"Do you know where the temple is?" I guess the conversation started off innocently enough. Dania and I were walking down the street minding our own business, when one of two Australian guys asked said question. We replied that we had just arrived in Cairns this morning and didn’t know. Encouraged, by a lack of an "I have no idea" response, he asked if we were Jewish. I responded "yes." He responded with an abrupt and hateful "that’s a big nose you’ve got." We just walked away.
This is the first time something like this has ever happened to us, and it happened so fast. Aside from ruining the end of a nice day learning to scuba dive, it left us confused. Should I have just denied we were Jewish not knowing whether there was trouble? Or would I have been upset with myself later that I denied who I am? What if we had been met with violence instead of words?
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2 comments:
You handled it perfectly. If they wanted violence, by walking away you removed any pretext they could have had to start it. At the same time you proudly proclaimed your Jewishness - kudos and LeChaim.
Ewww! Unfortunately there are ignorant people all over the world, even in the most enlightened places. I think you handled it perfectly and personally I never thought you had a big nose...big head...well that's a different story!
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