Memo To Karen Hughes: Now THIS Is Personal Diplomacy!

[onager]

(I'm duping myself, sort of, since I posted this in LBN. But I like the story so much I thought I'd repeat it over here for the General Audience.)

Not an hour ago, I was sitting in a little farm village in the Nile Delta.

For any lurking Freepers, that's in Egypt. I'm over here on a long-term work assignment.

One of my Egyptian co-workers stopped at the village butcher's to buy meat. (Cheaper than in Alexandria, and undeniably fresh. So fresh you might see the animal slaughtered right in front of your eyes.)

Because I took some digi-photos of these nice folks a while back and handed out prints, I'm a sort of minor celebrity in this one village. Some of the Egyptians joke that I should run for Mayor. Today one little girl tried to share her hunk of raw sugar cane with me. That is, the same end she was gnawing on and stuffing in her face. I declined very politely.

I always like stopping in the villages. Many members of my own family share-cropped cotton in the American South, so I feel some affinity for the fellahin (peasant farmers). And by the way...they have about as many illusions concerning their govt. as we do about ours.

Anyway, I'm sitting there and a guy comes up, looking sort of angry. He makes an exaggerated thumbs-down gesture, and says 3 words I hear a LOT in Egypt: "Boosh no good!"

Enthusiastically agreeing, I added that, indeed, Mr. Boosh was dumber than a homar (donkey). Though considerably less useful and lazier. That was translated to universal glee.

The fellow then changed to a thumbs-up gesture and said something I couldn't understand.

After a few moments, I realized what he was saying: Bill Clinton mea-mea! ("Mea-mea" is a slang Egypto-Arabic phrase meaning "one hundred per cent," or "very very good!")

The fellow went on in this vein for a few minutes, and even threw in: Bill Clinton mea-mea! Monica, mea-mea!

:rofl:

Wish I could have video-taped that little exchange for Karen Hughes. Those people think more highly of Monica Lewinsky than they do Hughes' boss.

[Plaid Adder]

1. Thanks for sharing. This is brightening my morning.

That's hilarious about Monica. Of course Karen Hughes will never meet this guy, but perhaps that's just as well.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[NJCher]

2. fun story

Hahahah. Bush-lovers everywhere, I see.




Cher

[yellerpup]

3. Gorgeous story

K&R

[Oversea Visitor]

4. You smart

People dont like bush
Some American would try argueing about bush no good comment
Then get heated
They dont realise people checking them out
Not surprise about Clinton comment
Think everyone miss him

[PDX Bara]

5. You Too!

I am one of the many American people who really misses the peace and prosperity we had under President Clinton. My opinion is that GWB's daddy, GWHB, bought his baby boy the presidency. It is heartbreaking to see how far this country has sunken.

[Oversea Visitor]

7. Ouch

compare President Clinton with that stupid bush
Man dont insult your President ( Clinton ) :rofl:

[PDX Bara]

6. Delete Dup