Egyptians charge that Americans haven't a clue regarding Islamic culture, and they have a point. The only Muhammad most of us have any knowledge of is Ali.

As for Egypt itself -- beyond King Tut and the Pyramids, we draw a blank, while the average Egyptian knows much more about America than Elvis and the Empire State Building.

We wallow in stereotypes, but not all Arabs are terrorists, not all Italians are in the Mafia, and not all presidential candidates are unable to find Egypt on a map.

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It's a tense situation right now. And if I were an American in Egypt I would wear a little Canadian flag in my lapel.

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