We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Back in the '50s-'60s, I frequently transited and often layed over in all the countries in the non-sovietized Middle East. I decided back then that that culture was nuts. I've never seen a reason to change my mind. Never landed at Dubai (don't even recall if there was an airport), but it had an enroute beacon, and flying over it (at about 10,000') it looked like a smallish collection of mud huts.