Posted on 02/06/2006 11:19:51 AM PST by Kurt_Hectic
A Norwegian student suddenly found himself facing an angry mob of demonstrators in Damascus during the recent unrest. He didn't see any choice but to address them, something he managed to do in Arabic.
Even Nord Rydningen is a young man from Oslo who's studying in Syria. He says he was watching a demonstration outside the French Embassy on Friday when he felt the crowd starting to turn against him.
Suddenly a Syrian friend, whom Rydningen claimed commands respect in Damascus, yelled at the hostile crowd that "This is Even, a Norwegian and a good friend."
Rydningen immediately found himself being lifted up on the shoulders of another Syrian man.
"It went quiet," he told Aftenposten.no. "The people had just been yelling 'Death to Norway.' Now I had to talk to them."
With just four months of language study under his belt, Rydningen greeted the crowd in traditional style in Arabic and told them that the conflict was based on misunderstandings. He tried to stress that both sides need to learn to show respect for each other, "and if we learn, we can live peacefully together, if Allah allows."
His impromptu speech won cheers, and he said many of the angry demonstrators started smiling and laughing. Unfortunately their improved humor didn't seem to last long. The next day, a furious crowd torched not only the Danish Embassy, but the Norwegian as well.
My niece Susan is living in Beirut, attending the American University there. Our good friend Kevin just moved there, he will also study there. He is American, but of Jordanian ancestry. I just hope and pray that our Susan and our Kevin are safe. I know the demonstrators already set fire to the Danish embassy there. Scary times. We are supposed to go live in Oman in about 2.5 or 3 years. I hope and pray things settle down before then. I know it is selfish of me. But for their sake, my sake, everyone's sake in the whole world, I wish peace and freedom for all. God bless President Bush for his part in the fight.
".. many of the angry demonstrators started smiling and laughing".
If his Arabic wasn't too good, no telling what he said... :)
"What in blazes could this kid be studying in Syria?"
All the things that are "in blazes"! LOL.
You mean they didn't all start doing the slow clap? They just need to watch more cheesy 80s movies. Cant by me Love and the Revenge of the Nerds come to mind that employ the slow clap at the end of a heartfelt speech.
LOL
"His impromptu speech won cheers, and he said many of the angry demonstrators started smiling and laughing. Unfortunately their improved humor didn't seem to last long. The next day, a furious crowd torched not only the Danish Embassy, but the Norwegian as well."
Oy vey, this sounds like the punchline to a bad joke ... except it's reality.
I'm reminded of the bar scene from PeeWee's Big Adventure
bad guy 1: I say we kill 'em
bad guy 2: I say we hang 'em
bad guy 3: I say hang 'em and then we kill 'em
pee wee, projecting voice: I say we let him go.
chorus: "NO!"
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