Racist or Reasonable? Scared to board the plane, I sat at the gate, pondering about my thoughts. It happened about half a year ago, when I had to decide whether or not to report a suspicious man just for his looks. Was I racist or reasonable? Typically, when I travel, I feel secure. When my school took me to Israel, I was unsure. I was going to a foreign country halfway across the world without my parents or family, only my friends and teachers, everyone was a little hesitant. A mix of excitement, nerves, anxiousness, and happiness was churning through my body, like a melting pot of emotions. After waiting to go to Israel for years, I was walking with purpose to the gate, ready to experience the trip.
Security and baggage check were a breeze, but when flying to a country that is constantly in a state of war, there is extra security at the gate. It was then, that my worst fear confronted me, a suspicious man. The entire ordeal only lasted maybe ten minutes, but the thoughts that raced through my mind during that time raised a serious moral question. The first thing I noticed was his blonde hair. It looked dyed and blindingly bright. I felt as if the sun was shining directly into my eyes. Traits of this man were running through my head: half- buttoned shirt, alone, black slacks, blue eyes, light skin. He did not look Israeli, American, or Middle- Eastern, he just …show more content…
I had not heard him speak, and in the seconds before the other person answered, my mind raced with what languages he would speak, and what his voice may sound like. He talked in an accent, somewhere in the middle east, his voice was thin and very light. I did not recognize the language, but sounded like a middle eastern dialect of Arabic or Hebrew. Although I am fluent in Hebrew, I could not understand him, so I assumed it was Arabic. It was at this point where I stepped back and thought about what I was thinking for two
Security and baggage check were a breeze, but when flying to a country that is constantly in a state of war, there is extra security at the gate. It was then, that my worst fear confronted me, a suspicious man. The entire ordeal only lasted maybe ten minutes, but the thoughts that raced through my mind during that time raised a serious moral question. The first thing I noticed was his blonde hair. It looked dyed and blindingly bright. I felt as if the sun was shining directly into my eyes. Traits of this man were running through my head: half- buttoned shirt, alone, black slacks, blue eyes, light skin. He did not look Israeli, American, or Middle- Eastern, he just …show more content…
I had not heard him speak, and in the seconds before the other person answered, my mind raced with what languages he would speak, and what his voice may sound like. He talked in an accent, somewhere in the middle east, his voice was thin and very light. I did not recognize the language, but sounded like a middle eastern dialect of Arabic or Hebrew. Although I am fluent in Hebrew, I could not understand him, so I assumed it was Arabic. It was at this point where I stepped back and thought about what I was thinking for two