The influence of American pop culture is widespread all around the world. Even in some of the most closed global societies, somehow pop culture has inched in ever so slightly. The hubster told me when he was serving in Iraqi MJ (Wacky Jacky or Wacko Jacko - whichever you prefer) was a god over there. They revered this man like he was second to allah.

Some of the soldiers explained to the Iraqis that charges were brought against MJ and the hubster said they had to run. Not from insurgent attack, but from the barrage of insults hurdled their way. "You son of a motherless baboon!" or "You lowly creature. Let me show you the bottom of my shoe!" Ohhhh, the latter one was really an insult!! You never show anyone the bottom of your shoe as that was the ultimate sign of disrespect. The shoe touched the ground and the ground is dirty!!!

I read not long ago that in Turkey young folks are rebelling against traditional turkish culture. They have to do it secretly. They style their hair in rocker colors and styles but then hide it under wraps and head-dresses so it can't be seen. Wooooaaaah, slow down you rebellious turkish teens! Someone might spot that craziness through your head-dresses! I guess they feel rebellious on the inside.

I was talking to my cousin who lives in Europe the other day. She has a 15 year old son who she says is going through a very "interesting" stage. She says he's picked up American slang language. I had to hear for myself what exactly she meant by this. Their main language is french. They do speak some english but it's spoken with a deep, guttural accent. I asked to speak to her son, so she put him on the phone.

He said hello and I responded back. Then he asked me where I'm from and I told him from the USA. Out of nowhere a burst of "Shizzle in my izzle gonna knock your boots!" strung forth from his mouth. To say the least, I was taken by surprised amusement.

I told him that I didn't understand. Firstly, he didn't the beginning part of that phrase correctly. It's actually "fo' shizzle my nizzle". Then secondly, with his deep french accent what he said sounded more like "Sheezelle ein me eezelle gona nokin you boots". Of course I knew what he was trying to say, but to have that said to me by a 15 year old...uh-no...what does he know about "knocking boots". I knew his mother wouldn't understand the slang if he said it to her so I decided to leave it alone. I faked to her that I didn't understand and that I wasn't hip with urban slang. Which is mostly true anyway.

I told the boy to give me back to his mother and he said "Yah dawg". Geez n peas!

Lord have mercy! Look at what our urban hip hop culture is doing to the world. Turning boys and girls crazy on the other side of the globe! I had a good laugh about it with the hubster though!


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