The Difference Between Us Is One Dot

The placement of dots above and below the letter is the only difference between numerous letters in the Arabic alphabet. Only one dot separates the word “Arab” from “the West”. A creative but disgruntled poet exploited this feature in the following poem that is winding its way through Arabic websites in cyberspace. The only difference between the key word in the two main phrases of each verse is one dot. That is lost in translation, but the message still comes through:

They are the West and we are the Arabs
And the difference between us is one dot.

They reach agreement through dialogue, and we by mooing
And the difference between us is one dot.

They live together in unity, and we in diversity
And the difference between us is one dot.

They are linked by the pen and inkwell
And we by our intelligence services
And the difference between us is one dot.

They enjoy 100 percent citizenship
And we are 100 percent chained together
And the difference between us is one dot.

Their citizens form a strong fortress
And ours are still in kindergarten
And the difference between us is one dot.

When their leaders make a mistake, they are embarrassed
When our leaders err, they expel people
And the difference between us is one dot.

Their rulers are concerned about the liberty of their people
And our rulers are interested in exploiting people
And the difference between us is one dot.

The future of their children is wealth
And the future of ours is anxiety
And the difference between us is one dot.

They manufacture tanks
And we are afraid of flies
And the difference between us is one dot.

They take pride in their knowledge
And we are proud of our soup spoons
And the difference between us is one dot.

They have become the chosen people of God
And we are still the confused people of God
And the difference between us is one dot.