Episode Transcript: #680 - Steven Hassan
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Boom. What was the original pronunciation?
Well, my understanding is back in the old days.
It was Sam the Butcher and Joe the Barber.
And my Greek grandfather was a chazan, which is a singer of holy songs,
like a cantor would be the term now.
And when my grandfather came to Ellis Island, he didn't speak English,
and they wrote it up as H-A-S-S-A-N.
And so I've lived my life being thought of as an Arab,
being persecuted at times by Jews.
I'm actually Jewish, and I belong to a Jewish.
The Jews persecuted you?
I've had experiences where people made, yes.
Because of your name?
Because of the spelling of my name.
And did you have to let them, hey, you asshole, I'm one of you.
Well, first I'd say, you know, being a bigot,
and then I'd say, by the way, I'm Jewish.
What did they say?
I'm so sorry.
They would look at me, and then they'd say, you don't look Sephardic.