This quote is found on page 102 of Baghdad without a Map. Yousri, a Nubian, uses this sentence to explain why he lives the way he does. Despite having qualifications that could get him a job as a businessman or professional in America, he works the graveyard shift at a hotel and lives in an apartment with his parents. He isn’t the only one stuck in this predicament. While Tony and Yousri are eating at a restaurant in a hotel, they spot a waiter with “Dr.” written on his name tag. I’m sure that there are also countless more people that would fit into this category.
The idea of somebody with the potential to be a doctor or a businessman being limited to such mediocre jobs is simply astounding. Those who go through the work of being educated are just getting by while people who smuggle and steal do much, much better. All of the education people acquire is being tossed away, and nobody can do anything to help. Personally speaking, if I knew that being a learned individual wouldn’t get me far in life, I wouldn’t care about education. I believe that this is the mindset of many people in the Middle East and the reason for the state of affairs going on today. -mg
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I completely agree with you. It is amazing that some people who are highly educated can only get jobs which would be considered degrading by some people in the United States. In America, people with degrees and some form of education are respected, not like in the Middle East, where they are common place. It is strange that some many people still get degrees there, and that there aren't enough jobs for them. Aren't there any jobs available for people who are educated? gr
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