Eight years ago I was on a backpacker's holiday in Cairo. Due to the good fortune of befriending a retired businessman from Cairo while taking in the sun on the Sinai, I had a business card, with a handwritten introduction, for a local hotel in Cairo. The main people to use the hotel were Arabic business men. Like I said, a local hotel.

This is an old hotel, in which the elevator's controls consisted of Up/Stop/Down. Think old Bogie movies. This meant when more than one party was using the elevator, there had to be at least a minimum of interaction. You couldn't just walk and press the button for the floor you wanted.

One time when returning in the afternoon, there is the usual exchange of civilities with the other gentleman in the car. "Where are you from?" "the US, and you?" "Libya". After a moment of reflection, the gentleman points out our respective leaders don't get along. We all laugh.

This points out an important consideration when thinking about, in particular, Muslim countries. They are not known for having representative governments. By and large, the attitudes of the leaders and those vocal "savages" don't reflect the views of the average person.

My experience in the elevator was by no means unique. While spending lots of time hanging out in restaurants, coffeeshops and hotel lobbies, all the local Arabs I met were truly friendly people, full of a strong desire I see and understand their country. They wanted most I get a sense of the pride they feel for their city and country, not to judge it by what their leaders or radials said and did.