Sep 04 2007
US Arabs and Muslims: The Search for Common Identity
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By Ramzy Baroud
9/4/07
As the security check line began moving slowly at Washington Dulles airport, one passenger standing a few steps ahead of me appeared particularly uneasy. His dark skin, long beard, trimmed moustache, prayer spot centered on his forehead, and overall demeanor quickly gave away his identity, though he had obviously labored little to hide it.. He was a Muslim and a religious one at that. Predictably, a few minutes later he was singled out and his clothes spread across a separate station reserved for those “randomly” selected for extra security check.
In the current climate, those who are not singled out for the humiliation of extra checking are still often daunted by their names — any Arabic or Muslim sounding name —, birthplace — any Arab or Muslim country —, suspicious travel destinations — all Arab and Muslim countries, although some are more “suspicious” than others —, or past records — which can include anything from conventional crimes to a single antiwar comment made to a local newspaper. Airport authorities across the US would vehemently deny any racial discrimination, but indeed such selective screening and harassment is real. Many civil rights organizations and human rights groups have worked tirelessly to verify this, but all it really takes is one candid conversation with any Muslim or Arab American. Each person seems to have a personal record of injurious stories, if not at a port of entry, then at some other public place. Whenever I run into an Arab or a Muslim during my frequent travels, the subject often serves as an icebreaker.