I've had similar experience in the last year or so. And I remember after 9/11 I went out of my way to make sure I smiled and was friendly to Arabs because I didn't want to lump them all together. But since so few of them seem to be trying these days, I guess that was all for naught.
But then we went to a restaurant 2 weeks ago and the sweetest Arab guy saw us approaching the door and rushed to open it for us, greeted us and was just lovely.
It's hard not to paint with a broad brush, but I guess we have to remember that not all Arabs are Islamofacists. In fact, not all are followers of Islam.
"...one by one and man to man Arabs are the salt of the earth– generous, hospitable, brave, wise, and so forth. But get you in a pack, and shove a Koran down your pants, and you act like a footlocker full of glue-sniffing civet cats.”
P.J. O'Rorke