In Washington, The First Thing People Tell

I've Been Intrigued By 'le Monde' Ever Since Work Took Me To Paris Once, And I Noted That On A Day When There Was Some Huge Worldwide Story, The Paper Led Its Front Page On Some Cabinet Changes In Turkey. It Implied A Magnificent Disdain For The Quotidian Folderol Of Mere News.

In Washington, The First Thing People Tell You Is What Their Job Is. In Los Angeles You Learn Their Star Sign. In Houston You're Told How Rich They Are. And In New York They Tell You What Their Rent Is.

Americans Are Fascinated By Their Own Love Of Shopping. This Does Not Make Them Unique. It's Just That They Have More To Buy Than Most Other People On The Planet. And It's Also An Affirmation Of Faith In Their Country.

I Know Of No Wars Started By Anyone To Impose Lack Of Religion On Someone Else. We Have Lethal Sunni V Shia, Catholic Against Protestant, But No Agnostic Suicide Bombers Attack Crowded Atheist Pubs.

The Chinese Do Make Vast Quantities Of Wine For Home Consumption, But You Wouldn't Want To Drink It Yourself.