Well, the Muhammed cartoon controversy continues to rage. Not since Gary Larson drew the ire of Hindus for his portrayal of cows in The Far Side series has the world witnessed an uproar like this. Things have gotten so bad that tourists in Muslim-dominated countries have been advised to return home as quickly as possible, and to absolutely, positively avoid doodling.
The cartoons, originally published in Denmark, have yet to be reprinted in the US. Also, as a preemptive measure of sorts, major American cartoonists have begun reaching out to the Islamic community:
Like many in my field - such as it is - I've done a lot of thinking on this topic. For rarely have my private and public values - such as they are - come into such stark conflict. I am, of course, a staunch proponent of the Muslim cause. But the TV scenes of violent protest leave a queasy feeling in my stomach, and not just because the phrase "burning Danish consulate" stirs up improper hunger pangs. It seems that despite my best efforts, the angry, Allah-fearing youth of the Middle East have yet to really "lighten up." As with our efforts to promote Arab democracy, it may take decades, even centuries for Muslims to understand, much less embrace the hip, irreverent, let-it-all-hang-out humor that's become synonymous with both Lomblog and Scandinavians.
Every culture has its own concept of "funny": The French laugh at slapstick; the British, drag humor; the Germans, the futility of existence. This is why accomplished humorists and raconteurs so often tailor their remarks to fit the tastes and mores of whatever audience they happen to speak before.
For instance, whenever I talk to a AIPAC meeting, I like to begin with this joke:
Q. What's the first thing Yasir Arafat heard when he went to Heaven?
A. Sorry, wrong door - we thought you were Ringo Starr!
But when I speak at a Hamas fundraiser, this is how I like to start:
Q. What's the first thing Ariel Sharon will hear when he goes to Heaven?
A. Ariel Sharon will not go to Heaven. He will burn in the putrid bowls of Hell along with the other infidels, butchers and defiers of God's will who have bloodied the people of Palestine. All hail Hamas!
Either way, the line kills. Which I think proves that we all have a lot more in common than we realize.
Is there a solution on the horizon? I see only one: President Bush should appoint a special humor envoy to the Middle East. Someone who understands the sensitivities of the region but has a real desire to rebuild and reshape the Islamic fundamentalist funnybone. If Danny Thomas were still alive, he would be perfect for this. Since he's not, I suggest Robin Williams. He has an international following, voiced a character in Aladdin and has that manic quality the Arab street seems to appreciate. Yes, desperate times call for desperate measures, and nothing conveys desperation like Robin whipping out a Richard Simmons bit from 1987. But even that would bring the Muslim world one baby step closer to understanding contemporary satire.
Must dash - I have to polish up my entry in Iran's "Make A Funny Blog About The Holocaust" contest.
Yours,
LF
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