A U.S. Marine of Arab descent invoked family ties to avoid serving against Iraq

Evidence

I have a problem, sirs,” he said, after saluting. “I have a conflict of interest.” He shifted on his feet. “I’m Arab, and I can’t fight against my own people.” … A few days later, he was back again. “My parents are having trouble,” he said nervously. “I can’t leave the country.” … It wasn’t true, and it didn’t work either. When he realized there was no way out, he began feeling regret, like less of a marine, for these feeble attempts at getting out of the war. — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 221

Categorization

• SHARE: The cruel irony of a Christian Arab marine being dismissed with ‘But they’re Muslim, soldier. And you’re Christian’ — an officer reducing Arabness to religion to erase the soldier’s genuine conflict.