It really bothers me when people, mostly because they're ignorant, say these stupid, rude and racist things about others.
Being an Indian-American myself, I've dealt with some things at school before from time to time. Though I'm not Muslim, people like to throw the stereotype of calling me an extremist and what not. It doesn't bother me too much when they say it, though they like getting a laugh out of it.
What's more annoying is that they take everyone who has brown skin as basically the same person, and they also think every Muslim is going to be a terrorist or something. And now, it looks like New York Jets rookie offensive lineman Oday Aboushi has been dealing with the same thing, according to ESPN New York.
An article published on a site called FrontPage Magazine, which I guess looks like a racist piece of junk, that basically called Aboushi a Muslim extremist. Aboushi a Palestinian-American, so it was no surprise that another ignorant group of people will shed this on him, despite the fact that the Jets rookie was born and raised in Brooklyn, lives in Staten Island and went to Virginia.
These basically have no proof for what they called Aboushi, and it's simply just pure racism. And that right there irks the 22-year-old.
"It is upsetting to see people try and tarnish my reputation without even knowing me. But I appreciate all the support I have been getting from people of all backgrounds across the city and country."
Aboushi was quoted back in May saying it was "an honor" being a Palestinian-American in the NFL, while also helping others realize it's possible to make it. Aboushi also responded about being anti-Semite, in which he isn't.
"As for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I hope that both sides make peace and live in prosperity."
ESPN New York also adds this:
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement in Aboushi's defense, saying "there's a lot of exaggeration and hyperbole in all the talk about" the player.
"Absolutely nothing in the public record suggests Aboushi is anything other than a young American athlete who takes pride in his Palestinian heritage," ADL director Abraham H. Foxman said. "His participation in a conference organized by the El-Bireh Society, a Palestinian community organization that was until recently defunct, should not be used to tar him as an extremist."
Foxman added that being pro-Palestinian "does not mean you're an anti-Semite or an extremist. ... The record simply does not show that Aboushi has crossed that line."
The Jets, in a statement, said they "strongly believe in diversity, inclusion and tolerance of others." While not directly addressing the issues involving Aboushi, the team added that "we also encourage all of our employees to use good judgment when exercising their rights to freedom of expression and speech to be certain that they are constructive and respectful."
I really just wish people would stop with all the stereotypes.
Like, do you honestly think someone being proud of their Palestinian heritage means they would be anti-Semite or an extremist? That's like saying me being pro Indian would be that I hate people from Pakistan and don't eat cow meat, which isn't true either.
Maybe everyone should stop with racism, the ignorance and the stereotyping. If people really cared about having peace, they wouldn't be spreading filth like this and making such innocent people Aboushi look like they're a threat to society.
If you ask me, you're the threat for spreading this junk.
