Tuesday, February 2, 2010

From Steven Salaita's The Uncultured Wars

The following piece is one of the twelve essays in Steven Salaita’s latest book, The Uncultured Wars: Arabs, Muslims, and the Poverty of Liberal Thought. To find more of his work, visit his facebook page.

Of course, not all African Americans are lazy. Of course, not all Indians are alcoholics. Of course, not all Jews are stingy. Of course, not all Russians are whores. Of course, not all Mexicans are dirty. Of course, not all Pakistanis smell. Of course, not all Africans are bestial. Of course, not all Eskimos use 250 words for snow.

Of course, not all Asians are craven. Of course, not all Americans are ignorant. Of course, not all Japanese are kamikazes. Of course, not all Indians are stoic. Of course, not all African Americans are criminal. Of course, not all Arabs are angry. Of course, not all Maoris are premodern. Of course, not all Hawaiians are hula dancers. Of course, not all Aborigines are backward. Of course, not all Thai are gamblers. Of course, not all women are too emotional.

Of course, not all Mexicans are laborers. Of course, not all South Asians are swindlers. Of course, not all Appalachians are backwoods rapists. Of course, not all poor folk are tasteless. Of course, not all women are mentally inferior. Of course, not all Poles are stupid. Of course, not all Italians are Mafiosi. Of course, not all Spaniards are sleazy. Of course, not all Afghans are filthy. Of course, not all Hispanics are greasy. Of course, not all homosexuals are child molesters. Of course, not all Africans are nude and pagan. Of course, not all Sri Lankans deserve it.

“Of course, not all Muslims are terrorists”—Thomas Friedman, New York Times, July 4, 2007.

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