their asses off to make a living and to get what they have. They still hold strong religious ties, are very family oriented, and overall very nice, wonderful people. And seeing as I live in the largest Arab population outside the Middle East I think I have a pretty wide perspective. OK that's my 2nd rant...

But excellent post Voyd. I too, have a great distaste for our media.

[space virgin]

Fantastic post, voyd.

CD, I have experienced some of what you are describing, but for a different situation. That very reaction is about 50% of the reason I don't tell many people I'm a belly dancer. (The other 50% is because of the stereotype that middle eastern dance is just "hoochie-coochie" bullshit, although that is starting to get better-- especially here in Seattle.)

For the first few months after September 11, none of us local dancers performed in any of our regular venues. Many middle eastern, persian and indian restaurants suffered huge losses and some even closed for a few weeks after the incident because of retaliatory violence and vandalism.

As frustrating as it is, you just need to keep your head up and do what you want to do, regardless of what people think. (Although I'm sure you know this already!) B) fuck 'em.

[Canadian Dude]

Again the T-Punk crew comes to the aid of a fellow trav'la, thanks for the supports folks, I was just at my wits end last night after a convo with a friend of mine...All your words are very kind and will read them every time someone has something neg. to say about where I wanna go, and where I will soon have friends!!!

[Columbia]

Voyd, awsome post. The pic made me think of fear and loathing at first...huh.

I was watching (kinda) the news one day, about half a year ago, and (bewarned, I'm not bashing religion, but this one guy) this lady asked some US or Canada representative authority man if he thought our attitude towards Islamic peoples had changed any since 9/11. His reply had nothing to do with how the North American public is currently treating Islams, but rather how he is a devout Christian and feels that the Islam faith is wrong and all those people should be condemmened and suffer consequences blah blah blah. Disgusting.

Thats what I remember of that, however accurate.

Any WWM, thats a good idea about the "Why are you going there?" thing.

[Carisia]

CD, I support 100%!!!! The Middle East, particularly ancient Persia, is one of my dreams to visit one day, and I will! You will have a most awesome time! Plus, they need to meet more people/travelers like you so that they can disperse their own stereotypes about Americans!

[zylah]

CD,
Next time some asks you why you are going to the middle east look them straight in the eye and say "I'm starting up a business selling water to the arabs"
or something equally as silly like "I'm going to join a hareem", "I want to go skiiing", "I hear they have grreat pizza"

If you can say it with a straight face see if they believe you or not.

My philosophy is is people are to ignorant to understand what outside their backyard they're free game to make fum of.

and enjoy your trip. (I'm so jelous)

[voyd]

Well, thanks all for reading my post and the kind feedback!

Originally posted by Columbia@Feb 17 2004, 11:52 PM
His reply had nothing to do with how the North American public is currently treating Islams, but rather how he is a devout Christian and feels that the Islam faith is wrong and all those people should be condemmened and suffer consequences blah blah blah.

Well, one certainly does wonder how much church is really behind our state? Especially when it comes to our Mid East policy?

In Left Behind, the "bad guys" just happen to be the same ones whom LaHaye, the Christian right and their allies usually demonize: the United Nations, the Europeans, Russia, Iraq, Muslims, the media, liberals, freethinkers and "international bankers," all of whom team up with the Antichrist, who ends up heading the U.N. and moving its headquarters to Babylon, Iraq. The "good guys," of course, are Christian believers, Israel and a phalanx of 144,000 Jews who accept Jesus.

I personally have no problem with people taking pro or con political stances on various entities or situations IF BASED ON FACTUAL REALITY. I DO have a problem when it's based largely on subjective interpretation of an ancient religious manuscript (especially one that's been edited and translated multiple times), though.

PS - Ha ha, good advice, zylah!

[zylah]

thanx voyd,
You know i have read left behind (just to find out how the religious propaganda works) and i must say it was one of the most naive books i have ever read. The guys who wrote it seem to have very little understanding of how people think/ react to dramatic situations. All the women seem to be able to dowas cry their eyes out, and "see the light".
and the whole premise was abit silly, If a large part of the global population suddenly disapeared for no apparent reason, I don't think the most important thing on my mind would be political rise of a guy from eastern europe.
But we have to respect the right of free speach even if we don't agree with it and let evryone make up their own mind about whats important and true.

[butternut punkin]

Hey CD, just read your post thing. I just came back from 6 weeks in Thailand and I am afraid I caught the bug bad and have just booked a trip to Egypt for december. I was planning to go from Egypt to Greece, through Israel and Turkey. I was seriousally excited and really happy about it. I am not a praticually big female and the only responces I have recieved have been negative, you'll get spat on, they hate women over there, you will get robbed and even you will get raped. These are even worse than my mexico plans (which I never went to because of peoples comments). Why do so many people go so far out of thier way to ruin your plans? I really think they have no idea of how much what they say can effect you. Everyone here is right, you can get hurt anywhere doing anything. so why not at least get the most that you can while you have the chance yep, ok be carefull but take your turn, don't let them take it off you. :greenguy:
I am sure you will have an amazing time and I will be asking advice later in the year.

[space virgin]

It sounds like your friends are, for the most part, very jealous. I would be! LOL just kidding.

I know *several* women who have taken solo trips to the middle east (specifically Egypt, more specifically Cairo.) Don't listen to the naysayers. Do what you want to do and to hell with everyone else. B) You will have an incredible time!!! If you are even remotely interested in egyptology, I highly recommend a series of very funny books by Elizabeth Peters. The main character's name is Amelia Peabody, and they're about a family of egyptologists around the turn of the century. They give a fascinating view & history of Egypt. The first book is Crocodile on the Sandbank. PM me if you want more info. Good luck!!!

[tegan_lala]

TUPID, IGNORANT, RACIST F'N AMERICANS & OUR F'N MEDIA!

I agree, the media is evil! Could be worse in Aus. - it's like 3 people running the country.. (okay.. I am indoctorinated by my dad). :greenguy:

I really wAnt to go to Turkey if there aren't too many bombs and where my dad disagrees - Israel..

[xanthuos]

CD - Funny to say it, but I was planning a trip to the middle east this fall...did you end up taking your trip in '04? As an American, I am only concerned with traveling in Iraq & Iran. Though I am opposed to the war, that doesn't seem to matter when it comes to targets of violence there...so I figure to relieve both my concerns and the concerns of my family (especially my mother), I'll just steer clear of Iraq and Iran. They have been there for thousands of years and if there comes a time when things are more stable, they'll still be there to visit. In the meantime, I hope to journey with a friend of mine from Canada who has some experience in the middle east. Should be an enlightening experience, if successfully planned & executed!