Mr. Saudi Prince thinks so little of Americans that he cannot conceive that Mayor Giuliani could actually have given back the check of his own accord. Some Saudi princes think they can insult people and make it up by throwing money in their faces. They have been doing it to their own people for years, living a corrupt life and then giving billions to Islamic militants, saying in effect, "forget it", the way a Wise Guy would treat a cheap whore.Both Osama Bin Laden and Mr. Saudi Prince think Americans are just like the servents they all grew up with. Slap them and pay them off. That black radical was right: we have been n*ggerized by the WTC.
You just triggered an old memory.
Way Back When, I had a camera store in a small midwestern kollej town. For some odd reason, I seemed to attract the bulk of the "middle eastern" trade. (There were a remarkable number of Arabian and Iranian students attending.)
The stereotype of the "Arab horse trader" is indeed accurate. I speak from personal experience! Of course, since "my people" come from er, uh, "the other side of the river", it's in my blood too. :)
Anyhow, one event stuck in my mind, and you just evoked it to the fore. This guy came into the shop with his pal (or cousin?) and wanted to buy a couple of lenses and so forth. A decent size sale. He dickered and dickered and dickered and dickered, and finally agreed on a price.
I go to write up the sale and package up the goods, and I turn around, and he's writing a check. He hands it to me, and it's for a chunk of change less than the agreed upon amount!
I say hey, that's not what we agreed to. He puts on this cocky smirk, and says, "I think that's good enough. That's enough money for it."
It becomes clear that he's enjoying showing off for his companion -- getting his licks in, making the yankee yidboy take whatever Ahmed was willing to toss his way.
So I say nope, you're gonna have to pay what we agreed on.
He says, "But I've already written the check! Here, take it, it's enough."
I shake my head in disgust, tear the sales slip in half, and put the merchandise back in the showcase.
The guy about sh*t his robes.
A few minutes later, I was saying "Have a nice day!" as the two of them left with the goods, after he wrote out another check for the full amount.
These folks really have a bit of an attitude thing. It's cultural. And unless you really lay down the law, they'll take you to the cleaners.