Metrophobic...or xenophobic?

I wish that I wasn't unnverved by this...but I was. I really, really was.

Yesterday, on my way to work, I made the necessary metro transfer and sat down next to a furry, bearded man who was reading. Typically, I assume that's a safe bet--he won't bother me, won't talk to me and I'll just sit there and play with my cell phone.

However, upon closer examination (and an inability to ignore what was going on), I found that he was reading the Quran, singing to himself and shaking back and forth, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

I then noticed that people were slowly moving away and leaving the car we were sitting in.

And I got nervous. I'm ashamed to say so, but I got kind of scared and considered moving myself.

I didn't. And I guess I'm happy that I refused to give in to the surely unnecessary fear. But still. It's been over 24 hours and I'm still thinking about it.

Have I been corrupted by the mainstream media? The Bush administration? Am I a post-9/11 posterchild?

I don't know what to think.