I had a conversation with a delightful 25 year old heterosexual Kuwaiti, who is in school for computer science, unmarried, practices Aikido. Omar is handsome easy going. - he tells me it is better that I am NOT a Muslim and gay. It is sort of OK for a non-Muslim to be gay because then they are not breaking the Islamic rules by default. I'm not sure what HE would think of a gay Muslim but he says they mostly get out of Kuwait. The rest are in the closet but they are there just like gays are here. He was rather not concerned that I was gay, not in the least. His wonderful beard was not an Islamic statement, rather, he thought it looked good (and he was right - a wonderful beard on his handsome face).
Omar's best story is that he was born in the US as a pre-mature baby, delivered by Jewish Doctors (like, with the star of David on their coats.) So he is a Muslim born of Jews in the US. He is not anti-Jewish, but does have problems with Israel. Hey, don't we all? Last year his mother died of cancer in the US and he was with her, also to undergo surgery on his feet (this was in Washington DC).
At 25, he has never had intercourse because he wants to have that with the girl he marries. Actually, his thought here was more complex. He sees other guys have sex before marriage and then compare the new wife with previous partners. If the wife doesn't meet the standard set by some other woman, that guy is inclined to cheat on his wife. He thinks this is not nice. So he doesn't want to compare his wife to others which I think is sort of a sweet way to think about the issue. When I was asking him some pointed questions, he cheerfully asked with mock suspicion if I was coming on to him.
Over all, he was very well informed and intelligent. I am struck with awe on the complexity of life of those in the Middle East. We spoke for an hour. I wonder what he thought about during the Iraq-Kuwait war when he was a kid... and I hope he will talk with me again.
This was my morning chat... how odd, how delightful.
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