1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa
#1

I have a "Pocket Guide To North Africa" given to the GIs in '42.

It's got alot of instruction as well as information & some of it is

pretty humorous:

 

" North Africans are great eaters of bread. If you enter a bakery, leave your

shoes at the door, as the baker slides the loaves pit of the oven onto the floor

and the customers object to having dirt tracked in from the street."

 

"These few rules are to be strictly observed with relation to the Moslem women:

Never stare at one.

Never jostle her in a crowd.

Never speak to her in public.

Never try to remove the veil.

This is most important. Serious injury if not death at the hands of Moslem men

may result if these rules are not followed."

 

"The social life of North Africa is very different from our own...because Moslem men do not

make companions of their women. A man's wife attends to the home, bears children, and may work in the fields, but she is in the position of chattel. If her husband cannot afford to

support more than one wife, he can still divorce her with ease and be free to marry again."

 

 

"When Moslem men want the company of women at a party, they engage a troupe of professional dancing girls. These professionals have a unique social position, not as low

as that of the prostitute, but still somewhat degraded. They are said to be more interesting company than the Moslem wife because they get around a great deal and know all the answers. They dance for the men, not with them. Men have dances of their own, but when a Moslem gentleman is seen dancing it is usually a sign that he is a bit plastered."

 

"When you meet a Moslem he will want to shake hands. Do it gently! Do not pump his

hand or squeeze too hard. Many of them, especially the city Moslems, have fine hands which are easily hurt. A Moslem may even kiss your hand...do not laugh at him; it is his way of showing politeness. If they laugh at you, take it; don't get angry. Above all, NEVER

STRIKE THEM. They do not know how to box; one right on the jaw would knock a Moslem down. You would make an enemy of everyone that saw you, and word would spread around that all Americans are bruisers. Moslems fight with knives, and they probably are alot better at it than you are."

 

In the list of "Do's and Don'ts":

 

Don't drink liquor in the presence of Moslems :drinkin:

DON'T enter mosques.

Discuss something else - NEVER religion or women.

Don't refer to the people as heathen; they are very religious.

don't bring a dog into the house :woof:

Leave food in the main bowl - what you leave goes to the women & children.

When you see grown men walking hand in hand, ignore it. They are not "queer".

Avoid talking about or praising Europeans.

Reply


Messages In This Thread
1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa - by 206thmpco - 09-25-2007, 03:22 PM
1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa - by 206thmpco - 08-18-2008, 11:01 AM
1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa - by 206thmpco - 08-19-2008, 12:31 PM
1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa - by 206thmpco - 08-19-2008, 01:04 PM
1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa - by 206thmpco - 08-20-2008, 03:11 PM
1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa - by 206thmpco - 08-20-2008, 03:53 PM
1942 Pocket Guide To North Africa - by 206thmpco - 08-20-2008, 05:16 PM

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