Muslim student comes to the aid of Jews who were attacked for saying "Happy Chanukah"

[Dead Sexy Vocab]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/12/12/2007-12-12_muslim_hero_breaks_up_train_beating-1.html
Muslim student's aid in New York City subway attack leads to interfaith friendship.

A suspected bias attack on four Jewish subway riders has resulted in a friendship between the Jewish victims and the Muslim college student who came to their aid.

Walter Adler is calling Hassan Askari a hero for intervening when Adler and three friends were assaulted on a subway train in lower Manhattan on Friday night.

The altercation erupted when Adler and his friends said "Happy Chanukah" to a group yelling "Merry Christmas" on the Brooklyn-bound train.

The 20-year-old Askari said he tried to fight off the 10 attackers, giving Adler a chance to summon police by pulling an emergency brake.

"I did what I thought was right," said Askari, a student at Berkeley College in Manhattan, who was allegedly punched and beaten. "I did the best that I could to help."

Eight men and two women have pleaded not guilty to assault, menacing and other charges in the case. Prosecutors have said the charges could be upgraded to hate crimes.

"That a random Muslim kid helped some Jewish kids, that's what's positive about New York," said Adler, 23, who suffered a broken nose and a lip wound.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/12/12/2007-12-12_muslim_hero_breaks_up_train_beating-1.html
Muslim hero breaks up train beating.

The Good Samaritan who tried to stop the Christmas-versus-Chanukah subway beating has two black eyes and a sore nose - but no regrets.

"I did what I thought was right," said Hassan Askari, 20. "I did the best that I could to help."

Askari, a Bangladeshi Muslim studying at Berkeley College in Manhattan, was on a Q train headed to Brooklyn late Friday when he came to the aid of young women confronted by a group of 10 thugs.

Fearful for the women's safety, he pushed one of the men away - and was then pounced on by the group, he said.

"They grabbed me and punched and beat me up," Askari said.

"They punched me first. I didn't get a chance to punch him back."

Askari, all of 5-feet-7 and 140 pounds, said he was left with a swollen face.

He said he didn't go to the doctor because he's too busy working two waiter jobs and doesn't have the money for medical care.

He was mystified as to why the men became so outraged when the women and their male friends wished them a "Happy Chanukah" while they were yelling "Merry Christmas" on the train car.

"I don't understand," he said. "They were just being nice."

One of the Jewish victims, Walter Adler, expressed amazement that Askari took the risk to try to help.

"That a random Muslim kid helped some Jewish kids, that's what's positive about New York," said Adler, 23, who suffered a broken nose and required four stitches to close a lip wound.

Askari's interference allowed Adler to pull the emergency brake, which alerted police to trouble on the train.

That's awfully nice of the Muslim guy.

"Wishin' me a 'Happy Chanukah,' eh? FUHGEDABOUTIIIIT!!"

[Archomnislash]

Wow, thats seriously retarded of the 10 attackers.
Talk about not having religious tolerance in America...
where we supposedly have freedom of religion.

[MNJetter]

Good for Mr. Askari. We need to see more of that.

[Beowulf]

Not only is he a good person but he has some serious brass balls there. Going flat out against 10 people is something I would never do in my most alcohol addled moments. I also feel extreme pity for that poor jewish guy, getting your nose broke hurts worse then just about anything.

[Masa the Masta]

He almost became an hero for being a hero.

I have to say though, that's suicidal. I love it. I think if we concentrated on stuff like this rather than what the usual stuff the media regurgitates, well baby we'd probably be living in a nicer place.

[MNJetter]

Yeah. Somebody should make a website dedicated to stories of positive and promising things like this.

EDIT: removed link

[羽之助]

That's awesome. He and the Jewish guy should be sent to the Middle East talks.

Now if we could get the Christians to embrace this "love thy neighbour" concept I keep hearing about ...

[ZaichikArky]

I can't believe it happened in NYC of all places : (. I guess its just like rape; racism can happen anywhere. What a nice guy. I'm glad there are good Samaritans around like him! This story reminds me of the Russian woman who tried to remove an antisemitic sign posted somewhere. The sign was rigged with explosives, and she suffered bad burns to her face and body. As a token of gratitude, she was invited to Isreal where she underwent free plastic surgery to fix most of the damage.

[Shishio]

I guess its just like rape; racism can happen anywhere.

I can't be sure of course, but I think it has more to do with these particular people being unable to accept that there are other holidays around the same time as Christmas, as opposed to racism.

Such people are of course, assholes (http://www.webcomicsnation.com/justinpie/wonderella/series.php?view=archive&chapter=25535).

[LJustus]

Now if we could get the Christians to embrace this "love thy neighbour" concept I keep hearing about ...
Not that you're stereotyping or anything.

[Trinadad]

Well, with events like this, I don't think it hurts to question things like that, at least a little bit.

[LJustus]

Well, with events like this, I don't think it hurts to question things like that, at least a little bit.
Question things like what? I don't know what you're trying to say here. I have some idea, but I'd rather know for certain before I respond. See, unlike some other people, I like to have all the facts and not spew of at the mouth in generalities and make myself look foolish.

[Buckwheat]

I believe he is referring to the rampant hypocrisy displayed by christians in America.

[Beowulf]

I can't believe it happened in NYC of all places : (. I guess its just like rape; racism can happen anywhere. What a nice guy. I'm glad there are good Samaritans around like him! This story reminds me of the Russian woman who tried to remove an antisemitic sign posted somewhere. The sign was rigged with explosives, and she suffered bad burns to her face and body. As a token of gratitude, she was invited to Isreal where she underwent free plastic surgery to fix most of the damage.
Apparently you've never ridden on the NYC subway system...

[Trinadad]

I believe he is referring to the rampant hypocrisy displayed by christians in America.


Haha, yes, thank you.

[LJustus]

Don't you see how you're stereotyping?

[nanashi]

Hey pot, meet kettle..
"Yay. A muslim helped a jew so he didn't get beat up." "Damn those Christains for always beating up people."

Out of the *many* Christians I have met, I have only met a few who were the stereotypical bible thumping conservative Christain. And those people were jerks with or without Christainity since most of the jerk things they said did not involve religion at all. oh wait.. but isn't it 'cool' now to not be Christian and be condesending towards Christianity (yet not other religions simular to it)..?

The story was really nice. Although what I found it unfortunate that there is so much aggression between those two cultures that one helping the other is such a surprise.

[Trinadad]

I never said that I don't stereotype. I'm saying that people seem to fit into stereotypes even if we don't label them as said stereotype, and I don't think there's anything wrong with identifying those stereotypes, because if we didn't, we wouldn't be able to find the positive aspects of whatever the stereotype is talking about.

[Beowulf]

The real person at fault here is Bill O'Reilly for making up that phony-ass "War on Christmas"

[Citizen]

The fact that this is news for the reason that they're implying it's news seems kinda racist and moronic, to me.

It's basically going "OH MY GOD, A MUSLIM HELPED SOME JEWS! I THOUGHT THAT ALL MUSLIMS WERE KNUCKLE-DRAGGERS WHO WANT TO WIPE THE JEWS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!" Yeah, they're not, and the fact that they're not isn't news.

Good for the Muslim kid. He did the right thing. But come on, this happened in Manhattan. Not that there isn't racism and racial tension there, but still. Race/religion probably didn't even enter his mind.

Lemme know when this happens in the Middle East, then it'll be impressive beyond just being an act of heroism.

I can't believe it happened in NYC of all places

Why? Ney York has a metric fuckton of crime and poverty. Just because the rich parts are Liberal as hell doesn't mean it's some kind of pillar of truth and justice.

[LJustus]

I never said that I don't stereotype. I'm saying that people seem to fit into stereotypes even if we don't label them as said stereotype, and I don't think there's anything wrong with identifying those stereotypes, because if we didn't, we wouldn't be able to find the positive aspects of whatever the stereotype is talking about.
So, how do you feel about racial profiling then?

[Plekto]

IMO, once you get your green card or are here legally(let alone a citizen), you're the same homogeneous tan.

Nothing to profile because asses come in all sizes and colors. So do good people, interestingly enough.

[stsparky]

http://www.thegodmovie.com/images/declaration-of-war800x1063.jpg

Heh... I once kept a so-called "Jew for Jesus" from attacking a Hare Krishna in a Santa Claus suit. FYI - some if not most of the "Jews" in that movement never were Jewish. They're not cut and they simply are chosen because they look "Jewish."

But fuck haters. Seriously.

[Decade]

On a related note, being Jewish, I dont really understand how a lot of other Jewish people get angry or offended when people say to me "Merry Christmas." I mean, yea I guess I'd prefer Happy Holidays, but I'm pretty sure the average person whose actually wishing me a Merry Christmas isnt doing it to offend me, they're trying to be nice.

But meh, to each his own. It only takes common sense to know when someone says it to you to be an asshat and when someone says it to you to actually wish you well.

[japanat]

Yeah. Somebody should make a website dedicated to stories of positive and promising things like this.Google "HeroicStories". A weekly newsletter of 'feel-good true stories'.





One question to the US media: do they think he knew, or cared, if they were Jewish? How would he know? Are they saying that they looked Jewish? Like Sammy Davis, Jr did? He said he came to the defense of the ladies.

I think he's just a nice guy, albeit lacking survival skills....

[Buckwheat]

Perhaps the fact that they just said, "Happy Chanukah" might have tipped him off.

[Vincent]

I think a story like this is made news because generally, the middle east = Muslims, Christians (whom for some reason nobody ever talks about), and a few Jews. We are in a 2 front war primarily against *crazy* Muslims [in the middle east] (argue against that as much as you want). Since nobody talks about the Christians, the Jews and Muslims are the only ones left. And guess what? The only stories of the last 60+ years are of the two killing each other. So apparently, even when it's in the USA it makes news when one group helps the other for *NO REASON*.

And on the Merry Christmas thing, honestly who fuckin cares. December 25th is a NATIONAL HOLIDAY, gtfo over it. I was raised by a Catholic dad and a Jewish mom and I went to both church and synagogue (hated them both) and I don't care. But I think that's mostly because I'm not a douche. :P

[Fermented Yeast Paste]

I just hate the word "Merry." If someone were to say "Happy Christmas!" to me everything would be peachy.

[Dead Sexy Vocab]

Pictures and more info on the altercation, here (http://gothamist.com/2007/12/12/q_train_beating.php).

Oh, and get this - one of the attackers has a Jewish mother!

/will put this in the front page eventually

[MNJetter]

I just hate the word "Merry." If someone were to say "Happy Christmas!" to me everything would be peachy.
Move to the UK. Or Australia too, maybe. I know they say it somewhere.

Or come to Japan, if you want both. I went to a Christmas party the other day where the napkins all proclaimed "Happy Merry Christmas!"

[stsparky]

It's funny - I love the whole Santa thing but can't stomach Christmas at all. I've no desire to grinch any kid's happiness so I don't say anything to quench their zeal.

[Josh]

I just say "Happy Saturnalia!" in the week leading up to Christmas and then on December 25th I switch it up and say "Happy celebration of Sol Invictus!" Because really, that's what Christmas is. A holiday to the unconquered sun.

I tend to agree with the other J double O's who posted before me, hearing "Merry Christmas" has never offended me. I don't think it offends anybody except for Christians, haha.