clothes do not make the man

I am constantly asked on what nationality I hold.

There was a time when I considered to be Russian or a Philippino because of how my face looks or the way I always dress in western clothing. To me it doesn't matter to me what people think of me in that matter.

But when they hear that I am an Omani and take a glance of clothing they're startled since the only Omanis they know or are aquaintances with are those who wear the traditional Omani dress, namely; the dishdasha.

Here's where I draw the line.

To me, it shouldn't matter if you're of a specific nationality but not wearing the national dress just as much as not to show whether your support for the national football team just to show your national pride - because - in the first case - anyone who wore a national dress were considered to be a national then foreignors would also be wearing them, too. And in the latter case, if national pride was measured by how much we show support for our national football team, then there would be ultimate chaos in the country - more worse than the rattle and rumble that happened not to so long ago in the 18th Football Gulf Cup.

To me, national pride is in your heart and how you react towards different surroundings that affect the direct environment that is around you and not measured by the clothes you wear.