Cerritos College
Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Calendar
TM Digital Newsletter

TM TikTok

OPINION: Who do you think I really am?

After a decade of military service, the Army has sent me everywhere from Europe to South America and all over the United States.

People have mistaken my ethnicity for everything from Jewish to Muslim, Italian to south African and everything in between.

People I talked to on the phone usually assumed (from my manner of speaking) I was blonde-haired, blue-eyed and white-bread through and through.

Usually, this reaction was amusing and I often took the time to have a bit of fun with it, pretending to be something I am not.

Of course, there was the one exception.

When I was in Germany, people would mistake me for Albanian or Serbian.

With the Balkan war, there was a huge inrush of refugees into western European that overwhelmed all the basic services.

These refugees brought with them poverty, disease and injuries. Few had money and even less could speak the language.

Germany is very cosmopolitan, with people from all over the world living within its borders. Many are citizens, some are tourists and the rest (like me) were just there to play soldier, drink beer and chase fraulines.

My buddies and I were taking in the sights one day when we ran into a group of University girls. Soldiers being who they are, we made a beeline straight for them.

As we were chatting them up, a particular blonde caught my eye and we started to hit it off. Plans were made for the bunch of us to meet at a club later that night.

Unfortunately, the blonde’s friend drew her to the side and said something to her. The only word I caught was “Kanko.”

My buddy later told me because of my complexion, those girls assumed I was a Serbian refugee and therefor lower than dirt.

I guess my Levi blue jeans and leather Hollywood Hard Rock Café jacket were not enough of a hint.

Being the only one dateless that night was bad enough but what really hurt was the humiliation of being stereotyped in such an open and derogatory fashion.

Then again, being mistaken for a penniless refugee is nothing compared to the people who are facing suspicion, fear and anger because they are assumed Islamic terrorists.

I never have to worry about being pulled out of a car and being beaten. I never fear I will have to duck rocks or garbage thrown at me. I never have people crossing the street just to get out of my way.

Then again, maybe I should be ashamed of myself. I have not pretended to be Muslim in quite some time now.

Story continues below advertisement
Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All Talon Marks Picks TM Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
OPINION: Who do you think I really am?