Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia yesterday, there were problems with cukes....

(It would be neat if Google could translate the comments more readily, but it seems like Arabic is ferociously idiomatic.)

And when you think about Libya, consider this.

Funny how when we're over their we have to respect their laws and traditions, but when they're over here we have to respect their laws and traditions.

Its almost as though the point inst mutal respect, but submission to their way of life

Oh, wait. . .

Although it would be a massive tragedy I hope they destroy the sphinx, noone gave a damn when they destroyed the budda statues. Perhaps the destruction of one of the oldest monuments in creation will wake people the fuck up

did not stop the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood,

And what Freedom and Justice would this be? The "freedom" to be murdered if you don't follow their social rules? The "justice" exhibited by a father when his daughter is raped?

This sounds way too much like Alice in Wonderland.

This is a little off topic, but this morning's Oregonian newspaper has a front page article with the headline, "Anti-gay preacher finds Portland pulpit." I had to wonder if the Oregonian would have printed a front page article "Anti-gay imam finds Portland pulpit."

I cannot remember the reference, but a lot of the radical islamists really don't like those reminders of pre-islamic Egypt; suppose the reason they want those things 'out of the public eye' is so they can remove them from said eye permanently?

Firehand, that's a good question. I've been concerned that the Islamists in Egypt will want to destroy the antiquities.

In the spring of 2006, the Grand Mufti of Egypt passed a fatwa forbidding the display of statues. In response, some fanatics went on an idol-smashing rampage:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2006/06/statue-attack-fuels-fears-of-egypt-as-a-sharia-state.html

At the time, the Mubarak regime quickly brought things under control. Now the Islamists are on the loose and ready to take over the country.

I actually agree with the Muslims on this one. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Its one of the things that pisses me off the most about my fellow Americans. I've traveled through a tidy chunk of the middle east, I've traveled through Europe, and the crass disregard that Americans show towards other countries customs always annoys me.

I don't resent our lack of multilingual education, we just don't have the need for it that other countries do, given that english spans North America. But the behavior gets on my nerves.

That said though, when they come to my country, if they can't hack our way of life they can fuck off back home to wherever they came from. Being a good guest goes both ways. I don't mind going native sotospeak, when I'm in their country, I don't care to see a wench dressed like a fucking bee keeper while in mine.

I wouldn't raise an American flag in Mexico, they can fuck off if they get pissy about one being on somebody's shirt in Texas on Cinco De Mayo. And if I come across a group of protestors trying to forcibly raise a Mexican flag at an American post office, somebody is getting hurt.

My way of life is as valuable to me, as their ways are to them. Even if I think their ways abroad are backwards and foolish, if I travel to their country of my own volition, I must be willing to adapt myself.

@Robert:

Stick your "crass" up your ass.

When I get accused of being crass while abroad it's because I'm too stupid to know you don't tip in this benighted country. For example, England.

Americans catch "ugly American" shit when they travel because of guys like you, Robert, who lick it up. Germans dress worse, Brits tip worse, and so on. Robert apologizes worse. On my behalf. Fuck you, Robert, for poisoning the well.

Robert, your bright line is about whether you are on their territory or whether they are on yours. You're all brave defending a post office from Mexicans. When's the last time Mexicans stormed a post office? 1853? Except for offering to defend post offices, you're not so brave.

You're the Ugly American, not me. No matter where I am, I at least abstractly champion a woman in a burkha. Burkhas are wrong, asshole, no matter what airport lounge your pampered ass is sitting in.

Reading your post, I see what multi-culturalism is all about: moral cowardice.

It's ok for Muslims to habitually rape and mutilate their women because Muslim rape and mutilate culture is as valuable to you as your way of life where raping and mutilitating women will get you at least a restraining order. And you're doing business by being tolerant of rape and mutilation.

No, I didn't screw up in the paragraph above when I said "that's as valuable to you." You really don't care about women being raped and mutilated as long as you close the deal. I know tons of guys like you, and I hate all of them.

I don't want to harsh more on Robert, except to say, he's a product of Western suicide culture. Half the time he sounds like Rick Perry; the other half, the half that his job depends on, he's a self-hating American. In no case does he give a flying fuck about what Muslims do to women.

I have a daughter. I have a wife. I have grandchildren. I have skin in the game.

Robert, grow up or shut up. You're a fuckwad, rhymes with fatwa.

Great piece. This should be much more known. Keep up to good work!

I have been in Rome very often, and everytime everything comes as a pleasant surprise...