my "friends" have really turned on me...what should i do about it?

Question

my "friends" started making fun of my race...i'm lebanese, and they constantly call me a terrorist, or they call me "towelhead". ive never even been to lebanon, and i get made fun of my decent every day. ive tryed avoiding them, but i have the same classes as them, so i see them at least 5 days a week. i try to keep my cool, but its really getting hard not to beat one of them up. what should i do?

Answer 1

Ask the teacher of one of the classes you are all in together if you can say something to the class. The tell the class what is happening to you (without mentioning names) and that you are as American as they are and you want to be treated just like they want to be treated. Hopefully these dorks will feel ashamed of themselves. Either way then everyone will know whats going on without you naming names. People will know.

Answer 2

Well...in response to your question...all I can really tell you is to keep your cool in the situation. Coming from a Nigerian home and my origin of decent is in Nigerian, though I've never even been to Nigerian that is my heritage and I am definitely proud of it. On the other hand, there are many negative generalizations made about Africans, Nigerians, and more specifically about the tribe that my family is from; however, all I can do is educate the people that are around me about my heritage, my culture, and who I am as an individual. So....even though it may and definitely is frustrating, if they are your "friends" they will be open to what you have to say, but remember to keep your cool in the situation so you do not come across in the wrong way.

Answer 3

Don't 'beat one of them up'. It will only make things worse. Find new friends or try talking with a few of them one on one if you have any desire to try to keep them as friends. To me, however, they don't sound worth it at all. Join different groups. Join some clubs. Get other interests.

You can't change your classes, but you can certainly ignore them without a word. Friends that turn on you or make racist remarks are not your friends. Move on. After a while, you'll be able to tune them out completely.

If you can't get around them, talk to teachers and counselors about changing classes. And, if it becomes difficult, talk to your parents.

Answer 4

The best way to handle teasing if you are not allowed to ignore it by your friends is with humor. Work on finding the humor in who you are. I know you are very angry with them right now but trust me, humor works. I recently read a very inspiring article about a man whose hand had been burned with he was a very small child. When others teased him, he laughed with them and even developed some of his own jokes about his hands. If you are having trouble with this look how others handle things like very bad acne or being extremely short or extremely tall. Even if it looks like they are not getting teased, ask them if they were and how they handled it.


When you are able to see the humor and don't do this until you do or it will just backfire on you, bring a towel and put it around your head. Bring a couple and see if they will join you in a game of terrorists versus the people.

Answer 5

Beat them up! Next time they call you a terrorist, tell them its their house that's gonna get blown up. Then smile an evil smile at them. Then ignore them for a while. Find out if the ringleader has a sister or a brother and ask them how they are ( threateningly). Go after their girlfriends and ask them out..If this advice will not help then tell your principal or someone who will correct them. Good luck

Answer 6

Dude almost all schools have a policy against this kind of thing. Go to the teacher, or go to the principal. They need to be told about this, and something needs to be done. At the most tell their parents. And if they continue doing it, then go to the police. This is racial profiling, and it should not be taken. Even if they are your friends, they arent true friends. Seriously go to the principal or teacher and let them know whats going on. If they do not do anything about it, then go to the Head of your school district and let them know that racial profiling is going on in the schools. They will most likely do something about it.
Hope that helps you out.

Answer 7

If they were your friends, they would not be doing this to you. Let them know you don't like it when they call you such things. Tell them not everyone from middle eastern decent is a terrorist and that they should open their little minds to different sides. Tell them they are opinionated, small minded, and full of s h i t. Then, if it keeps happening, report them to your teacher and/or a higher authority.What they're doing to you is harrassment.

Answer 8

I think that you and your parents should have a meeting with the principal and explain what is going on. I would hope that your school is willing to work with you. Maybe have your classes changed and that way you only have to see them in passing.

Good luck, no one likes to be made fun of or bullied.

Answer 9

You need to be honest and straight foward with them. Be very frank, and tactful and let them know that you do not appreciate them teasing you about yout heritage. No one would like to be called a terrorist, and I am sure if the tables were turned that they would not appreciate it one bit either. If they still continue to harass you after you have spoken to them, then they are nothing but immature individuals, and maybe its best if you dont hang around them.

Answer 10

rise above it. they aren't your freinds, and their small minds will never achive anything great if they continue to be so ignorant. try educating them on your heritage, without anger, so they can see how THEY are being the terrorists. also, they are probably seeing that it is getting a reaction from you so thats why they do it. make some new buddies, show them you don't care and it will eventually go away. dont get in trouble for hitting someone. and if you get your parents involved it will probably get worse.