Low and behold even George Costanza has chimed in with a proposed roadmap to peace: comedy.
While addressing a crowd in occupied Jerusalem, he likened the failures and successes of the hit sitcom Seinfeld to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
“[J]ust as the show managed to bounce back with comedy…a solution might be found for Mideast troubles if people write and laugh with one another,” paraphrased Ha’aretz (censored).
In all fairness, using laughter as a means for achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians is not a new idea. In fact, the originator of this bold, ground-breaking concept is none other than Ray Hanania – award winning journalist, standup comedian, author, activist, taxi cab driver, actor, blogger, runway model, scientologist, cake baker, balloon artist, crocodile wrangler, pet detective, chimney sweeper, rodeo clown, adult store attendant, Braille translator and Palestinian spokesperson extraordinaire.
But back to comedians that really matter…
Costanza, a.k.a. Jason Alexander, is the founder of Imagine: 2018 – an initiative that, according to its site, aims to “inspire Israelis and Palestinians to visualize what the region would look like in 10 years if a peace agreement were to be signed in 2008.”
Considering that it’s now June of ’09, I guess we’ll never know.
Of course, Imagine 2018 defines “peace agreement” as “a mutually-acceptable two state agreement.” Asking Israelis and Palestinians to “visualize” any other solution would be blasphemy, right?
Knock! Knock! Who’s there? Binational State. Binational State who? BI-FUCKING-NATIONAL STATE!
But I digress.
After all, there is some positivity here: At least Imagine 2018 isn’t pulling an Ibish by defining for us what is or isn’t “mutually-acceptable.”
In an effort to spread the word on their initiative, Imagine 2018 asked 50 high schoolers from each side of the conflict to submit their thoughts on what the region would look like in 2018 if peace is agreed upon in 2008 – in essay form, double spaced, font size 12, Times New Roman, yada yada yada.
The stories were then compiled into a book. Two were even turned into short films.
Ha’aretz (censored) continues:
“He [Alexander] praised the young writers for bridging the gap between their cultures with comedy, such as a scene from one of the films in which an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian boy point guns at each other with murderous expressions only to laugh and squirt water from the guns a moment later and then to use them as mock cell phones.”
Laughing? Here’s another “funny” video: Israel & Palestine to co-host World Cup in 2018?
How about now? Huh? Are ya? Are ya? Huh?
I’m not.
In fact, I’m insulted that anyone would find anything funny about colonialism, racism or occupation.
There’s a giant wall splitting your land in two and cutting you off from your livelihood? THAT’S HILARIOUS!
Furthermore, it’s stupid and dangerous to pit Israelis and Palestinians as equals in this conflict and reduce it to something as asinine as not understanding each other.
Believe me Netanyahu understands exactly what it is Palestinians are struggling for. If he didn’t, he couldn’t have so eloquently crushed any hope for peace in his speech last week.
Imagine 2018? Let Israelis first come to term with how their state was created and what it’s done up until now to destroy any hope for peace. Then we can talk… and possibly even joke and laugh.
Until then, Imagine 1948 – 2009.
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- Life Under Israeli Military Occupation
- The Occupation Strikes Again
- 2 Interesting Quotes aaaand a D-Bag…
- How to Tell the Difference Between an Israeli and a Palestinian
oh c'mon, we all know smoking is what brings everyone together: http://yuppieactivist.blogspot.com/2009/03/benefi…
Posted by Dee | June 24, 2009, 10:38 pmFAIL!
Posted by Reverse Cowgirl | June 25, 2009, 2:56 pmoh my god, i just noticed the picture and shit my pants.
Posted by SanaKF | June 24, 2009, 10:42 pmI'm surprised a real comedian like that would even pose with Ray.
Posted by Reverse Cowgirl | June 25, 2009, 2:56 pmOf course, Imagine 2018 defines “peace agreement” as “a mutually-acceptable two state agreement.” Asking Israelis and Palestinians to “visualize” any other solution would be blasphemy, right?
Not "blasphemy" but that wouldn't be visualizing "peace" since neither side would accept any other solution. So that would be tantamount to visualizing… war? Not much effort required there. That's pretty much where things are already at.
Posted by programmer craig | June 24, 2009, 11:01 pmProgrammer Craig is obviously bad at news analysis. The PLO is practically begging for a sovereign state right now, while Netenyahu has said no. It appears the Palestinians have no partner in peace.
Posted by Reverse Cowgirl | June 25, 2009, 2:58 pmI'm not a fan of Ray Hanania's politics… what do you make of him Programmer Buydatti?
Posted by seham | June 24, 2009, 11:24 pmI rolled over laughing! I'm sure Ray will too. After all, he is a comedian.
Posted by Bob Sakamano | June 25, 2009, 12:21 amThe only thing funny about Ray is that he seriously thinks he's funny.
Posted by The Bro | June 25, 2009, 2:06 pmRay Hanania is odd. Check out my review of his "Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour" here:
http://www.levantinecenter.org/cultures/levant/is…
Posted by Catherine | June 25, 2009, 12:23 amExcellent review
Posted by Super Sayyin | June 25, 2009, 4:29 pmRay is the best Arab-American comedian in America.
Posted by Ray | June 25, 2009, 12:26 amdisregard the last comment
Posted by oops | June 25, 2009, 12:27 amHere's something to laugh about.
Palestinian security forces.
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