Taxi Cab Confessions

I have graduated to having semi-coherent conversations with taxi drivers (the kind that usually end with me nodding my head knowingly, hoping that will cover all bases).

Today on my way to class, the driver hit me with the usual list of questions: Where are you from? What city? And then,"Do you love Osama Bin Laden?"

I had heard something along these lines once before. And this time I decided to use my pidgin Arabic.

"No," I said. "Do you?" 

"Oh, no no no," he responded quickly. "If I did, they would..." and here he put his hand together as if they were  cuffed.

A few minutes later and we were at my stop. I paid him the going rate for the 15 minute ride--about one dollar. "Ahla u sahlan," he called out. "Welcome!"