She worried what turn deep-seated anger and resentment might take when fueled by ignorance and combined with the right to bear arms. As we walked back home, we could not help thinking of the worst-case scenario for ending a perfectly tranquil evening. What if that man in the truck hated us (or who he thought we represented) enough to just pick up a gun and shoot. It made me wonder if my quest to find freedom in America was a dream nearing its end.
Then there is the bigger picture of what such incidents mean to immigrants and visitors to America. There is no better deterrent to immigration and foreign tourism than such behavior. While it is not yet widespread and frequent enough to garner the attention of the mainstream media, I can't imagine that my experience is unique or exceptional in any way. However, by the time incidents like this or worse make headline news (if they do), most of the damage is already done. Maybe it is best to recognize signs of decay and act on them before the rot takes over.
Article comments
1 - Cary Ace Bowers Jr
Get over your fear of other races,you caused your own paranoia by thinking of yourselves in your infinite greed,your wanting of slavery,youve lost respect for anyone not of your race,What do you want that you dont have,to dictate others lives is you have no authority.Authority is the dying issue,the separation of the lazy,and the doers is the future!
2 - Joanne Huspek
I am so sorry you had to experience what happened on the street as well as with the comment above.
You would think that our country, which has been based on embracing the immigrant, would have moved beyond this sort of ignorance and negativity. As a person of mixed ethnic background, I grew up with this growing up in the '60s.
Your mother is wise in her perception. Being wise is helpful in everything except allaying fear.