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A patient says something hateful, and heres what a Muslim medical student does
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-patient-says-something-hateful-and-heres-what-a-muslim-medical-student-does/2017/04/07/5b5726f2-fc6d-11e6-8ebe-6e0dbe4f2bca_story.html?tid=hybrid_experimentrandomcheckpoint_2_na&utm_term=.59efa0be2b8c
“It’s been getting worse for the past couple of months,” he says. “I’ve been under a lot of stress with my business. And there’s so much else going on — I’ve been feeling angry a lot lately .?.?. .”
“You’ve been feeling angry? Why?” I ask.
“It’s the news,” Mr. J says. “ISIS and those Muslims.” His nostrils flare; his hands clench. “These Muslims think they can blow up our country!”
Heat crawls up my neck. I am a Muslim American. My parents emigrated from Pakistan nearly 30 years ago. I was born and raised in a small rural town in Western Maryland.
“I want to take care of them for good and send them all packing,” Mr. J continues. “They aren’t welcome here!”
He gives me an expectant look, waiting for me to nod in agreement. His sentiments are shared by many in the town my clinic serves. Outwardly, I don’t “look” Muslim, as I don’t wear a hijab. Because of my dark skin, I’m more often mistaken for an Indian Hindu.
Growing up in my predominantly white home town, I never really noticed any negativity from others about my race or religion — they were just a part of who I was.
On Sept. 11, 2001, I was in sixth grade.
“It’s been getting worse for the past couple of months,” he says. “I’ve been under a lot of stress with my business. And there’s so much else going on — I’ve been feeling angry a lot lately .?.?. .”
“You’ve been feeling angry? Why?” I ask.
“It’s the news,” Mr. J says. “ISIS and those Muslims.” His nostrils flare; his hands clench. “These Muslims think they can blow up our country!”
Heat crawls up my neck. I am a Muslim American. My parents emigrated from Pakistan nearly 30 years ago. I was born and raised in a small rural town in Western Maryland.
“I want to take care of them for good and send them all packing,” Mr. J continues. “They aren’t welcome here!”
He gives me an expectant look, waiting for me to nod in agreement. His sentiments are shared by many in the town my clinic serves. Outwardly, I don’t “look” Muslim, as I don’t wear a hijab. Because of my dark skin, I’m more often mistaken for an Indian Hindu.
Growing up in my predominantly white home town, I never really noticed any negativity from others about my race or religion — they were just a part of who I was.
On Sept. 11, 2001, I was in sixth grade.
Brown people deal with this stuff every day. For Muslims it's terrorists. For others, it's stealing jobs away from more deserving people. It's gotten worse since the election.
1 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
