Modulo one’s definition of “capitalist maelstorm” and “basic amenities” , I suggest:

1) Medellin, Colombia. (Beautiful, rich, friendly, safe, cultured, temperate. Of course, they have their own economical quirks.)

2) Anywhere on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, but especially Esteli. (The manners of the Nicaraguans are generally excellent, and their most revered form of art is poetry.)

That feeling of being done with a place…I understand it…I just fear that I don’t have the maturity of character to know that the next place is not meant to really be better, just different, for a while…I think your friend Hafsah was right…there may be better things somewhere Muslim…and some better manners…but isn’t it worse to be disappointed by a Muslim’s lack of manners than by anyone else’s? I too am wondering if Boston has exhausted its benefit…the issue is that I feel that if this is the case for Boston it is only a reflection of my feeling towards continuing to live in the U.S. in general…tell me is there a place that has basic amenities yet is not embroiled in the capitalist maelstrom of lies and injustice that exists here? If so, I’m buying my ticket pronto! (Of course there are wonderful things about the U.S. but I often feel I am not living in reality).

Just to let you know that I stop by every week just to read your articles. Your writing is incredibly beautiful and moving.

Jazakallah for that.

“They show you the world like an egg in soup for the same reason that restaurants show you photographs of plastic food. They are trying to make you hungry.”