Middle Eastern Americans: A Post 9/11 Discussion

              As horrific as the terrorist attacks of September 11th were, for the vast majority of Americans, the overwhelming collective spirit of patriotism and unity offered a sense of optimism through a very difficult time.  There would be one group of Americans, however, in which no source of optimism would be granted.  After these terrible events occured, Americans of Middle Eastern decent and enyone else with affiliations to the region, or the religion of Islam, experienced a strong sense of alienation, even hostility, while their other fellow American brothers and sisters were comforting eachother.  Over half a decade has past, but much of this stigma has remained attached to this particular branch of Americans and Middle Easterners abroad.  So how does this group of individuals cope with the challenge?  What are these Americans doing to look past this blemish on our culture?  They're partaking in what appears to be a very effective method in diminishing the power of racial and religious stereotypes; they're communicating with the rest of us through conversation and comedy.

         On the 5th of May, CSU Chico held a gathering of students in an attempt to enlighten Americans of backgrounds other than Middle Eastern on what it means to experience the United States for a post 9/11 individual decending from this region of the world.  The bulk of the event was spent viewing a stand-up comedy routine called "The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour." This satirical comedy group is made up of four men(Dean Obeidallah, Ahmed Ahmed, Aron Kader and Maz Jabrani) with Middle Eastern backgrounds.  They tackle serious issues like racism, national security and religious conflict in ways that bridge the gaps that have widened in light of the present-day problems.  They approach Middle Eastern stereotypes in ways that gently inform the rest of Americans how silly such ideas really are.  The viewing was a great way to lighten the mood of the event, while offering insight into the experiences of these Americans.

         Equally impressive was the discussion period of the the event.  During this time, students with citizenships ranging from all over the Middle Eastern region offered their own personal insight into life as a student abroad in the United States.  They discussed topics including life in their homeland, difficulties after 9/11 for continuing a U.S. education and what it will be like to return home after their education is concluded.  They also discussed the Chico nightlife in comparison to that in the popular Middle Eastern city of Dubai.  They even provided the audience with a Middle Eastern dessert called Baklava. Not bad.

          Overall, the event was mellow and enlightening.  The comedy film delivered the majority of conversational topics in an easily digestible manner, while the discussion provided a more personal touch of insight.  More events like this could prove extremely beneficial in bringing this eaqually representitive branch of Americans back into the melting pot where they belong.