**TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT:
1) My original picture was the girl and donkey.
2) That chicken poop picture is disgusting.
3) I put the donkey in the air image after finding said chicken poop picture this morning.
4) Retribution will be swift and merciless.
In the midst of our recent exciting conversation about an upcoming conference in Michigan, and all the cool things Kabobers can submit on the pretext of being academics and activists (but really just aiming to have a big party), our resident MHMD interjected, “What a bunch of nerds.”
(Note: It must be stated that this was in fact a considerably insightful observation.)
I nearly responded by inviting MHMD, who is in Ramallah and who clearly cannot just up and arrive in Michigan, to submit his recent paper and then use the acceptance to get a visa to come with us.
I nearly made myself into a huge ass.
HAD I invited MHMD to the conference, he would then have had to explain that well actually, in order to get a visa he’d have to go to Jerusalem or to Amman. Going to Jerusalem is practically impossible; he’d have to get a permit that would take forever to get and probably not be issued anyway. Plus there’s the fact that his ID is Gazawi, which means that instead of giving him a permit or even just denying him the permit, they could deport him to Gaza and completely destroy his school, life, etc etc. Alternatively, if he goes to Amman, upon reentry at the border, he’d be herded onto the van for people with Gaza id and sent straight to Gaza, no questions and no exceptions.
I’m glad I didn’t make myself into an ass by inviting him to the conference. Only under the strange and inhumane nature of an apartheid regime can such a thing as inviting someone to a conference become an assinine thing to do.
**MHMD corrected me that he does indeed have another passport. What this means is that he can in fact travel overseas quite easily. However, Israel deems its own IDs to have precedence over any other passport anyone might carry- US, Canadian, British, anything. If they can find your Palestinian ID number, you fall under Palestinian travel restrictions. What THIS means, is that were MHMD to leave, he almost certainly could never come back. He would in fact be herded onto the van and sent to Gaza, or not allowed back in at all.
And if he were any number of other people, the above would apply, and there’d be no traveling for you, Joe.
So I need to stop accidentally inviting folks to conferences until Palestine is free, already!
Related posts:
- Palestine Center Annual Conference
- Palestine Center Conference in October
- PSM: GW’s Hatchet Report on Palestine Solidarity Movement’s Conference
- Easter Cancelled in Palestine: Jesus Fatally Shot Shortly After Resurrection
- PSM: JDL Members Removed from Conference
what is the conference in michigan?
Posted by Anonymous | April 15, 2008, 4:44 pmThis is probably the lowest kabobfest has stooped for a post. I used to be an avid reader. I’m never visiting your site again.
Posted by Anonymous | April 15, 2008, 8:22 pmditto
Posted by Anonymous | April 15, 2008, 8:56 pmThe cute picture attached to this post wasn’t the original photo. Believe it or not, Will actually censored Emily’s post… which, for the record, was highly disgraceful. Want to see the original photo? See KABOBfestWATCH, but be warned — it’s highly NSFW.
By the way, Will censoring this post but leaving Emily on as a contributor proves that he fired me from KABOBfest for reasons other than being too obscene. He’s such a liar.
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | April 15, 2008, 9:42 pmNow that it’s too late, it looks like you realized what a terrible decision it was to run the picture that graced Emily’s post originally.
What in the world were you thinking? I know that you folks enjoy being rascally and all, and your editorial mission involves seasoning your real analysis with a sense of humor, but really….
I’m not being rhetorical at all, I really do want to know something about the decision-making process that led you to degrade your site in such a jaw-dropping way. Do you think that the Arab perspective enjoys such a wide margin of acceptance that we can afford to throw away good will capriciously?
Look, I’m not suggesting that you be all Uncle Tonoosey and perfect little exemplars of Levantine purity. But the notion of a limit isn’t intrinsically risible except to a 15 year old.
So, tell me; how did this happen?
Posted by Ismail | April 16, 2008, 6:17 amIsmail — it’s not a question of what they were thinking or whether they were thinking at all, it’s more like THEY DON’T CARE. THEY’RE DISGUSTING HYPOCRITES. I used to post for KABOBfest, and just because I used a couple of foul words in Arabic, they gave me the boot. Now, Emily is allowed to continue blogging for KABOBfest even after she posts vile pornographic material! How ludicrous is that? EMILY’S POST WAS A DISGRACE TO THE ENTIRE ARAB-AMERICAN COMMUNITY! How can they expect anyone to read Arab-American opinions with such filth? I demand that EMILY BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THIS BLOG! IT’S ONLY FAIR AND RIGHT! (for those that don’t know what we’re discussing, see KABOBfestWatch.blogspot.com for more details)
UGH!!
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | April 16, 2008, 7:15 amI will ignore the above because I still entertain the possibility that Buydatti is the prankish alter ego of one of you kabobers.
Still would like a genuine response, though.
Posted by Ismail | April 16, 2008, 7:55 amI’m the real deal Ismail. But believe what you want. I’ll continue to expose Will and his ilk for the hypocrites they really are.
But based on my own 7-post stint with KABOBfest, I can tell you that people just post what they want. There is no decision-making process for individual posts, only major blog decisions. Supposedly, that’s what keeps this blog “unedited” and censor-free.
But then again, didn’t Will censor this post? Fascinating!
Down with KABOBfest!
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | April 16, 2008, 8:03 amI’m not getting the brouhaha here. Maybe it is because I am sleep-deprived during finals.
Ismail, I do believe you have a point, and every socially conscious humorist walks a fine line.
When I saw the original picture, I just thought it symbolized the naivete of Emily’s invitation. I saw it as good clean self-deprecation — which may be how she meant it — and a statement on the inhumane travel restrictions that treat Palestinians as herds of animals.
The whole thing spun on her calling herself an “ass.”
Since Emily changed the picture, she must concede it was a choice that invited other interpretations.
I can only speculate as to the reason behind the photo choice, but I did not see it as highly objectionable.
And Contrary to Buydatti’s views, I do not edit much at all — except occasional grammar and formatting, IF I even notice. The mission does say it is “unedited.”
Will
Posted by Will | April 16, 2008, 8:17 amWill, are you saying that you’re not the one who edited the picture? Because I can prove it was you who did.
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | April 16, 2008, 9:57 amDear Emily,
I am inviting you to a conference on Al-Nakaba that will be held on May 23 in Chicago. You do not need any visas nor travell far.
We Will never forget. Let the world know that the Palestinians are the Key holders of Peace. For all pro Palestinians, enough talk. Let your ACTIONS be louder than your words. Be pro active. Let us come together to assert the Palestinian’s legal right to FREEDOM and Self Determination. Here how you can get involved:
Click on this url http://www.panc2008.com
Posted by falastini | April 16, 2008, 10:15 amUPDATE: Emily has been harassing me over the phone by dialing my number and playing a recording of a donkey yelping. This is the immaturity that is KABOBfest. Read more about it on KABOBfestWATCH!
BTW, it’s interesting that Will is suddenly silent. Go ahead Will, admit that you’re the one that took the picture down! If you don’t, I’ll expose you…
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | April 16, 2008, 3:26 pmOK…
I just visited KFW and saw the objectionable picture. freaking disgusting.
And I thought everyone was pissed because of the pic I saw… The one with the cute kid.
I have no idea what is going on. Emily, does PB have your sign in info?
Any clue how this happened?
I’m sorry folks. I had no clue that happened.
Will
Posted by Will | April 16, 2008, 5:20 pmWill! Dude! You thought I was so outraged about a pic of a cute kid? I’m surprised you showed such restraint under these circumstances, instead of writing me off as a hopeless crank.
Glad that’s cleared up. Good luck on your finals.
Posted by Ismail | April 16, 2008, 5:27 pmOk, so now Emily is passing the blame and Will is playing dumb? That’s disgraceful. Just fess up to the mess and apologize already. I can prove your lying — read my latest post on KABOBfestWATCH!
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | April 16, 2008, 8:34 pmso was the disgusting picture really posted?
Posted by Anonymous | April 17, 2008, 4:35 amYes it was. Emily should apologize instead of conjuring up excuses. Truly shameful.
Posted by Badra | April 17, 2008, 6:52 amOK, Buydatti is for sure lying. I saw the little girl picture, THEN the disgusting picture, and now the donkey in the air. Of course, I cannot say who did what, but that is the real chronological order. Since I’m not even friends with anyone who contributes to or reads this blog, and am definitely not an alter ego, I have no reason to lie.
Whoever did this, whether by stunt for Kabobfest or as a prank, or if it was Emily, which I would not understand, then they should be truly disgusted with themselves, especially in light of the recent events in Gaza.
Posted by safyy | April 17, 2008, 9:56 amThanks Safiyyah. Please keep in mind that this was happening just before the Gaza events, not after.
Posted by Emily | April 17, 2008, 10:47 pmALthough I’m not sure why I’m defending Buydatti.
Posted by Emily | April 17, 2008, 11:02 pmwhat’s the conference? cuz ya’ll should all come to: alliedmediaconference.org
Posted by nosnowhere | April 27, 2008, 4:43 pm