Posted by Melody (129.128.207.126) on January 21, 2002 at 17:33:13:
In Reply to: you are beautiful! posted by Alli on January 21, 2002 at 10:55:07:
Thank you Alli, you are most kind. I don't think I expressed myself as well as I could have. My problem in the Middle East was as a result of discriminatory governmental policies. However, being a kid, I was not sophisticated enough to separate those who enforced those policies with those secular muslims I went to school with. As a result, I did not get too close to those girls in school while they reached out to me. I went to their homes when they invited me but never could bring myself to become good friends with them because I thought their allegiences would lie elsewhere when push came to shove.
Of course, one learns these things too late. I moved to Canada thinking all my problems would be solved. On the contrary, new problems popped up. NOw I was a foreigner and being a Christian did not help me in any way to make friends. Let's face it. When it comes to physical attributes and culture(whatever that means) I seemed to have more in common with those non-Assyrians whom I was desperately trying to get away from than white folk in Canada. I see the reaction on people's faces if they happen to be middle eastern. They think 'hey, one of us'. It never fails. I'm not blaming the 'white people'. It is only natural to be drawn to those who are similar to you. So this is why I feel empathy for anyone who gets racially profiled these days because it could be me or male members of my family next.