Social Problem Dialogue Scene: Turkish Doner Kabab

Social Problem Dialogue

Scene: Turkish doner kabab restaurant in a German village. Turkish music is playing on the radio and the food service worker is moving to the beat. A blonde woman enters the restaurant.

Turk: Hello. Can I take your order?

Dane: I would like four doner kababs.

Turk: Four? To go?

Dane: To go. Thanks.

Turk: What kind of sauce? Red or white?

Dane: Red is spicy with chilies, right?

Turk: Yes, red is a little spicy.

Dane: Could you make two kababs with red sauce and two with white?

Turk: Split it up. All right.

Dane: I know I should try some of your other dishes like in the photos there.

Turk: You would like the other food.

Dane: I agree. It is just that I like the kebabs so much.

Turk: You like Turkish food? You been to Turkey?

Dane: I haven't been to Turkey, but I very much want to go. I hear Istanbul is an amazing city.

Turk: I myself am Italian.

Dane: Italian? Well, you look a little Italian and a little Turkish.

Turk: I have Turkish blood, but I am Italian citizen.

Dane: I am an American citizen, but I have Danish and English blood.

Turk: I think they are the same…the Danish and the English.

Dane: You are right about that, I think. Plus I am blonde.

Turk: Oh, I know. The blonde jokes. Turks tell blonde jokes about northern Italians.

Dane: Seriously? Italians from northern Italy are blonde?

Turk: Yes. The jokes are funny, but they are only meant to make people laugh, not hurt.

Dane: That's what people say about blonde jokes…everywhere. Still.

Turk: Well, for me it is jokes about a whirling dervish. And that is religion, not hair color.

Dane: Around here, some people think I am German because I

Turk: Because you look German. Blonde, blue eyes, tall. The way you walk.

Dane: It works until I start talking.

Turk: Yes. Your German is terrible. But you are not afraid to talk to anyone. That is foreign.

Dane: You know, I think some Germans don't like Americans.

Turk: Because of the soldiers everywhere. But Germans like the soldiers' to spend their money.

Dane: Soldiers like by Italian gelato and donor kebabs at the shops in Germany.

Turk: It is true. Many of my customers are soldiers. They can eat a lot of kebab.

Dane: And hard-working Turks and Germans, too.

Turk: My people -- my Turkish people -- and my Italian people, too. Work hard in Germany.

Dane: Turkish people are still helping to rebuild Germany.

Turk: Turks take jobs doing work Germans won't do.

Dane: It is the same in America with Hispanics. Hispanics are people from Mexico, mostly.

Turk: And black people. Germany has many black people who talk about America.

Dane: Yes. Things are still not right in America for people of color.

Turk: Would I be a "people of color" in America?

Dane: Not exactly. But you are foreign born, so people might be suspicious of you.

Turk: Americans think I am a terrorist?

Dane: Sorry to say some people will think that. But mostly, they worry you will take their job.

Turk: Same reason some Germans don't like Turkish people.

Dane: Germans don't want Turks to get wealthy and yet don't want to help Turks who are not.

Turk: Right. So I can say I am Italian -- and it is the truth.

Dane: I see. I love Italy. I could live in Italy. But, then, I said the same thing about Morocco.

Turk: You have been to Morocco?

Dane: Only once. I want to go back. Now I want to drink mint tea all the time.

Turk: Mint tea and donar kababs. I see how it is for you.

Dane: I ate a different tagine every day. Berber food and French food. Mmm. Nice together.

Turk: Yes. French and Moroccan.

Dane: Every day, I heard "Bonjour" and "As-Sal-mu'Alaykum"

Turk: "Aleikum-salam," It means "Peace be with you." I must say it back to you…and more.

Dane: What do you mean "and more."

Turk: I should return your greeting with more blessings than you give me. It is in the Quran.