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For Goodness’ Sake
Not what you might think	Jack Oatmon
Bigots are everywhere. I’m sure we’re all prejudiced to some extent… I’m also sure that most of us underestimate our own prejudice. My American friend Bill was in an Arabic Muslim country a few years ago when a particularly destructive US attack killed a large number of people. Bill had a great job as a manager with a local company. When following this attack he was told that his position was being eliminated for company “right-sizing”, he was shocked. Later he discovered that he, the only American and Christian, had also been the only casualty of this right-sizing. Bill was shouted at by local citizens, angry at him personally for a tragedy over which he had had no control. He was even spit upon, but felt totally helpless to seek support from local authorities. Bill told me that even non-Americans were assaulted because of this rage. In a few rare cases, they were murdered. A Canadian Jew was beaten to death in his own shop, because rampaging hotheads simply didn’t understand any distinctions between those who had conducted the original military strike and some who looked like them. My friend Andy, who lives in that same country, tells me the bigotry is so pervasive he’s coined a wry term to describe his position: the Caucasian Christian Cat, or 3-C. He tells me that the 3-C is by far the worst “type” to be these days. He’s guilty until proven innocent and distrusted on sight. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling, and there’s nothing he can do about it. Ironically, Andy is a citizen of that country. He was born there. He just doesn’t “look” right. If you’re like me, this makes your blood boil. It’s outrageous that decent, law-abiding, good Christian Americans like Bill can be treated so unfairly. He never hurt anyone; he should get the same respect they give each other in that country. Except…well, I’ve been a little deceptive in this essay… Bill is not actually an American, or a Christian. He’s not named Bill, either. His name is Bassam. The “attack” was not American, but Islamo-fascist. It was September 11, 2001. Bassam is a retired Jordanian Army officer, a naturalized citizen of the United States. After 9/11 he was fired by a major retailer in America; before that he was praised for his management. After the attacks, the “right size” for that outlet apparently meant one less Arab Muslim. He was spit upon, but not in some foreign country. He was spit upon by a fellow American because he looks like some of the people who conducted 9/11. He was very upset by this; not just because of the degradation, but because he loves his adopted home very much. He, like thousands of others, only wanted to mourn with his American family. Instead they were abused like enemies. The murdered Canadian Jew is also not as I described. He was an Indian Sikh. He was murdered in America, by Americans. He was murdered because he wore a turban wrapped around his head… something the 9/11 attackers likely never did. Andy’s actual name is Imran. He was born an American and raised by American parents, but they share the ethnic features of Pakistan. Imran didn’t coin the term 3-C. It’s actually 3-M. The “hardest thing to be in America” is a Middle-eastern, Muslim Male. I’d like to mention one other fine American. His real name is Kami. Originally from Egypt, he is a devout Muslim; at first sight of his bushy grey beard and conservative clothing you might even mistake him for his famous countryman, Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri (partner of Osama bin Laden). Kami and I were discussing a US initiative to provide life-saving surgical treatment to a sick local boy here in Iraq. I’ll never forget his response when I first told him of it… “Oh, thank God,” he said…“God bless America.” Be good, - Jacko Jack Oatmon, our man embedded in Iraq, is a recently retired veteran who served worldwide in more than 30 nations during a 20-year career. He urges us all to remember MacArthur’s words: “The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” You can see more of his work at PowerfulPeace.WordPress.com.
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