Edited by Jonathan Douglas
An Un-Arab Debate
A little while ago, I woke up late. It was one of the few occasions that I have woken up at this time, since I had to stay up late - until after dawn - to follow the last debate between Obama and Romney!
I had to stay up out of love for what they said, for my heart has become as bitter as a lemon from all the talk. But I prepared myself to watch a battle. I thought they would fight and debate after our fashion!
Romney did not say to Obama, “You’re a despicable or untrustworthy guy.” And Obama did not say to him, “Could you tell me who you’re talkin’ to?” Neither of them threatened the other with, “Be a man and wait until we get outta here. And when you leave here, I’ll show you!”
They didn’t shout at each other. They didn’t have convulsions. They didn’t mutter while speaking. Their necks didn’t become a clear plane of sweat and bulging veins. Neither of them hit an ashtray or a glass of water. Neither of them even said to the other, “Shut up!” or “Curse the father who brought you to this world!”
It was a debate devoid of Arab "action" and the Arab way of "mutual understanding." I tell you, with God is my judge, neither of them said to the other, “What clan are you from?” Rather, they presented an inventory of what they personally proposed and agreed on, with America as their common denominator.
We are the first in quarrels and are thus first in defeats! Therefore, we are also just macho. And let whoever does not like what I have to say wait for me to get my relatives and "work things out" with him or her!
I had to stay up out of love for what they said, for my heart has become as bitter as a lemon from all the talk. But I prepared myself to watch a battle. I thought they would fight and debate after our fashion!
Romney did not say to Obama, “You’re a despicable or untrustworthy guy.” And Obama did not say to him, “Could you tell me who you’re talkin’ to?” Neither of them threatened the other with, “Be a man and wait until we get outta here. And when you leave here, I’ll show you!”
They didn’t shout at each other. They didn’t have convulsions. They didn’t mutter while speaking. Their necks didn’t become a clear plane of sweat and bulging veins. Neither of them hit an ashtray or a glass of water. Neither of them even said to the other, “Shut up!” or “Curse the father who brought you to this world!”
It was a debate devoid of Arab "action" and the Arab way of "mutual understanding." I tell you, with God is my judge, neither of them said to the other, “What clan are you from?” Rather, they presented an inventory of what they personally proposed and agreed on, with America as their common denominator.
We are the first in quarrels and are thus first in defeats! Therefore, we are also just macho. And let whoever does not like what I have to say wait for me to get my relatives and "work things out" with him or her!