Well Ginner,

i have 2 say i agree with you in most of what u said, and find that ur experience in Doha ( and life ) is very simmilar to mine...

Lisa, i also appreciate ur comment and can relate 2 it fully...

In myhumble experience, Humans are mostly so increadiblly vien in believing that thier life style and thier way is the ONLY WAY to go...

Those of us who can some how accomedate the idea that different lives and cultures come with a baggage of advantages and disadvantages unique to that cultur and wayof living tend to have a fuller life and a mature accepting attitude ( in my openion at least )

Ginner, i really liked what u said about how opposing views to ours no matter how silly they are are as vaild as our own...

its a hard fact to swollow, and God knows i struggeled with that a lot earlier on in my life ( and still do to an extent )..

But the fact stands, NO ONE WANTS TO BE STUPID OR RIDICILOUS...

Any one who has an openion/religion/view point/understanding of life , has it bec they believe it is righ and true...and that applies to all of us...

No one who believes that what they are thinking/doing is wrong will continue 2 do it/think it...and if they do , its bec they cant find strengh to change, which is a condition all humanity shares ( but rarely accepts )...

i find all ur responses very intresting and educational...

for those who mentioned wasta , is there absoultely no Parrallel to that in the west?

i mean, dont u have " friend" in the DMV who fix ur tickets everynow and then?

or someone who gets u " insider " info on stock excahnge deals etc?

just wondering...

http://hasous.spaces.live.com

"missiles, warships and nuclear weapons cannot establish security. Instead they destroy what peace and security build." Anwar Sadat