[VOA]

Thanks VOA.

No need to mention it. I honestly have a guarded feeling about most of the Muslim
world after 9-11.
I guess there must be some feeling of the British term of "fair play" that
impells me to say Turkey (and maybe a few other Muslim countries) merit better consideration.

Even if we are VERY cautious about some of the other Muslim countries.

Our cities' inhabitants will remind you of those of New York City, where as the towns
and villages bear most of the smiling faces.

This seems to be nearly a human universal. When my brother "ran off" to Europe
with an "older woman" for two months during college, he came back and said
"Germans in big cities are arrogant @ssholes; Germans in the countryside are the salt of the earth."

Mostly the same in the USA; a harder edge on people in the bigger cities; warmer humanity
in the less populated areas (but of course, there are lots of exceptions to that
general findings; all you need to do is watch the movie "Deliverance".
I don't think it was total fiction).
When I was growing up I did seem to notice that "Southern Hospitality"
was mostly reserved for white, Protestant people.
(Fortunately that has changed quite a bit in the last 50 years or so.)

[a_Turk]

guarded feeling about most of the Muslim world

When you're accustomed to the dangers of your own forest, you may feel uneasy about the other one on the horizon never having been there.

That is how the critters in the other forest are taught to fear your side. Most of the dopes who go around bitching about the evil Americans have ever known one, and those who have know that they are spinning things to impress would be voters.

Just remember that we're all just human beings, and that nothing works better than individual acts of kindness at a close personal level.

There's never any guaranty of course, just look at the suffering of Jesus. Never the less, that's the only way. Just love your neighbor, and show him you care. If we give up, it's because we're giving in to the proverbial devil.