Strength and Control in Arab Wisdom

once in an arab pizza shop
about 1:30 am
i was assaulted

i engaged a bigger meaner man
in an unproductive volley of words

suddenly i was visited on the left cheek
by the shakti touch of a clenched fist
intended to blast my entire being
into cosmic unconsciousness

heard tropical birds
saw wild colors
and fabulous whirling blinking lights
i thought for a moment
i was at the circus or at the fair

figured i was dead
decided
what's the use of fighting
if there was any hope i was still alive
i wanted to preserve it
so i decided to turn to the two yamulka clad arabs
elbow deep in cheese and marinara sause
put my hands up is a gesture of salaam and submission
stay put and quiet
and hope the whole thing would blow over quick

interesting choice
that gorilla proceeded to rain
blows upon my head and neck
and nearly really killed me

way too late now to defend myself
so i simply continued with my initial decision
and hoped for the best
and for a quick end of the whipping

during this meat tenderizing process
when i was firmly convinced
that he was killing me
the adrenelin kicked in
and i went bizerk swinging wildly
to preserve whatever was left of my miserable life

the blows stopped and we were both immediately
thrown out of the shop
forbidden to ever return

later on
to my surprise
i was told by the arabs
who never lifted a finger
to help thinking i was a christian
understandably
that what they witnessed
in my self control
was considered the greatest form of strength
in arab wisdom

cute?

my question today
is this

who or what
was in control