advantage of being arab

An elderly Arab man had lived in an small house outside New York City for more than 40 years. One day he decided that he would love to plant tomatoes and herbs in his garden. However, being alone, he knew he was too old and weak. His son was away at college in Paris, so the old man sent him an e-mail explaining the problem:

Beloved son,
I am very sad, because I can't plant tomatoes in my garden. If only you were here you could help and dig up the garden for me.
I love you,
your father

The following day, the old man received an e-mail response from his son:

Beloved father,
Please don't touch the garden. That is where I have hidden "the THING."
I love you, too,
Ahmed

Three hours later the FBI and Homeland Security visited the old man's house and tore the whole garden apart, searching every inch. But they couldn't find anything, and left disappointed.

The next day, the old man received another e-mail from his son:

Beloved father,
I hope the garden is dug up by now and you can plant your tomatoes. That is all I could do for you from here.
Your loving son,
Ahmed


(thanks to my cousin, Rasha, for the joke)