Coffee shop discussions... #1

Today, I met with my conversation partner, Nasser Almousa, for the first time in the TCU bookstore coffee shop. It was, by far, the most enlightening converstaion I have had with someone in a long time. After introductions, I explained that my father is from England, which led to a conversation about accents and dialects. From this, he proceeded to ask me certain phrases and ways of pronouncing things in Texas; I proudly taught him how to say "y'all" and "fixin' to."

When he asked me to explain the Honors College here at TCU, this class came up. I explained that we are studying humor around the world and across cultures and that, coincidently, the topic for my Humor Around the World project is humor from the Middle East. Immediately, (well, between laughs and mental translations) he told me what the funniest thing is to him: Egyptians. At first I was a little puzzled by this, but I think what he was ultimately trying to get across (some of the stories he was telling me of his experiences in Cairo were too difficult to translate) was that Egyptians are generally wittier. Nonetheless, he provided a good basis for the start of our research.

We then started talking about stereotypes and, ultimately, religions. We got into a lengthy, and very enlightening discussion, about the beliefs of Islam. Here are some of the things I learned or common myths that were debunked:

Twenty-one nations speak Arabic.

Saudi Arabians (the citizens) consider Americans (the citizens) very intelligent. On the other hand, Saudis hate the American government. (but really, what country doesn't)

Saudi Arabia is not a theocracy run by its religious leaders, but a monarchy with a king.

Islam is a peaceful religion; to kill anyone, believer or not, is a huge sin. All people are considered part of a brotherhood.

Muslims do not consider Osama bin Laden a Muslim because of his actions eleven years ago today. That act of violence does not agree with the beliefs of Islam.

The Koran does not say that women have to wear a head covering; it is entirely a personal choice. Although the Saudi Arabian government tries to enforce this, they have no right to.

I stated that the stereotype of Muslims by Americans is that they are all terrorists. He laughed a little at its absurdity. I asked him what his country's stereotype of Americans is: we are all cowboys.

At the very end, he told me the most shocking and saddening thing: In his english intensive class, they are partnered up with people to talk and practice speaking english. The first things he was asked when he got with his partner were the following questions: "Did your mom teach you how to make a bomb? Were you taught how to kill someone?" What does this say about mankind?