Arab in America

I would say that I experienced prejudice as an Arab-American before. I think if I hadn't mentioned that I was Arab-American, it wouldn't have happened. They would have thought I was Italian or Greek since I'm light. Generally, I have not faced problems since I don't fit the profile that Toufic El Rassi fits that profile. Ray Hanania wrote a book called, "I am glad I look like a terrorist". If you look like some conceived stereotype you will get stopped sometimes by the authorities, people might say derogatory things to you, but if you are light skinned like many people from Lebanon and Palestine, then they don't bother you unless you have a name that's stereotypical. That's why many Arab-Americans changed their names when they came to America a long time ago. It's not only since 9/11 that Arabs have had problems. When the US attacked Iraq in 1991, many Arabs were treated like enemies because the American education system is horrible and doesn't teach people about geography and cultural differences. Also, people like Toufic El Rassi are Christian and many Arabs if they are not Christian, are often secular. And if something happens in Iraq, why should someone from Syria be harassed? Iraq and Syria technically have been enemies. When there were hostages in Iran in 1979, people who were swarthy were often suspected of this or that even if they weren't Iranian. I am sure Jews who fit the profile also have been harassed, and some of them hate Arabs. I liked the comic by Toufic El Rassi. I didn't experience so much harassment like he did, but I think the stereotypes are too much. Many people from Damascus, Beirut, or Amman don't fit the stereotype. Also, not all the countries are the same. Such old ideas need to go. Since Americans don't get much of an education, and they see a lot of TV and Hollywood as Rassi seems to say, they, of course, will stereotype people from that part of the world. El Rassi embraces Left politics, because he wants justice for all. I think Toufic exaggerates somewhat. Immigration is overwhelmed. It deals with so many non-speakers of English. They can't know how long he lived in the U.S. They have a tough job. As far as Israel and racism against Arabs, pro-Israeli groups promote anti-Semitism against Palestinian Semites, which is one reason people like El Rassi faced discrimination, and Walter Mondale returned the money of Arab Christian donors because it seemed risky to take their money. Hillary Clinton had to return money to an Arab donor, I believe. The Left in the US, with some exceptions, ignores the occupation and suppression of the Palestinians. However, that's a generalization by El Rassi. Plenty of the very Left wing of the Democratic Party dislike what Israel is doing to the Palestinians and that includes many American Jews. I think El-Rassi generalizes too much, but I understand it's hard not to with a comic. I can understand how many Americans will be paranoid about security and freak out about a t-shirt that says "we don't be silent" and they don't know what's written in Arabic. People are going to be paranoid, and in the Middle East in some of the countries people would do worse than some Americans, but, America, as an advanced, Western country that is supposed to have a good education system should have people who are more knowledgeable about the world. However, as Cronchite said Americans are woefully ignorant, and that's why so many American soldiers died in Iraq. It was so easy for Bush to mislead people and lie to them. I think El-Rassi should be more understanding as an Arab-American, IMHO. At least, that's the opinion of this Arab-American. I can understand why El Rassi is mad. I mean his home was searched without a warrant, it appears, because an ex-boyfriend of his aunt had a visa violation in Canada? In the climate of ignorance and paranoia many people who fit a stereotype could face problems including Sephardic Jews. You're swarthy, then you are dangerous. I don't see this everywhere. In my town, I don't really see it. I know a guy from Saudi Arabia, and he tells me he loves how Americans are so kind to him. We do need books like El Rassi's because stereotypes need to shatter, but Americans need not be stereotyped too much, either.

I really appreciated this story bc it was so similar to my own and I've never heard anyone tell it and the fact it's also in drawings makes it easy to read and understand.

Book was an easy read. I learned a few things from reading it.

Great book

Arab in America is a graphic novel about Toufic El Rassi's experience... as an Arab in America. In many respects, this was a depressing read. It seems that no one El Rassi has met in the US truly understands him, and he feels very isolated because of it. This is particularly disheartening because El Rassi has lived in the US since he was a year old- and yet, he still doesn't feel welcome in the culture here.The graphics in this book are alright. All the panels are in black and white, but they didn't particularly grab me. El Rassi states that he used to be very shy, and then as he became more secure in his background and his culture, he was more comfortable speaking out about his feelings. I think you can see that confidence in his drawings, but I also don't think he is much of an artist by trade- words are more important to him.El Rassi brings up many interesting points in his narrative. For example, he finds it grating on the ears that Americans pronounce Iraq as "Eye-RACK," when that is not the correct pronunciation. How can you go in and claim to be restructuring a country, he asks, when you don't even know how to pronounce its name correctly? When you don't even respect the people or the culture enough to try to pronounce it correctly? No one does, not regular people on the street, not the generals fighting the war, not the President. That sends a message, loud and clear.A particularly moving scene is when El Rassi is seated next to a Sikh man on a train. Two other men get on the train and begin to taunt the Sikh man, saying that he is a Muslim terrorist. El Rassi wants to help him, but is paralyzed by fear that he will also be called a terrorist. Or, worse yet, incite them to violence. So instead, he sat and did nothing to defend the man, something he still feels immense guilt for. And that sends a message, too.As do all the Hollywood films that portray Arabs in them. And the newspapers and magazine articles. Always, there are stereotypes. As El Rassi points out, almost all information about Arab cultures and countries that Americans get is filtered through white American eyes or prejudices first. Arabs do not have their own voice in American society- they are always interpreted through other people.Arab in America is as much a political commentary as it is a memoir. El Rassi points out all the illegal searches and morally ambiguous things the US has done to people of Arab or Muslim origin, almost always without justification. He says that he is terrified of being sent to to the Middle East, where he does not understand the language or the culture. But at the same time, he doesn't feel at home in the US, either. It sounds like a miserable, lonely, and horrible position to be in and it's impossible not to empathize with his situation. In many ways, it felt like this book was written just to get the frustration and sense of impotence off his chest, and feel that he has done something worthwhile. He points out many hypocrisies (including his own) and really forces open your eyes on many different subjects. I am glad I read this book, but at the same time... I am not sure if the people who should read this book are the ones that will read it. I think its audience is self-selective, and I'm sorry for that because there are hard lessons here to be learned.