An Arab American Calls it Like it Is

Hello, my name is Abrahim Hussein and I am an Arab American. In fact I'm about as Arab as you can get. But not as Muslim as you can get. You could call me a nonobservant Muslim. We have our nonobservant Jews, Catholics and so on. Well, if you can believe it, I'm not really what you could call a Muslim.

I don't really believe in it. I'm using an assumed name here, only
because I don't want to tempt any of the terrorists who commit unspeakable
atrocities in the name of their religion. Which, by the way, is a peaceful religion. But not all Arabs are devout Muslims. Many are nonobservant infidels like me.

I don't get down on my hands and knees with my head touching the floor, four or five times a day, facing toward Mecca. In fact the last time I did that
was about four years ago when I visited the old country, to attend my cousin
Mustapha's wedding. All the men went through that routine as part of the
ceremony so I had to join the club.

Mom and Dad brought me over here when I was five years old, and I went all through the school system in Lancaster, PA. Even got my Bachelor's and Master degrees at Syracuse. Computer science. But goldern it all, I can't get rid of this Arab accent to save my life. If I called you on the phone, you'd think right away that you're talking to one of those towel heads that bend over to pray to Allah every day. Wrong. Not this kid.

I don't mind admitting that I was born in Syria, and that my relatives are
all Arabs. I love this country, just as much as you do. America is the land
of freedom and of golden opportunity, for all those of us who are willing to
work for it.

Dad runs a convenience store in a suburb of Philly now, and his customers
all think he is a great guy, which he is. He and Mom live in what you'd call a
mixed neighborhood, only because they don't like the idea of standing out
like sore thumbs, in one of those pure white waspy areas. They've worked very hard over the years, and could afford to live in a fancier section, but
they're happy where they are now.

I have a great job now, as trouble shooter for a nationwide computer service company. Last year they went through a downsizing, and you know what that means. I was not one of the folks who were laid off, so I must be doing something right.

Six years ago I got married to the most beautiful girl in the world. Maria
is half Irish and half Italian, and she thinks I'm the greatest guy who ever
lived. I don't agree with that, but I'm glad she thinks so. Little Carlo, age two looks very much like me. And little Andrea who is four, looks like her Mom. Lovely laughing green-blue eyes that make you feel like the most
important person in the world when she looks at you.

We live in one of the better sub-developments of moderate -priced homes, and we're very happy with our life in this wonderful country of ours. America
may not be perfect, but it's by far the best country that the world has ever
seen.

Let's forget the stereotypes. The next time you see a guy who looks or
sounds like me, it's a safe bet that you're looking at someone who loves our
country as much as you and I do.

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