M
MattRose
Guest
I'm working with 2 men in the 30's who are from one of the countries often in the news. I won't mention the country as I don't want to paint everyone there with the same brush. It's near Afganistan. Anyway these guys have some advanced education, but I don't think they have any degrees from universities. They are working alongside me processing data for the oil industry. One of them recently asked me if I had ever seen a mermaid. I have worked in an offshore career for 25 years so the question was at least sensible if coming from a child. At first I didn't understand exactly what he meant, but soon realized that he believed in mermaids. I told him that there weren't any, but I don't think he believed me. I put it down to just a goofy guy and moved on. Two days later the other guy asked me if I knew about the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen. I was a bit wary this time and said that I hadn't seen it. He asked me if the statue was real. I asked what he meant by "real". He said that it was a real mermaid who turned to stone waiting for her lover. I suggessted that he could look on the internet to see when the statue was dedicated, erected, etc. He said the internet might say when the statue was moved there, but it was actually a real mermaid that turned to stone. He even asked our secretary when he couldn't get the "correct" answer from me.
These 2 men represent 100% of the people I know from this country. What if these guys' beliefs are not considered odd in their own country? The US is now trying to work with this country to stop the spread of terrorism. What chance do we have winning the hearts and minds of these people if their minds are empty? How hard is it to convince them that America is the great satan? Can we do anything to turn the tide on terror if we have to compete with mermaids?
These 2 men represent 100% of the people I know from this country. What if these guys' beliefs are not considered odd in their own country? The US is now trying to work with this country to stop the spread of terrorism. What chance do we have winning the hearts and minds of these people if their minds are empty? How hard is it to convince them that America is the great satan? Can we do anything to turn the tide on terror if we have to compete with mermaids?