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Years ago, Aashish and I bonded over our shared belief that 95% of the population was average. Mediocre if you will, with the other 5% making up the inspired, gifted, intelligent and well, able to think differently than rest of the herd.

A decade and a half later, the Dutchman and I debate the point. Opposing cultures, yawningly different experiences. A deep belief in the need for the existence of an egalitarian society, where no one is better than anyone else vs. the obvious.

'Elitist', he grins. 'Factual', I retort. It's not about being better or worse, it's just the way it is. People are not only different, they are unequal. It's not something to be ashamed of, or brag about, but to me, it just seems foolish to try and pretend that is not so. You're white. I'm brown. 'Deluded egalitarian', I offer. 'Aspirational', he returns. Uhmmmm. Political correctness is not my strong suit, and I negligently lob Hitler into the conversation. Let's admit it, some of us are more equal than others ;-).

Admittedly, it is difficult to leave it as mere fact without turning it personal, but as an Indian, it's concept that is inherently sound, unlike an alien one abhorrent in Western Europe. But then again, I'd say the numbers for average are lower as well.... and one must award points for nobility of intent. An hour and several subjects later, we wend our way through the lights reflecting in the puddles, passing by a pub, where JP declares the food to be average... and tips me into a puddle for my, 'Equal, you mean'

Dutchman - 2 L'indienne - 13.7