1481: Change

[thirteen]

Originally Posted by Junkenstein

as a side note: why were americans so criticized when they celebrated Bin Laden's death but these people chant for "triumph and rebellion", while discharging guns in the air and no one seems to be bothered by that?

just saying, im in favour of both celebrations, just curious on where the "you dont celebrate a person's deth are right now"

It's a vicious circle. Middle East does it, North Americans complain. North America (usually USA) does it, Middle Easterners complain. It's not like it started with Bin Laden's death. This type of thing goes on and on forever. It's just that the USA is expected to be a more civilized country. And in that respect, I generally agree with Keith about North America having more rights for humans on a different level. Most people would prefer to live here if they actually got a taste of it. Of course, there are certain aspects that make us just as bad as the other countries...only our weirdness is done on a subtle level.

Originally Posted by maoglone

How, as a professional comedian, can Christian Finnegan possibly have no sense of humor?

Finnegan does seem to be pretty serious this episode, but all 3 of them were heavily discussing a couple of serious issues. It's usually Keith who adds the humour in to keep it a comedy show. It wouldn't be more awesome or anything if people were only making jokes. It's great when there's a balance, but I also like when there's intelligent back-and-forth between all the people on the show. In that respect I always welcome a guest who can hold his/her own.

I think Finnegan had an interesting point about saying something so vague and general like "they're all monsters". This reminds me of when people say something like "we need to go to war" for every issue there is in the world, or "we need peace" for everything. Because it leads to the question, "and then what?" War doesn't work for everything, and not going to war doesn't always work either. It's always a combination of these different things that leads to some kind of resolution.

[Medium Brumski]

They'll find peace, they just might not be recognizable as the Middle East after.

Or let me ask this, when was the last time one Native American tribe went to war against another? We fixed that, right?

[Junkenstein]

can we look for the day when tarditional middle easterners will be shown in reserves for tourists?

i could do a pic with "Achmed the Almighty" close to a fake explosion.

[Junkenstein]

Originally Posted by thirteen

It's a vicious circle. Middle East does it, North Americans complain. North America (usually USA) does it, Middle Easterners complain. It's not like it started with Bin Laden's death. This type of thing goes on and on forever. It's just that the USA is expected to be a more civilized country. And in that respect, I generally agree with Keith about North America having more rights for humans on a different level. Most people would prefer to live here if they actually got a taste of it. Of course, there are certain aspects that make us just as bad as the other countries...only our weirdness is done on a subtle level..

agreed.

it boggled me how many of the interviewed people just had a dictator killed and were already yellign about "RISING WITH OUR NEW LEADER TO FIGHT....".

chill out for a bit, you just buried your whole family last moth. i understand the anger but... plus qaddafi was terrifying at his late days. how could anyone support him, is beyond me. he sounded like Idi Amin at some point, laughing while describing torure and carnage....

[Dean from Australia]

I could just about turn gay for Christian Finnegan.

[angiethestrange]

I am with you Junkenstein, and Keith too ... I think. I hate that we are supposed to walk on eggshells around people when it comes to their "beliefs".

Some cultures take young girls at the age of seven, cut off their clitoris and sew their labia together to keep her "clean" and so men can definitely know she is a virgin when her husband busts through her poor mutilated vagina...

Oh! but it's their BELIEF we must respect it and allow these girls to have this done, against their will and without proper informed consent?! FUCK THAT. it's terrible, there are some things that we shouldn't allow ever as a global community.

Where do we draw the line?

[Dean from Australia]

I get a little nervous whenever I pass a Muslim women in the street wearing a full Hijab like it's normal or something.

There is a push on Down Under from some quarters to ban the full Hijab but whenever one speaks up about it, they get shot to shit by the do-gooders and flower pot people who say that you can't trample on their beliefs. I used to think that we shouldn't criticize Muslim women for wearing the full Hijab, but now I think - No, it's sunny out, you live in Australia now - fuck that repressive shit off and celebrate being (technically) free.

[dori]

I'm only 30 minutes into this episode and I am appalled at the amount of ignorance in all your opinions on the Middle East. Especially the generalizing and grouping the whole Middle East together as unstable,poor and hateful.
Go read up on some behind the scenes stuff and see what rich Arab countries have been financially supporting America for years....Busta Rhymes didn't make that song for nothing.

Anyways,jokes aside..I was definitely disappointed in the stuff said in this episode. Particularly from Chemda because I'd expect this from Keith.

[Keith]

I just read all the behind the scenes stuff. I stand by all my viewpoints.

[Dean from Australia]

I didn't hear a whole lot of generalizing going on. I thought I was listening to a lot of talk about Palestine, in which case the talk was prescient.

Palestine is a cluster fuck.