In the article From Friendly Foreigner to Enemy Race, author John Tehranian analyzes the Middle Eastern identity in the United States.  With insight, the author  looks at both group self-identity and the evolving and divergent views of "Middle Eastern" identity by others.  Tehranian provides great history related to the topic.  As an aside, I enjoyed reading this article, in addition to the content, because I could tell it had been written by a lawyer ("on the one hand, on the other hand...). 

As a child in San Antonio, I remember a period of about two years when several families from Saudi Arabia moved into the same block of the apartment complex where I grew up.  This of course meant not too much, except that every evening, men would come to the basketball court where me and my friends played, and would lay down mats, all facing the same direction, and pray together.  This would last about ten or fifteen minutes.  I think that it must have been an extended network of friends, as only some of the guys lived at the apartment complex (which was mostly families).  I always found this to be a peaceful time, and actually would step off the court (we all would) and hang around while they prayed.  There were always guys smiling and thanking us kids after their prayers.  I remember too that my family was the only local family who went to a traditional Saudi wedding party, held at the apartment club house: there was a men's party that my Dad and I went to, and a women's party that my Mom and baby brother went to.  The party was very joyful, with a huge feast, and gifts for everyone.

I have told this story several times, and have gotten many different reactions, although rarely a reaction that I am expecting or share.  I am curious what others reaction to the story are?

Reference:

Tehranian, J. (2009). Whitewashed: America's Invisible Middle Eastern Minority. New York: New York University Press.