Look, racism exists everywhere. I have faced racism in Australia..A landlord refused to rent me his place after he heard my name. Especially today when we live in such a polarised and volatile world, identity has become such a serious issue in politics..these are extremely volatile times and everyone's experience is going to be different..which is why it is so difficult to understand a situation unless you are actually there. There might be Muslims/Pakistanis who faced racism in America..The situation last year during the whole 'Ground Zero' Mosque fiasco, add that with American foreign policy and it is very easy to conclude that America as a nation is out there to hurt Muslims or Islam or Pakistan. Not true. The moment it becomes an issue of religion, or nationality, or identity, its over. I know it is extremely difficult to not make it an issue of identity especially when politicians and the media exploit identity politics, but we would be making a grave mistake if we succumb to that. You have to remember that most people in this world are just plain dumb and lazy. They do not want to exercise their minds and they succumb to the kind of trash the mainstream corporate media feeds them. Its not that they are inherently hateful or racist. I do not doubt the experiences faced by Faisal1985 at all because I know people are dumb and they behave like that in times like this. But that is just human nature.. Most people are neither tolerant or intolerant..they are just in the middle..yet when the times change, and the situation becomes volatile, they react in ways that might be considered intolerant. I hear incidents and experiences mentioned by Faisal1985 all the time but they do not surprise me because I do not expect a great deal of intelligence and sense from most people..regardless of race, nationality or religion. Most people are not very well read, have a lot of their own personal frustrations, watch the news for 1 hour where they are fed bull crap, and they react in the way they do. But it would be unfair to give it any more importance than it deserves and conclude that an entire nation is out there to attack Muslims.
At the same time I do not like Fusion's argument of comparing the treatment of minorities in Pakistan or the Muslim world with that of America. That is very bad argument precisely because America has to be better than them. The Muslim world is not known for its human rights. There is a reason why most of the Muslim countries have such strong Armies rather than air force or navy...because they need that army against their own people. That's how they have been functioning since colonialism. But America is the leading country of the world and it is known for its human rights (at least inside America) and its constitution. The day America starts comparing its own human rights record with that of the Muslim world's, then its a very sad day indeed.
American foreign policy is not at all different to any of the ruling empires in history. If you read history enough, you will realize that the world has always been the same, on the verge of tearing itself apart. At the same time it is important to realize that America is a nation is still the greatest nation on earth because of its civil society. I have never seen a civil society like that of America anywhere in the world. Yes certain post 9/11 laws in America are a bit draconian, but once again if you look at history, you will see that most empires have reacted with laws like that when under threat.
So from Pakistan's perspective, yes American foreign policy is dreadful, and yes America treats Pakistan like ****, and yes Pakistan dug its own graveyard by getting involved in the war, but we should not let that cloud our judgement and ignore the fact that America is the nation that respects and values its own citizens the most, regardless of colour, race and religion. It is the nation where immigrants have been the most successful.
Ok I admit..I have a soft spot for America
..its been my dream country since childhood..I can't help it..its been the number 1 country since my childhood..I love American movies..I love American music (not the current ones)..how can I hate America
just because its foreign policy is imperialistic