9-11

A man from New Zealand, I'll just refer to him as John, recently told me a story about his experience with 9-11 and I think it's worth sharing.  During the entire year of 2001, John and his wife lived in Saudi Arabia.  The company that John worked for was doing work for Saudi Arabia and he and his wife were living in one of the western style foreigner compounds. 

John worked with people of several different nationalities, including:  Australian, British, and Canadian.  Furthermore, he worked with lots of Arabic men from Saudi Arabia and a handful of other Arab countries.  When the news of the attacks was spreading around the world, John and several of his co-workers were horrified at the reaction of some of their arab co-workers...these men were celebrating.  In fact, some of these men were talking about throwing a party to celebrate the attack on America.  Deeply disturbed, the men from New Zealand, Australia, and Britain knew they had to do something to show their disapproval, but they didn't know what to do and they certainly didn't want to raise too much of a fuss given their location. 

One of the Australians had an idea.  He noted, and this was well known, that all of the Arabic men had facial hair..all of them.  Some of the "western" men had beards and mustaches too.  So they devised a plan to all come into the workplace the next day noticeably clean shaven to stand out from their counterparts and show their contempt towards the celebratory reaction of their counterparts.  The men came in the next day without any beards, mustaches, sideburns or anything even resembling facial hair.  The plan worked.  The men that were celebrating the day before realized how upset the English speaking men were and they got quiet and never threw a party..at least in front of the English men. 

John thought it was very important to share this story and I'm certainly glad that he did.  It's amazing to hear stories of support from men that live on the other side of the world and really didn't have to take a stand in one way or another..but men that did take a stand and show support out of principle and love for their fellow brothers. 

I was hesitant to post this story because I don't want it to be taken the wrong way.  In no way am I trying to come across as anti-Muslim, anti-Saudi, or anti-Arab in general.  The story is told as one of support and courage, not condemnation.  I don't believe that all Muslim and Arab people support the 9-11 attacks and I think the majority of them are very fine people that are just going about their own lives.  Just like any population or country, there are always some bad apples...and America is certainly no exception (just check out that crazy guy in Florida).

I want to offer up a big thanks to everyone around the world that supported our country in a time of need.  Please keep all the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

TLT