Snippets

The following are snippets of conversations that I’ve had over the past 2 weeks while I was in the states. Here is a small description of the characters involved in those conversations with me: Sam: me, read blog for a better idea of who I am. Dad: my father. Womanizer, flirt, serial monogamist. N: my ultra liberal and incredibly intelligent friend from Boston. A huge feminist, huge Bush hater, but hates kerry and will concede defeats in debates when she actually loses (usually against me), which makes her all right in my book. Plus she is cute! L: A Lebanese Christian woman my mom made friends with at the hospital. A: A half Palestinian, half Egyptian woman my dad made friends with at the hospital. Aunt: My mother’s sister, my aunt, my total shame. The woman is an idiot who loves hearing herself speak, usually about the evil jews and how they use the kabala to control the world, and how if you look next to you very quickly you can see the jinn( I wish I was joking). Here are the conversations in the order at which they took place: N: I keep watching the news and everything is all about Bush and his freedom on the march crap. Everyone is talking about how his policy is a successes and yada yada yada. Sam: But you kinda have to agree that there is some truth to it. That it’s not all hype. I mean look at Lebanon now, telling the Syrians to fuck of. That wouldn’t have happened if there wasn’t American troops right next door. N: I know, I know. But I still don’t like him. ********************************************************* L: I am so happy about what’s happening back home. It’s abut time those Syrians left. They have been leeching off of us for years now. You know, the average Syrian can work for 10 dollars ( I am assuming she meant a week) and he sends it all home, while a Lebanese would need at least 50 dollars to live. Living in Lebanon is expensive and they cause so much unemployment. Sam: But some people keep saying that if they left there would be a civil war. Do you think that’s a possibility? L: No. No way. There isn’t one sane Lebanese person who would ever want those days to return no matter what happens. ********************************* A:I have this friend, she is Coptic Egyptian- we are all muslims here right? Anyway- and she was telling me how she is afraid of that whole elected democracy in Egypt deal. She is afraid the islamists would take over. She hopes that Mubarak is only joking about the democratic reforms thing. ********************************* Dad: The Copts are really uppity in Egypt these days though. A: really? How so? Dad: Every time a Coptic Christian converts to Islam they make such a huge fuss over it. They start demonstrations, they surround the church, they block streets and chant about being persecuted. It’s becoming such a headache for us if one of them chooses to turn muslim and wants to have freedom of religion. A: ahh, I didn’t know that happens. I haven’t been in Egypt for a while. Sam: Ok, but dad, why is that such a big deal? It’s not like we really have freedom of religion in Egypt anyway. I mean, can you imagine what would happen if a muslim wanted to become a Christian? Dad: He would die! A: it’s not even a comparison Sam. Dad: his family would just kill him. It’s Islamic law. A: I kinda see your point though. ****************************** Aunt: Do you see what’s happening these days in the world, with Bush ordering Syria to get out of Lebanon. I feel as if this man wakes up every morning and is like “ how can I further humiliate muslims and arabs today?” Talking about how he wants to spread freedom and democracy in the world. What a bunch of bullshit. It’s not like all of us want democracy. Shouldn’t he ask us first? God I hate him. I pray everyday that someone kills him so we would be relieved from his miserable presence in our lives. Sam:( no response, just got up and left the room) Aunt: what? where are you going? ************************ Sigh..