Story1

Author: W. E-M.

At the Airport in New Orleans

The word discriminate means to use judgment in making a choice, or distinguish good from bad. It would be fair to say that the majority of people do not like to be discriminated against. When I was recently discriminated against, I felt very powerless and defenseless, and I definitely did not like it.

Though it is possible for anyone to discriminate against anyone else, it really makes a difference when the one to discriminate holds power over the other. My personal experience was not as much tragic as it was humiliating. It took place when I arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana to visit my uncle over the holidays. I had only landed 20 minutes earlier when it came time to go through the American customs. As an Arab, traveling nowadays can be very nerve wrecking. I knew that I would encounter some difficulties going through customs; so in a way I was expecting it, but it still was my first time traveling since September 11. Furthermore, as if to make it a little worse, it states on my Canadian passport that I was born in Saudi Arabia. This made me feel very vulnerable in an airport; I would be an obvious target for questioning. On my flight, there were also three Muslim women traveling together. I knew they were Muslim because they were all veiled;I remember assuming that they would be singled out along with myself by the airport authority.

The plane landed and all the passengers, including myself, got off the plane and made our way into the airport. We then proceeded to the baggage claim area for our flight, and when I had all my belongings I got in line to go through U.S. customs. Anticipating the almost inevitable, I was anxious to see what would actually happen. When it came time for me to submit my passport and have it stamped it took less than a minute before I found myself in an isolated area with three men. They all asked me questions as they went through every single square inch of my bag. What angered me the most was that they opened all the presents I was to give to my uncle and his family. It’s also a very awkward feeling to have strangers touch your underwear and open your brand new box of condoms! My property was handled very disrespectfully, but they were meticulous in searching for whatever it was they would have like to find. When they were finally done with me and I was approved to proceed into their streets, all my belongings were dumped in a heap, waiting for me to re-organize them. I wasn’t allowed to touch any of my own property until they were completely done with me and had left. Though I knew it was their job, which I was reminding myself as much as possible to keep myself from acting in a hostile manner, I thought the whole ordeal was a little excessive. I also witnessed from where I was standing, that in the opposite corner the three Muslim women on my plane were going through the same interrogation that I was.

I know that I was searched and questioned in the manner that I was only because of my background, and any other Canadian coming through met no trouble. It was a very frustrating experience for me and unfortunately I will have to consider the possibility of it happening again the next time I need to travel. Over all, it’s a feeling of helplessness, and loss of control. Aspects of my life that I’m in charge of were in the hands of others, like my freedom, my property and possibly a lot more than that, if those who decided to discriminate chose to take it further. Ultimately, in the worst case outcome of my scenario, I could be detained with no charges, according to the new laws to protect America. Having gone through what I have, I am more doubtful of the guilt of many detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba who are being held with no sentencing. At least for those who believe, we can still rely on karma in place of justice.

The Parallelism

[|hooome]