<p>Your dad needs to realize that if you do switch, you could still end up with someone of a different race/background. If he really is worried about that, tell him to get you a private room or to buy you something off campus. He needs to realize that YOU will be living with the person, and he will never even have to deal with the person. If he pulls you out of that school, that's just dumb because most good schools probably are done accepting people and the classes would be almost full and it would just be a bad situation.</p>
<p>How about convincing your dad to meet the guy first?</p>
<p>Not that it matters, but none of the Omars I know are Muslim....</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, I was thinking the exact same thing...</p>
<p>Omar is a very common Muslim name actually.</p>
<p>I know, just not "exclusive" where I live I guess....</p>
<p>No matter how mad you/he gets, remember that he is really just trying to protect you. It's probably very hard for any parent to let their kid live with a Muslim after 9/11, no offense or anything. Personally, I wouldn't care.</p>
<p>^^^ and if he rooms with an asian he's going to get killed in a school shooting.</p>
<p>And if he rooms with a white male, his roommate will be a serial killer.</p>
<p>And if he rooms with a black man, he'll steal all his fried chicken and watermelon.</p>
<p>but that's actually true :D</p>
<p>Being anti-Muslim is not exactly racism. Contrary to dumb popular opinion, Islam is a very diverse religion that has deep roots not only in the Middle East but also in places like Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. When your dad says that he does not want you to have a Muslim roommate, would he feel different if your roommate wasn't named something like Mahmoud Wahab, but perhaps Milan Cranjic or Sujatmi Kulit?</p>
<p>Does the OP state his race or ethnicity? </p>
<p>He is obviously white or asian. I suspect asian as I always hear about asian parents being racist.</p>
<p>^ Uhh, the most populous Muslim nations are Asian (duh!).</p>
<p>I think this concern is more widespread than people like to admit. I have many relatives who won't talk to or work with black people, it was the way they were raised, and they havent changed(they are in their 80's and 90's now.) My parents would probly let me have a black roomate, but they deffinately would have something to say about it. I feel bad for the OP, and I hope they can get their room changed.</p>
<p>Those are the usually same people who will protest how they're not a racist, the loudest.</p>
<p>Omar Bradley was definitely not Moslem. He was a quintessentially American individual.</p>
<p>
[quote]
^ Uhh, the most populous Muslim nations are Asian (duh!).
[/quote]
Haha, geographically this is true but when people say "Asian" they usually mean East Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc)</p>
<p>aka orientals.</p>
<p>Tr1p7s- I know eeeexactly how you feel. I have the exact same problem with my father. He wouldn't go crazy to the extent yours would, but the racism is a pretty persistant problem with my dad. It really really really stinks having to apologize for your parent's beliefs- and I know that it's even more difficult to change them. </p>
<p>Probably, the best idea would be to explain to him that it's a public school and that they wouldn't change roommates for that reason. Try to convince him that Omar might not even be Muslim or even a minority- sure, the name gives a clue, but we don't know anything for sure. Or just remind him how helpful the program would be for you- list reasons why the program is good and why dropping out because of a roommate would not be worth it. </p>
<p>I think convincing him that the program is really important to you would be the best way to get him to give in... It would be really difficult for you to change a lifetime of values in just a few weeks. I know that I've tried and tried with my dad and it doesn't matter, because I'm "just a kid" and I "don't know any better than he does." GAH.</p>
<p>And definitely look over NSM's post. Very good advice there too.</p>