Not long ago, a close comrade of mine was dining with a person who I can't identify beyond telling you that his father is a long-term absolutist ruler of an Arab Muslim state.
"Tell me," said this scion to my friend, "is it true that there are now free elections in Albania?"
My friend was able to confirm the (relative) truth of this, adding that he had once even acted as an international observer at the Albanian polls and could attest to a certain level of transparency and fairness. The effect of his remarks was galvanic.
"In that case," exclaimed the heir-presumptive, thumping the table, "what does that make us? Are we peasants? Children?"
The gloom only deepened, apparently, as the image of the Arab as a laughing stock--lagging behind Albania!--took hold of the conversation.
rtwt. Where do we classify Egypt in file under?
It's Chris Hitchins. Seriously, rtwt. |