New York is hell for young Osama

[NYC Liberal]

(Hope this wasn't posted.)

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0639402720070608?src=060807_1744_ARTICLE_PROMO_also_on_reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - After years of being taunted as "bin Laden" and "terrorist" at school, Osama Al-Najjar attempted suicide last July at the age of 15.

Now 16, he is an extreme example of the difficulties facing some Arabs in New York, the city hit hardest by the attacks of September 11, 2001.

"They destroyed everything nice in our life with what they did to him," said Suad Abuhasna, Osama's mother, referring to racist abuse she said was heaped on her son while he was a student at Tottenville High School in Staten Island.

Osama is now officially known as Sammy. He changed his name in December to escape the stigma attached to the name he shares with al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. There are so many vicious, ignorant shits out there.

:banghead:

Poor kid.

[Ecumenist]

2. THAT'S SO SAD.. I wonder if there was the same thing happened to

white men named "Timothy" and or "McVeigh"? Somehow, I don't recall anything like that happening.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Of course not.

[Colobo]

4. Well, sadly this is kinda natural

Many members of the Trujillo family in the DR had to escape because all people would connect them with Rafael Trujillo, even when some of them had nothing to do with him.

[BlooInBloo]

5. We know, of course, what republicans' response to such suicide attempts will be.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. My Dad knew somebody named Harvey Oswald who had to

change his name. It became impossible.