Jihad: The Musical

Not Funny.

Actually, the family in Big Love are not Mormons...they are from the various Polygamous sects in Utah that aren't part of the Main Church.  I do not subscribe to HBO because of the profanity and vulgar programming (same with Showtime and Cinemax).  However, my Brother in Law rented it and he and his wife told me it was not so much insulting as it was just lame and boring. 

We have no choice but to make fun of ourselves.  Jihad is a biting criticism. I would not really say it was the Burkas that I would be insulted by... some of the words would be more insulting to me.

Women who cover are not the issue.  The Hijab, abaya, and even Niqab are more than enough.  The Afghani style burka.....well, that's a complete impediment to the woman....I would ask you to cover your eyes with a small square of mess and try to function in a daily life.  That piece of clothing deserves ridicule, not for the religious practice but for its pure lack of any rationality or common sense.

There comes a time when self introspection must be harsh.  Now, that being said, the man in the video appeared Arab.  You say it was made by a Jew.  Could you provide the link to who made it?

There IS a difference between an internal biting self ridicule and a racist joke at the expense of others.  My view on this video would change dramatically if I didn't think it was done by a Muslim/Arab.

We Mormons have a whole genre of film making fun of our idiosyncrasies.  The RM, Mobsters and Mormons, Baptists at the Barbeque, and Church Ball are just a few.  However, I would not find them as funny if it were not an internal joke and it was an intentionally harmful jab by outsiders.

Angela!  How lovely to see you here!  For myself I am only online because I have a very unexpected afternoon off so I thought I'd check out what's going on.  Can't resist a post or two.  I mention you in Babysteps' post about Online Marriage.  I hope you don't mind, but if you do, obviously, I'll delete Forthwith.

But I digress.

Anyway, for Rami, whose posts I admire for the most part. Humour?  (I am put in mind by a very funny cartoon posted by AK_MF last year about June of a British expedition clothed in Burkas and no-one raised an issue then.)  I haven't yet seen the video in question. Some so-called "humourous" things are plainly insulting.  I am still amazed at the "Cartoons" from the Danish newspaper; I thought that of all nations, Denmark would have had more sense. Freedom of speech is one thing, but .........

However, why do we use humour?  Sometimes it's just that: funny. My favourite of all time is Najrudin Hodja (forgive spelling if incorrect): Turkish if I remember correctly.  The twists and sillyness of the character make him endearing and cross cultural boundaries. I can relate to him.

(I especially like the one where he is searching for something he lost in his house.  He goes outside.  "It doesn't seem to be here," says a helper.  "Oh, I didn't lose it here," says Najrudin.  "But out here there is more light!")

Lovely!

However, humour can be cruel, but perhaps not intentionally so. Perhaps we seek in humour what we cannot face in ourselves?  Things, events we cannot cope with on a conscious level. (Remember all the Challenger and Diana jokes.  Not funny, but an escape from horror. Ignorance too.) Of course, there are cultural differences in this and I acknowledge that.  What is considered "humourous" in one culture is simply not funny in other.  I know this all too well from teaching English as a Foreign Language.  My Japanese students in particular never did get my jokes (reduced me to an idiot in fact!)

But, I am brought to mind of the play (and later movies) of The Producers.  "Springtime for Hitler": excuse me?  The producers of the play thought that they would have a dismal flop and they would have a fortune in their laps.  The irony was that, after a while, the play being so bad, the audience saw the "joke", and the plan was foiled.  Still funny to me after all these years (I haven't seen the new ones).

So, again, what we cannot fathom, sor cope with on a conscious level, sometimes we laugh about.  But it does NOT mean that we are in league with - what, the sub-plot (?). It doesn't mean that we agree with the "overt" message. Americans in particular  have an ideasyncratic sense of humour (as do the British but QUITE different!)I think humour is too subtle.  Irony is always funny - it laughs at itself. Points fingers at the joker.

BTW:  I have posted elsewhere (and forgive the change in subject) about a book I am reading by Al Gore called Assault on Reason.  There is hope for America after all!  Do get hold of a copy.

Again,

Colin and I say hello/"hola" (almost a year now!)

Bi ismillahi rahmani raheem

there is a fine line between a joke and insult, i found that video insulting.


Edited by rami