Conversation overheard in a Cairo Bazaar
Read Time:2 Minute, 38 Second
Five old friends sit drinking tea outside a Cairo cafe. One of them turns to another sitting beside him and mentions the upcoming anniversary of the gentleman’s nephews martyrdom.
“Almost nine years, Ayub. The years pass quickly, yes?”
Ayub lifts his tea and proclaims “My nephew, who died for our nation and people and religion. May his story always be told!”
In response three cups of tea are lifted, one enthusiastically and two reflexively. The fourth gentleman does not raise his cup, rather sips reflectively and gazes at nothing.
“Ah Walid, Walid the American. How are things in Hollywood? Do you watch Dancing With the Stars tonight? Maybe you go play the football later? Dallas Cowboys, yes?”
They’ve had this conversation many times, at first heatedly then becoming like old lovers going thru the motions. “Ayub I’ve never even met an American. I’ve only seen them at the University. Perhaps I should give you a mimeographed sheet stating this?”
Walid sips more tea then continues “They killed women and children, they killed the men who fight the fires. Those people in the planes, can you imagine their terror? Mothers with children knowing their child would die and they couldn’t protect them! You call that heroic?”
The man sitting next to Ayub joins in. “You can say this to a man whose nephew died for you? A man who martyred himself for the glory of God, to bring pride to Arabs, to inspire us? And you choose to mock him! Why don’t you move to Las Vegas and gamble and go to whores since you love Americans so much!”
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Another joins in. “Walid my dear friend, you know I did not agree with the attacks. They gave the Americans an excuse to cause terrible suffering. But you are wrong to question their motives. They didn’t have a choice, they just did what they were told. If you want to blame someone, blame the Sheikh. It was his idea“.
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“They had a choice, Musa. They could have chosen NOT to fly the planes into buildings. They were not forced to follow the Sheikh. They did so of their own free will”.
Walid drains his tea, sets the cup back into the saucer. Considering his words, he spoke softly as if to himself. “People jumped out of windows, to avoid burning and to prolong their lives a few moments longer. One hundred floors. Can you imagine? What did they think on the way down?”
Walid places a few bills on the table then rises and turns to walk away. Stopping, he faces the table with a pained look:
“Did you know there are still pictures up of the missing? Their parents and friends, some still haunt the area hoping to catch a glimpse of a son or daughter. The martyrs had a choice, Musa. They could have been real heroes and chosen NOT to kill civilians. THEN I would celebrate your nephew, Ayub”.
Walid then turns on his heel and leaves.
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“Have fun in Las Vegas with your whores! Tell the Dallas Cowboys I say go to Hell!” Shouts Ayub.
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“Enjoy American Idol tonight! Eat some hamburgers!” echoes Musa.
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You know, if religion were taken out of the equation, the world would be a much calmer place. or maybe not, we’d probably all just find something else equally as stupid as who’s old book is better to fight over.
Great piece, Oso.
I’m waiting for that first chapter to proof for you… 🙂
Gimme a gun…oh please gimme a gun.
er…ok…now how do I shoot the fucking thing?
We’re all wrong. I do wish if Jesus were returning he’d hurry up and do it. Of course then again we’d all hear something different no matter what He said.
Can’t say I blame Him for not coming back.
Thank you guys. I wanted to show how Walid could be seen by Americans as a voice of reason, and yet condemned by many of his own people as sympathetic to their perceived enemy.
A “Walid” here condemning the actions of US troops might be seen as a voice of reason in the Middle East, while viewed by many here as unsympathetic to our troops or even traitorous.
Oso, thought is was brilliant in that it is showing 2 separate opinions based on their life experiences and information they have gotten. From each person’s perspective, they are right and the other person is wrong. So who is wrong??
Krell,
Good question, extended in your beautiful “Trees” post. I guess it doesn’t have an answer? “Both of them” works the same as “neither of them”.
I hope that you didn’t mind me running with your concept a little bit there. Your post here was very thought provoking and inspiring.
No no,not at all man. I appreciated it and enjoyed it. Took it a little further with a different approach.
A conversation that you cannot help but feel has been held many times before.
Country against country, Nation against Nation. An eye for an eye, a bullet for a bullet, a bomb for a bomb.
Soon nobody knows where the circle first started.
Only thing constant is that innocents die, Mothers cry, Sons and Fathers vow revenge. A disease of humanity that may destroy us all.
Excellent thought provoking post, Oso!
You really need to write a book, Oso. Your storytelling skills are awesome.