This was merely a case of me walking into the wrong place at the wrong time. It was late afternoon, and I was very hungry. I was searching through my collection of restaurant menus-didn't know if I wanted to take out or sit in. At that moment, my friend gave me a call wanting to know what I was up to. We arranged to go eat some Gyros at the Arab spot down three blocks from my apartment. After he arrived we walked down to the restaurant.
As we entered the place, I was greeted with a pretty waitress. We grabbed a place on the bar area and placed an order for a gyro meal.
As my friend and I were talking about the most random shit, another waiter came up to us-perhaps in his mid twenties-and started a conversation with me about the recent Swine Flu pandemic. I expressed my thoughts and so did my friend. For the most part, the three of us were in agreement, and I was building up pretty good friendly rapport with the guy.
Mid way through the conversation, he asked for my name, and I answered him Faisal. "That's an Arab name you know, are you Muslim?"
"No." I replied.
"Oh, then what are you my man?"
"Well, I have very complex beliefs but frankly, I'm an Atheist. I don't believe in god"
At that moment, judging from his body language I struck him hard. As if I punched the wind out of him or something. There was a slight pause, then he simply replied with a nervous laughter. He was a curious person, I hold nothing against him. He asked me questions-philosophical ones. I answered him best I could. I told him what I really believed, whilst being as open as I could to what he had to offer to the table about Islam. Though it should be noted, I never revealed to him I'm an ex-Muslim.
The waiter then casually broke away from us and went into the back toward the kitchen area. Minutes later the boss man arrived. Turned out, the owner is that waiter's father. Also, he also revealed to me that he was seventeen.
To keep it simple, the owner asked my friend and I to leave the place. His accusation was I was making trouble-he didn't specify what. After a little bit of picking at his brains, he revealed to me that he didn't appreciate the things I said to his son about god. I'm not sure what he found so offensive really, I never once insulted any god. Never used a vulgar word, and I certainly never specified any god. I was keeping it very general. Thinking back on it now though, I believe although the son of the owner kept a poker face with me, he probably let loose in anger in front of his father in the back of the restaurant. I guess he found offense to what I was saying, even though there was nothing "offensive" about anything I said.
So we just left the place, and got some Chinese grub instead.
When I got home, I realized that prejudice will never go away wherever I go. I mean, I never expected it to go away, but I've experienced prejudice as a former Muslim for simply being a Muslim, and now I face prejudice for holding no believe at all.
Funny how the world works sometimes.
Topic: Atheists can't eat here. Sorry!