Notwithstanding my admiration for the Circassian culture and traditions, I am not blind to many of the flaws that distort the beauty of this civilization. Some may have harbored the illusion that I am in favor of anything Adiga, or perhaps that I aim to portray a polished image of the people because they are my kinsfolk, the people who thought as such would readily see the mistake they have made.
Having grown in a multi-cultural community, and having known a decent number of Adiga individuals, I have been faced with an ugly face of reality; racism. I am not about to pass a generic judgment over an entire race that contributed to my existence, but I speak from personal experience when I state that some Adiga individuals are racist. This may come as a stun to you, but if I were fond of using the word victim I would probably attribute it to myself and add of racism. I am not for victimizing myself, however, and thus the usage of the term does not appeal to me.
I would like to shed some light as to why some Circassians are racist. To start with a bit of a logical observation, if unattended with scientific evidence as yet, I think it is because Circassians were persecuted out of their native lands into a fresh environment in which they were, and still are, a minority. This sort of history put in mind could help observers understand the circumstances, always rejected but subject to study, behind racism.
This sentiment of a whole nation of being small in a yet larger society would make this community a somewhat closed one. Fear of losing heritage or letting language and customs slip by could also contribute to a sentiment of loss thrust upon this mind of the people, to which the people may react in a debatable fashion by imagining that they are better, and definitely better off without merging with their hosting community.
Looking different, I am sure, also helped form this belief that some have of being superior to their Arab neighbours. Circassians have a distinctive appearance that is mostly easy to recognize from that of Arabs. Another interesting bit of the why behind this racism, as I have come to learn, traces its roots to geography. Circassians used to live in a most beautiful environment of greenery, snow-topped mountains and abundance of water, and were transferred to a completely different atmosphere. Amman, the capital of Jordan, was when the Circassians came but a humble village with very little water and marginal greenery compared to that of the Caucasus.
One of the most disturbing, but altogether amusing, stories told about the Caucasus, the homeland of Circassians, is that which has it that when god created mankind he divided earth between the different races. He left the final piece of land, the Caucasus, for himself. But when he saw that the Circassians were left with no piece of land, he gave them his share. This is a story thrown back and forth on some Adiga tongues, and it ascertains their so-called superiority.
There is another fable about Hitler visiting the Caucasus and hailing the Circassian people as the purest Aryans. Some youth actually find pride in telling this story, and they draw the swastika to express their outward support for what could be called neo-nazi influences. I have no record of the authenticity of either one of these tales, I narrate them here because I have seen a number of Circassian youth recite them and make them their bible, from which they derive authority to regard others as inferior beings.
I bore witness to a number of incidents where I tasted the bitter flavour of racism practiced by some Adiga people, despite the fact that the blood that runs through my veins is in fact, if I want to divide it into two quantities, half Adiga. I do not wish to recount the details of the situations I found myself in because they do not add to the soul of this entry, but I do want to state that racism is blind. It is inexcusable, that we pretend to know, but I find it utterly blind.
I do not think the people who believe in racism fully realize what they are in favor of; I frankly think they are misguided. This is why I refuse to retaliate and be regarded as an extra misguided person, I would like to believe I know better than to pull a tooth for my own, or turn the other cheek.
A last appeal is due to all my Adiga relatives and readers, I did not post this entry to attack a culture I find most rich. I would like people to understand that this post springs forth from personal experience, and does not go so far as to condemn a whole people for the actions of some. Most Adiga people that I know have the warmest hearts and a unique heritage to share with the world, this is precisely why marginal defects present within a small group of individuals should be mended lest they harm the bigger, and more tolerant, image of the rest.
The Ethics of Ethnic Profiling
Here’s a secret: ethnic profiling is actually not always a bad thing when done right and sensibly. But it usually isn’t, and that’s why it is a problem. Mostly it is done out of ignorance, and carried out in a manner that reeks of bigotry.
But technically, ethnic profiling has a certain neutral logic. If you are looking for a criminal and the criminal is likely to be found among a certain ethnic or other group that is relatively conspicuous in the population, it is only rational that such a person will be the focus of interest.
But if it is done, it should be practiced openly.
“Excuse me, sir, but persons of Near Eastern background like yourself are entering the country for purposes of inflicting severe harm, so we ask if you could come inside and answer a few questions and indulge us in a little extra rigorous search of your shoes before boarding the aircraft.”
“Excuse me, sir, but African-Americans driving cross country are often found transporting illegal narcotics, so we followed you until you did something wrong so we could pull you over.”
“Excuse me, ma’am, but African-Americans cause a disproportionate number of crimes, so our mall security guard will watch you closely.”
Now some or all of the above will offend. Some or all perhaps really should offend deeply, but the openness will set up a debate on the wisdom and parameters of the ethics of ethnic profiling and the injuries it is supposed to protect us from.
More important to consider, though, is the real reason that ethnic profiling is a problem:
Nobody likes to be made to feel as if they are untrustworthy in the community. That makes one feel as if one is an object of public contempt, a freak as it were, a reject — a horrible place to be in. And the even deeper truth is that groups that tend to get profiled are groups already held in an irrational and bigoted contempt.
A true story: An Irish-American I know once got “profiled” many years back as a suspect airline traveler in Britain. Britain had been having problems with Irish terrorists, interrelated with a strong history of British anti-Irish bigotry. My friend, however, was more amused than upset. Why? Because here in America, he did not grow up with a feeling that being tribally Irish made him a natural-born suspect and social oddity, and therefore he lacked the well-honed chip on the shoulder to get angry.
But imagine the uproar to announcements like these:
** “All corporate personnel of Hispanic origin, please report to the personnel office as reports of employee Immigration fraud are rampant.”
** “All corporate personnel of Irish origin, please report to the Alcohol Abuse Center, as we have renewed concern of employee substance abuse.”
** “All corporate personnel of Jewish origin, please report to the accounting office as we have discovered financial irregularities.”
** “All corporate personnel of Gypsy/Roma origin, please report to the Security Officer as there has been a rash of theft.”
** “All corporate personnel of African-American origin, please report to the personnel office for counseling on sexual harassment and assault.”
Now add to that:
** “All corporate personnel of Arab origin, please report to the Terrorism Investigation officer.”
Would that include Jacques Nasser, CEO of Ford (until recently)? Would Casey Kasem (born Kamal Amin Kassem) have to pass an extra metal detector at American Top Forty? Would most of the Board of Directors of St Jude Children’s Hospital aka American Syrian-Lebanese Associated Charities have to be strip-searched before visiting cancer-afflicted kids?
(I would, however, gladly personally frisk actress Shannon Elizabeth, whose ancestors are Arab.)
We should in fact recognize that in the particular case of Arab or Muslim profiling, the reason for the resentment derives primarily from the reasons the corporate announcements I made up above would be found offensive. Arabs and Muslims have long been portrayed in the media merely as terrorists, in a deeply offensive, bigoted, and distorted manner, and the association brings up knee-jerk feelings of resentment.
But the extremes do not provide the answer. Hard cases make bad law. Hard reality makes bad principle. The fact is, if one physically looks like a suspect, and the resemblance is based on a rare characteristic in the society, like a rare ethnicity, or an odd religious sect, or a limp, or having one-arm, it is only logical to expect focus. It will happen no matter how officially banned it is. The basis for the focus may be greatly bigoted in origin, but it is inevitable in times of stress and when enforcers are enforcers of rigor.
So instead of totally ruling ethnic profiling out in all contexts, it may be wiser for now to reverse course and insist that it be done openly but apologetically, in order to best arrive at how it is to be done, if it should at at all.
Matthew Hogan
One can always apologetically attribute racism to some demographic phenomena, or some deeply routed superiority complexes that run into generations before, or purely adhere to an intangible feeling of victimization that leads into self-segregation, or rather deceitfully lead ones self to plot a pattern among a certain bunch and affiliate them together without eyeing the misconception.
Not only so, one can also elaborate as the commentator above did; justifying and making sense out of racism as a rub-it-in-your-face fact of life that comes as a necessity in a multi-cultural setting.
Alas, there is no justification or sound rationale for racism despite what leads one to such a flawed mind-set, be it you are simply another sheep from the herald or the Shepard himself surrounded by wolves!
The fact of the matter is that it is a deceitful, ignorant and backward state of affairs that is not characters by a certain genetically-unique race or a socially profiled group of individuals… and what aggregates the flaring feelings even further, is when the well-educated and supposedly enlightened circles sport such notions of racism even if it was subtle in their mindset!
I dont know how this can be stopped in a small cozy society as the Jordanian one with its mild blend of people, yet I know for a fact that it requires a higher moral and sincere stance from ALL, as it requires some courage and discipline not to retreat to the comfortable segregating, naming, labeling and racism zone in some extreme cases, away from false notion of tolerance and yellow-smile politically-correct co-existence that fears to utter a funny joke that involves a Khalili, a Salti and a Carcassian if such a joke may exist-
The prophet Mohd pbuh- and his companions sat a great example of how racism can be eliminated from a society without one being sensitive about his origin and heritage or having to black it out in order to melt in the pot, but even at the blessed time of the prophet, there was mild racist tendencies among some of his companions yet the overall society was able to tolerate and embrace, no utopia thats for sure!
Black Cats,
I thank you for the informative article you shared. I would like to say that “profiling” in general is a thing I believe I am against, let alone “ethnic profiling”.
That is, if by ethnic profiling one alludes to what I understood the article to allude to; an “open” profiling process which will offend, but help make the mother of problems explicit and hence aid in solving it, or so the article states.
If I read a sign that says, to quote the article, “All corporate personnel of Arab origin, please report to the Terrorism Investigation off”, you may trust I will sue.
Would such a statement make me feel “untrustworthy in the community”? Not really, because if I were established in the community I would know my stand among others.
It would probably make me feel less of a human being, and I do not think any human being should feel less than his or her worth. Because, you see, when some feel “less”, it is inevitable that some others feel “more”, and that is a tragedy.
I agree with the article author that profiling Arabs or Muslims is done in a deeply offensive manner in the media, hence in every other sector affected by it. I do not think the majority of the people of, say, the USA share this view per se. Do I think the people are misled? Yes I do. Do I submit to this fact? No I do not.
I cannot seem to accept what the last passage of the article calls for, a public profiling method done openly, at this time of my development.
Basem;
Welcome to Tololy’s Box, I hope you enjoy exploring its folds.
I am for your point regarding the justification of racism, indeed I do not find logic behind the affair.
If we were to pardon one race’s appeal for superiority, then we would probably base this on such justifications and the like. But taking a closer look, one would find that every single race has its pros and, let’s say, distinguished merits.
Accepting that, it is hardly sensible for one race to be superior to others, because all others are as special and as unique.
Lecturing about racism produces few fruits that could in some cases be impractical. Having racism directed one’s way, and having to deal with it first-hand, would certainly be a wake up call for all who trivialize its perils. I have been there, and racism is not pretty.
The Middle East is full of racists. Light skin is the envy of everyone. I never realised it until we had our son. How people we knew, from Egypt to Yemen talked about how “light” he was and how light his eyes are. These looks are prized amoungst all. It is sad because I have known “samra” or dark skinned Arab girls who despise their looks because they are too dark.
Personally, as a white guy, I like dark skin, eyes, hair, you name it. Thinking you are better based on where you come from or looks……slippery slope.
Abu Sinan, many people in this part of the world adore light skin so much that they could overlook any other feature, or flaw, in someone’s personality, for the sake of this “heavenly” quality.
I am not making this up, I have seen it happen. This is what I call prelude to the crisis. If I want to dilate this a bit more, I would say this unconditional fascination with yellow hair and white skin forms the basis for racists to promote their calls.
First of all, i understand the appeal of my circassian culture. I also understand what it’s like to stand out as different in a crowd. I’m not going to be humble, circassians do have distinctively attractive features, and besides that we have a well-defined cultural identity to go with it.
I have seen a lot of people coming from homes where one parent is circassian and the other parent not; it often aint pretty. Some of these people I consider brothers and sisters to me, it pains me to to see such confusion. But I’ve also witnessed success stories that were able to avoid this: Upbrininging! Your child is either this or that (and be realistic).
As a minority/majority, an ethnic group or religious group -whatever- we are entitled to preserving what ever culture we have left. it is our natural right! I’ve seen racism among jordanians and palestinians and couldn’t believe it myself. So take it easy, this happens to the best of families.
Have the courage to accept who you are, live, and let live. Has it crossed your mind that this feeling of others being racist is just a reflection of your own thoughts? I think not. It’s much easier to blame others - it’s even easier when you are partially one of them.
Jordan is as much my country as any other Jordanian, but it is disappointing to still see people like you (especially with your clamed adiga lieange) accuse us of being racist.
This ‘racism’ has been kind to us and we will not change, so everyone better deal with it. If I were you I wouldnt worry about being a victim. You certainly can phrase your opinions well. But how about weighing your words first.
Welcome to Tololy’s Box, Yet another Circassian. Your comment was a joy to read, somewhat challenging and edgy, precisely what I was looking for.
Circassians, and all other nations, have distinctive features. The only distinctive feature that would separate some people from others and make them feel on a higher pedestal would be to have all children born with something extra, like an arm or a leg, if you wish.
Reading the second passage of your comment made me think you very wise; indeed there are always failures and success stories in any family, be it multicultural or not. I do beg to differ with you, however, on the point stating that parents should rear their children as being only one side of the coin. That is a waste of culture, let alone identity (for the children). I do not expect you to be nodding your head in my agreement.
As I positively have read my post, I do not see any point where I said Circassians have no right or business preserving their culture. I often stress that this culture is beautiful and that I personally would hate to see it lost (you may wish to go over my post again). And, indeed, there are still major hints of racism in the whole world, but does that justify the act? I think not.
I especially enjoyed reading “Have the courage to accept who you are, live, and let live”. I am not sure why you said that but I thank you for the free advice. I think it is valid for most people, even those who are so convinced they are better than everyone else, wouldn’t you say?
Has it crossed my mind that this feeling of others being racist is just a reflection of my own thoughts? It has. But then the words were no games, and they were no riddles either. The actions and pointing and the bullying were not false, and they mentioned me by name. Oh, and I even have witnesses should you care to carry this further. Now, there remains little doubt in my mind that these actions were targeting me, your mind may think what it pleases. Perhaps you would care to question many other people who had to put up with such folly from some Circassians, and that I tell you should be good exercise. Trust that this debate pleases me very little, it is a direct stab at a heritage I most adore, and at a people I am related to, with or without your consent. And the most trying bit about it is that, while I was trying to be objective and to pose a real problem, some actually believe I am attacking my own blood. That is, needless to say, a scandalous assumption and I do not accept it.
Positively, Jordan is the home of the Circassians who live here. They are a devoted and a loyal people to their second home, and this a quality one admires. I cannot tell how you deduced that I accuse all Adigas of being racist, again I am obliged to advise you to read my post thoroughly and to spare your fingers the extra baseless words.
Funny how your last passage struck me as absolutely contrastive with everything you, so eloquently, said in the previous ones. Would you mind explaining this: ” This ‘racism’ has been kind to us and we will not change, so everyone better deal with it”?.
Talk about weighing words first.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Though I thank you all for trying to be honest and address the problems of racism upfront. However, the problems of racism, deserves much more entertainment, particularly the problems of dark skin and lighter skin. This issue is the fuel of the Arab world. Maybe there should be a blogsite created to entertain this epidemic problem.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Unlike most bloggers who lived in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">US</place></country-region> maybe just a lifetime, my entire family and grandparents have likewise also. Most importantly, their years of combined experiences have given me much insight on racism. But not like in the Arab world, the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">US</place></country-region> can boast the accomplishments of brown skin people. Yes there are considerable number or blacks <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in ghettos, suffering from illiteracy. But you can see blond hair, blue eyed, whites sleeping on the streets of the nation’s capital <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Washington</city> <state w:st="on">DC</state></place> likewise. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But Americans are exemplifying their progress in race relations why the Arab world is still stifling progress. For example, just look at Dr. Ben Carson (whom probably nobody has ever heard of though he is the world’s leading neurologist at John Hopkins), Condoleezza Rice (Secretary of State), Oprah Winfrey (one of the world’s wealthiest business women), Mae Jemison (astronaut), and not actor but instead leading producer Denzel Washington (that does not cloud his movies with sexuality, drug use, obscenities, etc.). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These accomplishments would be impossible in virtually every Arab country. Hmmm, to date I do not know just one person with complexion of Oprah that has reached half of her accomplishments in an Arab countrty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Should I mention that Tiger Woods (having an Asian mother and brown skin American father) would be the brunt of jokes in the Arab world. Thank God for the golf world he was born in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">US</place></country-region>. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sadly, women like Nancy Ajran and Haifah Waheby (sorry about the spelling) can’t hold a tune in a bucket of water. Worst, their musical abilities are not even close to Whitney Houston’s, but just being light (not white how Arabs claim) push them into stardom. Maybe that explains why Beyonce’s talent (with her caramel skin) has actually propelled her to perform around the world and the former two have not. Yes, Beyonce has performed on the Australian continent e.g. <city w:st="on">Sydney</city>, Asian continent e.g. Hong Kong, throughout the North American continent in the <country-region w:st="on">US</country-region>, Middle East e.g. <city w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</city> (2005 Destiny Child performance), European Continent e.g. <country-region w:st="on">Germany</country-region>, etc and <place w:st="on">Africa</place> soon. But visit <country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</country-region>, <city w:st="on">Amsterdam</city>, or the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">UK</place></country-region>, and you won’t be seeing concerts tickets or CDs in every store being sold for Nancy and Haifah. Is the point made about the importance of talent and not color to other countries (with intelligence)? </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But sadly, no Arab girl wants to be Beyonce or Rihana. Instead, they idolized Haifah, Nancy, and of course Britney Spears who is short of ‘trailer trash.’ And should I mention her song “My Prerogative” was originally written, produced, and sang by Bobby Brown. Who you are asking? Oh, he is just Whitney Houston’s husband or should I say ex-husband now (and black!). But they love this song coming from Britney but would have dared to be caught with his CD (with a black man on the cover). </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My fellow Arabs, go to your local pharmacies in <country-region w:st="on">Jordan</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Oman</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</country-region>, <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Kuwait</place></country-region> and count the quantity of skin whitening soaps, fading creams, skin whitening vitamins, whitening lotions, whitening creams, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe you will find a mountain of items. Paradoxically, you will just find one type of neo-natal vitamin for expecting mothers. Where else can you see this racist backwardness, except in the Arab world? </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Just as an FYI, according to a neo-Nazi group on the web (Stormfront), they specified ancestry outside of Europe, your country not being English or centralized in North America, Europe, Australia, or English as the primary’s language, or not subscribing to Eastern Roman Orthodox Christianity excludes one from being white. So even though some Lebanese were Christians, fluent English speakers, with “very light skin and even blond hair,” they were victimized in the Australian beaches for no other reasons than being ‘rag heads’ e.g. Arabs! Stupid Australians!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But to continue, my complexion similar to Oprah (though I think I am very handsome and would dare desire to be a half shade lighter) and I know that if I wanted to marry a Saudi, Emerati, Kuwaiti, etc. it would take an act of congress. Okay we know you have ‘one-friend’ that is married to a ‘black-one” as if this man is inanimate but today this is still a detestable thing in the Arab countries. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">So if you as an individual that has ‘one black friend’ that does not nullify my point. FYI point 2. Yes I have seen very dark brown people, I have yet to see one person actually being black but I use black for the sake of conversation.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But now here is the juicy part. Did I mention that I converted to Islam many years ago? Though I hear many Muslims elaborating on Islam being the religion of all races, though true. However, 99% of the Arabs would not marry their daughter to someone from the other races particularly if he was NBA basketball star Michael Jordan’s color e.g black. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Not like most Westerners who speak negatively about Arabs or Islamic culture though they have never left the comforts of their sofas, I have studied Islam to a decent extent, as well as traveled to many Arab cities: Abu Dhabi UAE, <city w:st="on">Manama</city> <country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</country-region>, <city w:st="on">Kuwait City</city> <country-region w:st="on">Kuwait</country-region>, <city w:st="on">Doha</city> <country-region w:st="on">Qatar</country-region>, and I have lived in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</place></country-region> for many years. So I am not speaking on emotion and instead from degree of scholarship. The Islamic culture at the time of our Prophet (peace be upon him) has been hijacked and now the world laughs at the practices by the society of people who claim ancestry and lineage to the great figures of Islamic history. And I can ascertain none of them were buying skin whitening cream as we see today. Instead they were proud of their Islamic heritage.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Just knowing how backwards, greedy, and especially racist some Arabs are today it is so fortunate that I accepted Islam in <place w:st="on">North America</place>. Had I come and seen the Arab world at first, I would have never considered converting to Islam and remained a Christian.</p>