Posted on 11/04/2005 6:52:17 AM PST by Fiji Hill
In another five years things will be different. Movies will have slightly different titles. Now, "Muslim" IS a hated word. It IS anathema to Americans.
The reasons for that? UBL, 9/11, other attacks against Americans during Clintoon's watch and the rest of the world's tsk-tsking our pro-I$real feduciary, moral and military $upport.
If people are perceived to be against one, then they are perceived to be for the other. No gray area for most Americans, most folks anywhere.
Government politicos, the nation's media and the extremely visible protesters are perceived, usually, to be "the people" of a country. Even though that number may be tiny compared to the population of a country, those three groups are perceived by the rest of the numbnuts of OTHER nations to be THE PEOPLE. Therefore, ALL THE PEOPLE of that nation are considered to be in the "for" or in the "against" group.
Those three groups, ESPECIALLY the media, manipulate public opinion, both local and abroad. The agenda-driven (politicians, media, "groups"), young, chip-on-shoulder, impressionable, weak and/or stupid people fall for the manipulation.
Those with more maturity, common sense, knowledge of history/culture and understanding of human nature/history don't fall for the wide-brush slathering of national character assassination of ANY ilk.
Bottom line: there will be a day when "Muslim" isn't a dirty word here and a holy word other places. Sleazywood will be dealing with yet another, as yet unknown, boogey-person.
Life was so simple when we could just bash the standard villains: Nazis (not the "Japs" or "Eye-talians" of course--they always got a pass on WWII) or Soviets, especially the East Germans, who were "2-fers"--Germans who had OBVIOUSLY been Nazis and were communists.
Ah, those were the good, ole days. Harhar.
"Then why is it that every movie about terrorism Hollywood produces ends up with white guys as the terrorists"
Mostly, yes. But what they've allowed is the occassional Iranian terrorist, which is interesting, since although Iran has sponsored terrorism, the people who've done the actual deed, have been mostly arabs (or Libyans or Morroccans or Egyptians, etc) and just about never Iranian.
"what are there, a billion-and-a-half Muslim people on this planet and I never thought that all of them wanted us dead,"
No. They would prefer us all Muslim. The dead part comes only if they can't achieve that goal.
White Supremists are a FAR easier target! Straight, white Euro-males, lol, what could be easier? They are everyone's boogeymen. Oh dear, is that racist? Oh, no, it couldn't be since they are....oh, I do get confused sometimes with all the P.C. and racism rules about what we can say. I'm not allowed to say that, I think.
I DO know that it's OKEY-DOKEY to bash all Muslims, Arabs (even Christian Arabs) and ESPECIALLY Palestinians, middle easterners, MSM, Sleazywoodians, Democrats, liberals, communists, Deaniacs, Chinese (but not the Japanese), Hanoi Jane, Europeans, especially French, Germans, Dutch, Spanish, but not Italians....
I forget if it's okay to bash the Russians, Scandinavians, Baltics, Balkans or other Europeans.
All other groups are protected. Musn't bash them. THAT is racism and bigotry and NOT allowed on this site. No relative morality there.:o) Just kidding!
So many rules and subtleties
BAD GUYS: Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash. Bash.
BUMP!
A part of me always thought that, you know, what are there, a billion-and-a-half Muslim people on this planet and I never thought that all of them wanted us dead," ....his first error.
The Muslims don't seem to laugh at anything unless it has something to do with someone getting killed.
"You can't spell slaughter without laughter."
I've been giving this some thought. I lived in Saudi Arabia for three years and spent most of my time with Saudi military who spoke good English. They liked dirty jokes but got quiet when the muttawah (religious officer) came around. The muttawah is like a religious commissar. They may be lower ranking enlisted or officers but everybody pays attention. These guys have their own chain of command and can make life miserable for you.
They were also known as 'long beards' and whenever a Saudi referred to them they would cup their hand about chest level to indicate the length of the guys beard. I've seen them making that sign, laughing and pointing when the guy's back was turned.
I had very friendly relations with many of these guys who had spent four or five years training in the U.S. We made a lot of jokes about wives, sheep, camels, driving, etc. It was a rough place and the humor was pretty rough. A lot of these guys were real jokers.
I saw the entire (Muslim) staff of my favorite restaraunt get a big laugh when one of them opened the curtain unexpectedly in the 'family' section of restaraunt and accidently saw the uncovered face of an old man's young wife. He was supposed to rattle the curtain before he came in.
The old man chased him downstairs to the 'bachelor' section of the restaurant and was giving this young guy hell while my Egyption waiter was laughing out loud trying to explain to me what was going on. All the staff and patrons were smiling as this guy was going on and on....
I never got to a Saudi comedy club. I don't think there is such a thing. I can see the religious establishment not allowing it. I don't think there is anything in Saudi Arabia that is public, funny, and is aimed at adults. They take their religion to seriously.
Thanks for your insight.
Here's a title: "Death Comedy Jam"
And don't forget "Back to the Future". I still snicker at the image of a Volkswagen minibus filled with wild-eyed gun-toting Libyan terrorists. No way Hollywood would use a plot device like that nowadays.
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"If there's two things I hate, it's Intolerance and the Dutch". - Michael caine in Austin Powers
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