Should I have spoke to the principal or teacher?

Question

This government class did a project where they had to design their own country, and I found this one wierd country hanging up outside his classroom, and the country was my first name with "stan" at the end, simular in name to countries like Pakistan, and Kazakhstan. And the capitol was a good friend of mines name with stan at the end. Both our names end with A's. But the country was located in the caspian sea, and had a river named after my friends dad, and I have no clue how he found out his name. There was a mountain named after another friends dad. And there was a phone service named after my friends mom. And a nephrology museum after another friends dad, and he really is a nephrologist. And some other places like Uncle Larry Highschool, Uncle Tom international Airport. And not to mention some indian arab stereotypes, like A city called Aladdin city, a Taxi Museum, a baba Ganouj patio, and a convenience store theme park. Should I have mentioned this to the govt teacher?

Answer 1

Actually, you're overreacting to typical teenage short-sightedness.

Think for a minute.  The student had to design a country.  He had to create a name for the country, the cities, the businesses and institutions and geographical features.  You can figure that the rules of the assignment said that he couldn't use names from an existing country that is similar to the one he created.  So gee, now he has to get names that sound like they come from another culture, a culture he isn't all that familiar with.  

And he has a brainstorm - he knows you and your other friend, and your ancestry comes from the part of the world where his country is located .... so why not use the names of you and your friend and your family members as the names on his map?  At least they will sound authentic.

It was done with no harm intended, and you are over-reacting.  Why don't you just laugh about it, and tell your friend you ought to charge him a royalty fee for the use of your name?  Or tell him you are honored to be a new country.

There was no racism or prejudice or any bad feelings intended.

Answer 2

Mind your own business. If you don't like it, don't look.

Answer 3

You know that is one amazing series of coincidences.

One thing- happenstance.

Two things- Coincidence.

Three things- Paranoia.

Four things- A pattern emerges.

Talk to the teacher.

Answer 4

That sounds like both racism and coincidences. That's really weird though! You need to talk to your principal about that.

Answer 5

Sounds to ME like your "teacher" (believe me, they are NOT all qualified, just because they passed the test!!!) has a HUGE anti-Muslim, anti-Middle-east thing going on!!!

I used to teach Social Studies and I'd have given yoy an A+ for your knowledge and inventiveness!!! This jerk is obviously hung up with fear about what the stupid "Patriot" act will think of him..what a bonehead!

If I were you I'd contact the ACLU, IMMEDIATELY! I'd also get my parents to lodge a formal, written complaint of ethnic discrimination and violation of your Civil Rights, with the School Board.

If that doesn't do it, then go to the press. I'm NOT kidding! My kid had similar problems (but relating to disability, not ethnicity) and all I had to do was THREATEN to sue and they caved...of course after putting my poor kid through YEARS Of agony. I only wish I'd done it sooner---actually, I DID and got his middle school principal FIRED (w/a little...VERY little...help from other parents)!

Stick to your guns and DON'T let the "man" get you down! You CAN WIN! AND you'd better do it (sue and complain) while we sill live in a [more-or-less] democratic society

Good luck to you...and oh, yeah, go online and LEARN  THE LAW OF YOUR STATE!!! Whaddya know/ It's downright...uh...EDUCATIONAL!!!