Dunno how common the term is in other services, but in the Army there’s a rather crude term that’s used (or at least was at formerly used ) at times when referring to an unfamiliar and faraway place.\u00a0 That phrase is, “Bumf**k, Egypt”.<\/p>\n
Much less common is a variant:\u00a0 “Bumf**k, Kansas.”\u00a0 And that second phrase purportedly has an, um, interesting origin.<\/p>\n
What follows purports to be the origin of that second phrase.\u00a0 I cannot swear to the veracity of the story; I wasn’t there when the alleged incident occurred.\u00a0 It’s also unclear whether the person who related the story to me about 30 years ago was there or was relating a second-hand story he’d heard.<\/p>\n
Still, here goes.\u00a0 Enjoy.<\/p>\n
. . .<\/p>\n
Sometime in the late 1970s or early part of the 1980s, a discussion occurred at a US Army school.\u00a0 I believe the account I heard said it was at the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Leavenworth, but I could be wrong.\u00a0 The subject of the discussion is not terribly important.<\/p>\n
During that discussion, one of those present – a mid-level US officer taking the course – used the phrase “Bumf**k, Egypt” in conversation.\u00a0 The phrase was fairly common at the time as a reference to an unknown, faraway place.<\/p>\n
It turned out that wasn’t exactly the best choice of words.<\/p>\n
Within earshot was an Allied officer – a LTC – who was attending the course.\u00a0 The Allied officer was from Egypt.\u00a0 This individual spoke excellent English, and was following the discussion.<\/p>\n
The allied officer definitely<\/em> heard and, unfortunately, understood<\/em> the term “Bumf**k, Egypt”- interpreting it in a British-English, literal-definition sense.<\/p>\n Predictably, the man was initially somewhat taken aback.\u00a0 He then was understandably and visibly offended.<\/p>\n A more senior US officer was also present, and had observed what had happened.\u00a0 (My recollection was that he was leading the discussion – but again, it’s been around 30 years since I first heard the story – so I could be wrong.)\u00a0 With his career flashing before him (being involved in an international incident resulting from an Ally’s national honor being insulted is NOT exactly career-enhancing), this more senior US officer immediately approached the Egyptian LTC and asked to speak with him.<\/p>\n He explained to the Egyptian LTC that no direct insult to his nation was intended.\u00a0 He further explained the common, crude use of the term as a soldier’s reference to a place far away, of which the speaker has no knowledge and had never visited.\u00a0 He also indicated he would counsel the US officer who had used the phrase.<\/p>\n The Egyptian LTC – obviously still angry – looked at the more senior US officer; he though for a few moments.\u00a0 His face then softened.<\/p>\n The Egyptian LTC then smiled, and said the following, in Arabic-accented English:<\/p>\n “Very well, I can accept that explanation.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n But around me, would you please use instead the phrase, ‘Bumf**k, Kansas’ ?”<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"