Ashamed
I was among the 90,000 fans that watched U2 perform at FedEx field on Tuesday night.
This post is not about the show, though.
Yes, it was AMAZING beyond words. Truly, if you’ve never seen U2 perform then you really must. They are phenomenal live and although some shows are better than others, it is an experience like no other. Almost spiritual. (Oh and the opening act, that just so happened to be Muse…yeah, they rocked too. Especially Supermassive Black Hole–go Twilight–wooo!!)
This post is about how much of a COMPLETE AND UTTER JERK I am. And I’m pretty sure that by the end of this post, you will agree.
As we stood amongst the sea of people waiting for the show to start, I looked around at everyone. You see, I’m a people watcher by nature.
I couldn’t help but notice that the guy standing right behind my husband looked a bit suspicious. For one, he was alone. I don’t know about you, but when is the last time you went to a concert alone? At first I thought maybe he was saving a place for someone else but as the time went by it was pretty obvious he was by himself.
The other thing that made me feel like something was a little off about him was that he looked so serious. The atmosphere in the stadium was very festive. Everyone else was either smiling, laughing or chatting it up with the other people around them. U2 fans are a pretty friendly bunch. However, this guy seemed completely impervious to the crowd and mood around him.
Immediately, I put my mad detective skills to work and figured out that he was probably a terrorist.
I whispered my theory to my husband and the other couple we were with. They agreed with me (I tell you this so that when I add the other details of the story you will know that I am not the only JERK who has these thoughts). My husband’s best friend had already noticed him and thought the same thing before I said anything.
I even convinced my friend to strike up a conversation with the guy to relieve my fears. She, being never one to walk away from a challenge, did just that.
He didn’t engage with her at all. It was such a strange interaction. He gave her one word answers and barely made eye contact.
At this point, I was seriously freaking out. I contemplated leaving, but I knew that I would be going alone. The people I was with were such die-hard U2 fans that it would probably be fine to stay and die with Bono than leave a coward. I, on the other hand, was concerned about my kids becoming orphans and missing the Dead Man’s Bones concert.
In the end, they convinced me to stay.
Now, here is the final detail. The detail that I am the most ashamed to admit. The detail that makes me realize that I suck at being a decent human being. Let alone, a decent Liberal.
The guy in question was Middle Eastern.
I know what you are you are thinking. I would be thinking the same thing if I was reading this. What a racist Nazi bitch! Am I right?
Trust me, you won’t hurt my feelings if that is what you are thinking. I totally deserve it.
I am disgusted with myself for having these thoughts.
Oh, and in case you missed it, there was no terrorist attack on FedEx field on Tuesday night. I just thought I’d report that, since the media is all wrapped up in this whole Jon Gosselin drama and the Kardashian quickie wedding, so you never know if they may have forgotten to mention it.
Instead, on Tuesday there was a great concert with a band that not only entertains but also makes you think and feel and love. And in that audience was a guy who just wanted to go and listen to some good music without having a bunch of idiots give him weird looks.
So, I just feel like I owe this man and the entire Middle Eastern-American culture an apology. I am truly sorry.
At one point in the show (I forget what song–perhaps Sunday Bloody Sunday, I can’t remember), Bono pulled a guy wearing a turban up on the stage.
He was holding an American flag. As Bono sang, the man held the flag up into the air and it blew in the wind. I listened for the crowd’s reaction and it was mixed. Some people booed and some cheered.
To me, it was a beautiful moment. One that brought tears to my eyes.
I contemplated hugging the man that I had once believed may be a terrorist, but thought it might be just a bit too weird. Also, my husband probably wouldn’t have appreciated it (since in addition to looking like a terrorist, he was also kind of cute).
So, there you have it. A story I’m not really proud to share. Yet, I will hit publish and put it out there for all the world to judge me for my stupid prejudices. I think that is only fair.
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I’m just glad that you were wrong and that you and everyone else there that night is safe.
Jen E @ mommablogsalot´s last blog ..Think Thin Thursday: October 1st
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I think it is one thing to have those thoughts, and then when confronted with their falsehood, still continue to harbor them and another to admit wrongdoing. So, yeah, you thought/said something you’re not proud of, but I think everyone has done that. 1. you tried to discredit it with sending someone to talk to him and he still acted weird. That would alarm anyone, no matter what their ethnicity. 2. This country has been conditioned since 911 TO be on the lookout for suspicious Middle Eastern descent folk. You just reacted to how we’ve been told to.
Honestly, the above doesn’t make your thoughts right. But your admittance can be a step forward, and now you have to decide, “what am I going to do about it?”
I am a middle class white girl. I grew up on a farm and my closest neighbor other than my Granny was an African American family whose sons had worked for my dad on his farm for a good 10 years before I came along. The son who worked for him when I was a kid became my brother. I am in no way predjudiced against African Americans as a whole, but growing up I often received a lot of negative and shameful attention from a certain demographic of African American males. As a sort of self-preservation method, I learned to fear that certain demographic. It bothers me a lot that I have these feelings. And I am forever working on conquering them. So, you’re not alone. I wish I could tell you what you could do to make everything all ok, but clearly, I’m not qualified.
Maggie´s last blog ..Efah’s first Adopt-a-Pet event
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I really think in this day and age after 9/11 that we are all a bit more cautious. We fear that *it* could happen, and that causes our brains to conjure up worries and thoughts that are not always rational. You’re only human. And a spectacular one for posting this – I mean, really, you are awesome. What a role model.
And kudos for getting to see U2! My cousin saw them in Toronto and said they were amazing. My hubby is from Ireland and his cousins who live there went to that big huge concert at Sloan Castle (if you haven’t seen it, download it for sure – it’s *amazing*). Someday I will see them live, and if I keep repeating this one day it will come true
Shannon´s last blog ..One a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
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I don’t know…
Am I wrong in saying that, if my daughter had been there and the guy who was alone looked like a dirty old pervert that I’d hold her a little closer and kick his ass if he looked at her?
Racist, maybe a little. But i think that, in an effort to be politically correct we’ve sort of told ourselves we can not act in caution.
misty´s last blog ..This is it… {a Giveaway}
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I admit that the same thought would have probably crossed my mind…
Jenni Jiggety´s last blog ..Writer’s Workshop: Stan and Shirley
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I’d probably think he was a terrorist too. Why would you go to a show alone and not even seem to get into it at all?
Sean´s last blog ..Still Owe PayPal
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hi,
that guy in turban is not middle eastern , he is a Sikh Indian , i say this with 100% confidence because i am Sikh Indian girl myself, from New Zealand .
Sikh are in no way connected to terror, Sikh love life and other , the reason why Sikhs wear Turban is to show our identity, to stand out and its way to show respect to our ansestors and show the world who we are,
Sikh is the only culture in which its belivers wears a turban to cover their never cut hair.
and if he was a terrorist he wouldn’t want to stand out specialy in America , and thoes terrorist on TV if u notice they have different turban style that is not even a turban and they cut their hair where in Sikhism hair cutting is forbidden.
I hope my post clears up the turban issue , I can understand how hard it for anyone to trust strangers specially when they have been victimised from terrible incidences ( 9/11) .
I am begging the readers to please not to judge by their appearance specially when it comes to turban, it is our grace our idetity but please dont idetify and lable it with terrorism.
P.S it is kinda Odd to be on your own in a concert tho! May he is realy crazy about U2 band or someting and had no friends to go with.
just incase you would like to know more about sikhs check out this website http://www.sikhnet.com
thanx
kind regards to ever1
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What! Seriously??? Americans are so uneducated. How can you mistake that guy for middle eastern? That Guy is a Sikh!! Sikhs are from northern India from the state of Punjab. You should definitley research Sikhism on google
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