A Scorpion asked a Turtle to take it across the Red Sea on its back, to which the Turtle exclaimed, "You think I'm crazy? Half way across, you'd sting me and I'd die." The Scorpion countered, "Now why would I do a thing like that? Don't forget, I'm on your back! We'd both die!" The Turtle thought that over and decided to take the Scorpion across, and half way across, sure enough, the Scorpion stung him! With his dying breath the Turtle asked, "Why did you do that? Now we'll both die!" The Scorpion responded, "This is the Middle East -- you want logic?"
Arab in DC. An Arab diplomat visiting the US for the first time was being wined and dined by the State Department. The Grand Emir was not used to the salt in American foods (French fries, cheeses, salami, anchovies etc.) and was constantly sending his manservant Abdul to fetch him a glass of water. Time and again, Abdul would scamper off and return with a glass of water, but then came the time when he returned empty handed. "Abdul, you son of an ugly camel, where is my water?" demanded the Grand Emir. "A thousand pardons, O Illustrious One," stammered the wretched Abdul, "A man is sitting on the well."