When I learned the Simpsons, America’s famous cartoon family, were going to Israel (S21E16), I thought: Oy vey!
The episode predictably glosses over the real Israel. All is well in cartoon Israel. The Muslims in Jerusalem are voiceless, sour-faced caricatures that prostrate themselves in the street (perhaps the Israeli security forces had sealed off the entrance to the Noble Sanctuary, home of the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque). There is of course no mention of that dirty, little word: Palestine. No, Israel is the Holy Land, Jerusalem is “the happiest place on earth.”
But the writers of the episode seemed intent on doing more than just ignoring the reality of the 5 million Palestinians in Israel-Palestine: they thought it would be funny to diss them too.
The Simpsons’ Israeli tour guide takes the family straight to the Dome of the Rock, as though that was no big deal, and stupidly tells Marge: “OK, this shrine contains the rock on which Abraham was going to sacrifice his son. And Muslims believe something, too. To find out, hire a Muslim tour guide—that’s a barrel of laughs.”
But the real insult comes earlier on as the Simpsons land in Israel, and Krusty the Clown heads to the Gaza Strip Club. Get it? Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip Club. It’s comedic retardation, and it’s unbelievably insulting to the 1.5 million Palestinians forced to live there under an Israeli blockade. The Gaza Strip was intentionally de-developed after Israel withdrew its colonial-military infrastructure, and much of the strip was devastated by Israel’s offensive there over a year ago. To compare the Gaza Strip to something that is consider haram, meaning against God, in Islam, is an outrage. Could you imagine Krusty the Clown going to the Darfur Whore House, or the Haiti Bordello? No, people would be livid. But the Palestinians have been so thoroughly dehumanized in America that this tasteless joke raised no eyebrows.
Oh, I forgot to mention the special guest appearance. That was Sacha Baron Cohen playing the Israeli tour guide. (The same guy that did this.)
Can you be anymore dramatic?
“Can you be anymore dramatic?”
yoni
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Coming from a drama queen, that’s a bit rich!
I thought it was funny as hell and took a bunch of shots at Israel.
An episode of the Simpsons that mercilessly mocks an oppressed racial minority and completely ignored the ongoing war crimes against them? Of course you found it funny, yonira.
The fact that The Simpsons criticized American politicians and the American establishment during its 20 some odd years of existence, and yet seems unable to peddle anything but ignorance, lies and veiled bigotry when it comes to the Israeli Palestinian issue is an indication of who controls the network and the show.
did u watch the show Avi? all it did was criticize Israel and the Israeli establishment.
“all it did was criticize Israel and the Israeli establishment. ”
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I didn’t watch it yoni. Can you give me an idea of those criticisms please..No, seriously!
Well the thing I remember most was a sign in the airport saying something about American taxpayer’s money at work.
Wow! Pretty radical criticism isn’t it?
I thought they’d say something like ‘Israel used to be called Palestine but it’s all kosher now. It has been ethnically cleansed” or something. Did they mention any occupation at all? The settlers, by any means?
This is very sickening but, of course, it is part of a concerted effort throughout the entertainment industry and the media to publicly degrade and demonize Moslems in general and Arabs in particular. This has been going on for at least 60 years to my certain knowledge. It’s hard to see it as anything other than a conspiracy and, of course, a situation where the conspirators are uniquely placed to refute any such accusation and, in turn, to demonize and thus to silence their accusers.
The Simpsons has sucked since about 2001. Not surprising this one sucked, too. I am a little surprised about the Gaza Strip Club reference. Not because it’s haram or insulting to Islam (or retarded; see above) but because it’s incredibly insensitive to a besieged civilian population. Dissing Muslims as a group is pretty crappy, too. They don’t get a free pass to be insensitive and racist in exchange for taking a few fun-loving jabs at Israel.
link to
I am a big fan of the Simpsons, I think the show generally glosses over a lot. This episode in particular glossed over a lot on both sides.
For example at the end of the episode there are Jews shown praying (while wearing kippahs) at the dome of the rock.
At this time it is illegal for Jews to pray on the dome of the rock, especially while wearing kippah so this was an exaggeration.
The episode wasn’t the funniest, though I would also say this season wasn’t the funniest.
“I am a big fan of the Simpsons,”
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No you’re a fan of the hasbara manual “The Israel Project. The Global Language Dictionary” by Frank Luntz. You follow its guidelines word for word..You’ve been exposed as the deceitful amateur that you are..That was funnier than the Simpsons could ever be.
I’m not sure what you mean, or why you are picking on me. It seems that Krusty going to that strip club was just as offensive to Jews. I mean you have a Jew that has ostensibly gone to Israel to get in touch with Judaism, going to a strip club where a Jewish girl in provacative army type uniform is dancing.
Also the fact that Jews were shown praying on their most holy site the Temple mount when that is illegal is hurtful I’m sure.
The simpsons is a fun show though and we should take it for what it is.
I would appreciate it if you would apologize to me.
my ignore button seems to have disappeared. anyone got a spare?
I’m not sure what you mean
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Stop it BDS.,… You know exactly what I mean..I specifically posted article 4 in page 7 from the hasbara manual which exposed you. You were, word for word, following a script! Don’t force me to post it again. Stop the deception AND PLAY FAIR..Cards on the table..Don’t use tricks..We’re no dumb!
I’m not sure what you mean, or why you are picking on me. It seems that Krusty going to that strip club was just as offensive to Jews.
we should take it for what it is.
Ah, the Hasbara victimhood and propaganda selling on clear display.
thankgodimathiest, you hit the bulls-eye with this one.
Why would I use a script? You are talking crazy talk. I’m offended and confused?
It’s not right to dehumanize people which genuine comments that add to the discourse as following a script. The show was offensive to both sides! As it should be!
Trick4- “There is NEVER, EVER, any justification for the deliberate slaughter (suicide bombing) of women and children. The primary BDS
BDS..you asked for it and here it is:
Why did you keep hammering the same nail ( suicide bombing morally wrong) again and again when NO NONE was justifying it anyway ?
BECAUSE you were following the guideline 4 , page 7 from the Israel Project” hasbara manual. Here:
(A repost)
“4- “There is NEVER, EVER, any justification for the deliberate slaughter (suicide bombing) of women and children. The primary Palestinian public relations goal is to demonstrate that the so-called “helplessness of the oppressed Palestinians” is what to cause them to go out and kill children…THIS MUST BE CHALLENGED IMMEDIATELY, AGGRESSIVELY AND DIRECTLY:
” We may disagree about politics and we may disagree about economics. But there is one fundamental principle that all peoples from all parts of the globe will agree on: Civilized people do not target innocent women and children (my derriere!) for death..”
on: Civilized people do not target innocent women and children (my derriere!) for death.
link to australiansforpalestine.com
And:
link to docstoc.com
(Oh dear the above is a bit messy. Here:)
Why did you keep hammering the same nail ( suicide bombing morally wrong) again and again when NO NONE was justifying it anyway ?
BECAUSE you were following the guideline 4 , page 7 from the Israel Project” hasbara manual. Here:
“4- “There is NEVER, EVER, any justification for the deliberate slaughter (suicide bombing) of women and children. The primary Palestinian public relations goal is to demonstrate that the so-called “helplessness of the oppressed Palestinians” is what to cause them to go out and kill children…THIS MUST BE CHALLENGED IMMEDIATELY, AGGRESSIVELY AND DIRECTLY:
” We may disagree about politics and we may disagree about economics. But there is one fundamental principle that all peoples from all parts of the globe will agree on: Civilized people do not target innocent women and children (my derriere!) for death..”
on: Civilized people do not target innocent women and children (my derriere!) for death.
link to australiansforpalestine.com
And:
link to docstoc.com
Jesus man, how drunk are you tonight?
Did you ever consider that there really is no justification for suicide bombing?
I haven’t seen that text before. The fact remains, but I didn’t even mention that on this thread.
It’s important that we stick to relevant issues because we end up looking immoral when we moralized suicide bombings and we look petty when we pick on the simpsons especially when the episode in question was arguable more offensive towards Jews by inflaming the tensions on the temple mount where it is illegal for Jews to pray.
You’re a troll. It’s not like you just showed up here. People have read your posts for awhile.
It’s not right to troll a blog on an important issue like I-P. You should be ashamed of yourself BSD.
Do you think it’s acceptable morally to trivialize the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians w/ your phony concern for blog etiquette?
Too early for a drink darling. It’s It’s mid day down under..But the mouse could have been drinking who knows? It is not rolling well and the cut and paste didn’t go all the way, had to repeat it hence the doubles..
I shall not be dehumanized as a troll, I am a human being not a cave dweller. I will always stand against suicide bombings, I wish you could too.
The Simpsons episode was offensive yet to BOTH Jews and Arabs, in fact there were more offensive hits towards Jews.
You are a troll and a liar. We’ve already seen that many of your posts are word for word, out of the TIP document.
Also, you purposefully make superficial posts to pigeon hole anti-Zionists here. You’ve done it to me, when I was obviously being sarcastic.
So yea, go to hell you freak. Do you honestly think people won’t read your past comments after the majority of regulars here, vouch that your intentions are dubious?
I will always stand against suicide bombings,
————————
You see! You keep bringing it up when no one was standing for it anyway!! You don’t even realise how grotesque this is becoming!
what are you talking about? can you tell me or are you just going to act like a child?
Cliff,
You are sounding like a lunatic, some secret document written by Jews that is being used as a script?
I’m pointing out here that the Simpsons episode was offensive to both Jews and Arabs, I’m not sure if anyone can argue with that statement.
Example
1) Jews shown on their holiest site temple mount with yarmulke when that is illegal
2) Jewish girl dancing in army gear at strip club at the airport
3) Jewish man (krusty) giving up his morals for a strip club
4) Jews kicking people in the testicles (this is against Jewish law)
5) Israel as a complete desert state where camels are the main source of transportation
6) Pulling out personal prayers from the western wall
“The piano has been drinking, not me, not me.” Tom Waits.
4) Jews kicking people in the testicles (this is against Jewish law)
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Is it? I didn’t know that. How about smashing an old woman’s face with clubs? Like here..
link to youtube.com
You are sounding like a lunatic, some secret document written by Jews that is being used as a script?
Its not a secret document BSD. Its on the internet for all to see and handed out on university campus’s all across the country for free. The authors, distribution centers, and all other relevant information about the Hasbara document are out in the open.
Anyway, you’ve exposed yourself trolldom, please go away.
ok now address the other things he listed and tell us how this episode was so offensive to the palestinians yet not offensive at all the israelis.
That is the first time I saw that video, I can’t identify anybody in it! they are all wearing masks.
In any event I think the episode of the Simpsons was offensive towards all, as it should be.
That is the first time I saw that video, I can’t identify anybody in it!
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What do you mean, you can’t identify anybody? You know all the settlers in Hebron?
It’s hard to trust any youtube video from the ME, from either side. They are not identifiable as Jews, especially since they are wearing mask and lack the traditional tzitzit that religious Jews wear. Also the video is very short and shaky.
I’ve been fooled too many times to take a video like that seriously.
Also I try my best not to look at youtube videos because of the horrible comments, one look at the comments on that page increases the skepticism of the video tenfold.
I would say the same thing of a video provided by Jews, really I try not to focus on the most extreme propaganda like this from both sides, Jew or Arab.
C’mon BSD you know only the youtube videos about Arabs/Palestinians/non-Israelis are the ‘faked ones’
The video is shaken because it’s a hand held camera (obviously) filming the arrival of the masked settlers from afar! Do you think that woman faked her face injury? Did you see that LUMP on her cheek? The cuts and the wounds? Is this the first time you hear of the settler thugs’ attacks?
I’m sorry but that video is in no way verifiable that Jews were the attackers. Please understand that I do not mean this to marginalize the Palestinian cause because that’s not my goal. Judging from the anti-semitic comments on the page as well as the lack of tzitzit, the hiding of the faces, and the shakiness of the video, I apologize but I believe it to be a fabrication until proven otherwise.
C’mon BSD you know only the youtube videos about Arabs/Palestinians/non-Israelis are the ‘faked ones’
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Settlers’ attacks are widely documented because international peace workers supplied the villagers with cameras so they can document those acts. Otherwise no one would believe their stories. No one in Israel WANTS to believe their horrific stories..Even with films largely distributed, people like you still doubt their stories..
I’m sorry but that video is in no way verifiable that Jews were the attackers.
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No they weren’t not, BDS! You can go to sleep now! The Palestinians themselves attacked the woman, crushed her face, broke her bones in order to put the blame on the Jews. We got it!
VOMIT!
I hope you don’t think that I completely deny that. I simply believe the video you sent was faked.
The main topic of this thread though is the simpsons episode which was offensive towards Jews, Muslims, and Christians, as it should be, the least offensive towards Muslims as it offended Christians by having homer sleeping at their most holy place and confusing Jesus with porky pig, had Jews praying on their most holy site, when it is illegal for Jews to pray (or look like they are praying) on their holy site.
There was no such offense towards Islam in that episode.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the product of kids trolling the web with no parental supervision.
This guy is as genuine as a 3 dollars note.
No, YOU are being a lunatic. You like a typical Zionist troll, equate criticism of Zionism w/ an arbitrary attack on Jewishness.
THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT SECRET
It’s ‘The Israel Project’ World Dictionary or something. Newsweek leaked it on their website awhile back.
So no, it’s not some conspiratorial document you freak.
Anyone who reads this blog, knows that Zionists are antisemites. Hence, why they say stuff like:
Like I said, you’re a troll. A bad one at that. This ‘secret document’ was made public by Newsweek, and in it you find a lot of talking points that trolls like you use to disrupt discussion on good blogs like Mondoweiss.
Take your hate and greed elsewhere, BSD.
Here is the blog post:
link to mondoweiss.net
How about this one, Is this settler thug a fake too?
link to youtube.com
Here is the Newsweek link:
link to newsweek.com
Did you think your lies would go unchallenged, BSD?
You’re a failure of a troll. Try harder, freak.
Cliff
The whole manual (TIP) written by the hasbara PR Frank Luntz is accessible here:
link to australiansforpalestine.com
Yea, I downloaded it as soon as the story broke. But BSD being the Zionist liar that he is, makes it seem like the thing is some top secret document and THEN associates Zionism w/ Jewishness by blaming this ‘secret document’ on Jews.
BSD, you are an antisemite and your hate is not welcome here.
bsdnow whines:
why you are picking on me
Reminds me of an old song (Charly Brown was it) with the refrain “why is everybody always picking on me”.
Why do you come here and assume such a sniveling hurt pose. Stand up like a man and defend yourself. I thought Israelis were supposed to be tough warriors. You look more like a hurt puppy rolling on its back begging for acceptance.
I see this second video you send, while name calling is certainly bad I don’t consider that to be a real offense, especially when you see the anti-semitic comments on that page.
for the record its obvious those are settlers who are too cowardice not to mask themselves. They are the scum of the earth in my opinion.
while name calling is certainly bad I don’t consider that to be a real offense,
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Saying ” we killed your f***g Jesus and we will kill you” to the British guy who was filming is not a real offense? OK!
“They are the scum of the earth in my opinion. ”
—————-
Glad to see you still have some discernment Yoni..
Not at all, words and name calling may be offensive but in the grande scheme of things it really is not a big deal by any means.
In fact it is commonly held that it was the Romans that killed Jesus, Jesus was also a Jew.
Israelis naturally harbor animosity towards the British. The video is very minor and judging from the comments page and it’s widespread use by anti-semites it is more a propaganda tool used against Jews.
yeah, those comments made Mondoweiss look like a church service.
Not at all, words and name calling may be offensive but in the grande scheme of things it really is not a big deal by any means.
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Are you out of your mind? What should be read here is the mentality and the magnitude of hatred which in other circumstances where groups are involved those brutes unleash unimaginable violence . You’re really out of touch of what’s taking place in the occupied territories (the proper name not just the “territories”!)..
I’m sorry but you are out of your mind. The second link you sent was nothing. You can see worse at any bar, there was no violence. There were unkind words by two individuals, the context of which is edited out.
The video is used more to dehumanize Jews than to show any sort of widespread incitement or hate speech.
Again, the video details a very minor incident of no consequence. I would say the same if I saw a propaganda video against Arabs.
Listen here creep! You’re not going to brush off a largely documented settlers violence now..I’ve seen hundreds of videos and documents and I can assure you that the settlers themselves brag and boast about it as a measure they’ve adopted to embitter the Palestinians’ lives and push them to leave their lands. If you want to dismiss this as unfounded than you’re giving me a free reign to blabber in same and claim that the holocaust was largely exagerated then! How would you like me saying this now? You don’t like do you? Neither do I if you want the truth.
Watch this and see for yourself how this group of settler children as young as three are all participating in what is a daily exercise of harassment, throwing stones from atop on a Palestinians faily home..Watch it and tell me it’s fake or insignificant.
link to youtube.com
Jeez relax,
The first video was fake. The second video was of no consequence whatsoever to anyone in their right mind.
The topic of this thread is the Simpsons episode which was offensive to all three monotheistic religions, arguably most of all to Jews.
When we get caught up on cartoon episodes or youtube videos of no importance to our cause it is NOT effective.
I only urge a more cohesive strategy that looks less like whining over “Homer Simpson”, “Drunk teenagers” and unidentifiable “assailants” filmed by faceless cameramen.
We must focus on legitimate I/P issues or risk being sidelined in the entire process.
Watch the cute little monsters throwing stones at a woman carrying a baby and tell me if it’s fake!
link to youtube.com
We must focus on legitimate I/P issues
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Sure..The settlers and their abominable behaviour are not a “legitimate issue” by any means! After all what they’re doing is not part of a global strategy to make the Palestinians lives a living hell and drive them out in the process. Let’s talk about more serious stuff . A talking point of your choice of course.
Yes I condemn stone throwing and name calling.
Many Jews have been injured by rocks in the past weeks.
Rock throwing is bad and it should be condemned on both sides. Whether it is young 5 or 6 year old Jewish children, or Arabs or leftists in B’lin or the highways it should be eradicated.
Stones can kill and they are very dangerous.
I condemn stone throwing by anyone for any reason.
I have heard many stories of men, women, and babies being injured by rocks and I know it is a serious issue in that area
The first video was fake.
——————
Stop it creep. This video was provided by B’tSelem and you can find on many other sites. Be curious enough and check it out.
B’tSelem video:
Settlers harass Palestinians and steal crops during olive harvest in the West Bank
link to btselem.org
Settlers blocking the harvest of olive trees
link to btselem.org
Settlers channel their sewage to flood Palestinian village
link to btselem.org
Aljazeera video..Attached to a pole and beaten by the settler thugs
link to youtube.com
A 6 years old..Attacked, beaten and left bleeding
link to youtube.com
Was Jesus killed because he was Jewish?
You’re obsessed with antisemitism.
In fact, so much so that you try to say facts – like the video – are antisemitic by slippery sloping it’s legitimacy. Guilty by association huh?
Last year, Israel admitted to harvesting organs illegally. STEALING ORGANS.
That sounds like ‘blood libel’ to me, although I don’t know what it is. I do read in this conflict, Zionists losing their minds and ranting like lunatics about antisemitic this and antisemitic that. It turns out that this organ stealing scheme is quite horrifying and ghastly.
Yet, Zionists wanted to turn the truth into a framework of thinking – antisemitism.
Similarly, you want to turn facts/evidence like the video into ‘antisemitism’.
You’re a very bad troll. Go back and read the World Union of Jewish Students, Hasbara Handbook: Promoting Israel on Campus.
BSD, why do you troll this blog when the issue is so important?
Do you condemn intentional destruction of civilian infrastructure? Do you condemn Zionist terrorism and the theft of organs by the Israeli government (or Israeli [whatever])?
Rock throwing is bad and it should be condemned on both sides.
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No kidding Dr. Pangloss.
I still believe BSDNOW is a woman. So I don’t think she can stand up like a man. It’s something about the way “s/he” expresses “himself”.
Just in for you BDSNOW.
Settlers Attack a 89-year-old woman, her 50-year-old daughter in Jerusalem
“Israeli settlers attacked on Friday Rifqa Al Kurd, 89, and her daughter Nadia, 50, in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, in East Jerusalem, the Maan News Agency reported.
The attack took place after nearly 200 residents and peace activists held a protest on Friday evening demanding an end to the provocative attacks and violations carried out by the settlers against the residents of East Jerusalem.
link to desertpeace.wordpress.com
When the Marines went into Iwo Jima, were they suicide bombers?
what is with the sexist mentality on here, its like calling someone a woman is derogatory or something. I went through the same thing. I was more offended that you guys thought calling someone a woman was some sort of bad thing.
I thought leftists were pro-feminism, what kinda group do we have here exactly?
Woman hating leftists?
Hey Yoni, got your girlfriend “rolled” (converted) yet? I’ve got a jazz organ Klezmer arrangement of “Oh Promise” me with Phrygian mode interpolations of “Sunrise, Sunset” that have the balboostas crying into their kippahs
Oh Gosh! Speaking of fiddling on a roof without proof.
“I will always stand against suicide bombings”
Good for you! And if you want to drive an eighteen-wheeler, son, I won’t stand in your way.
Why would it be sexist to assume someone is female? I figure the odds be fifty fifty. Sexist? My feminist female friends back in the late 70s in fact assumed that there was something like a female style. BDSNOW has to be either male or female. No? I am assuming the chances are low she is a hermaphrodite.
So please explain, what could be sexist about raising this question?
BSDNOW,
Just to put you in the picture, there was some talk about you specifically here the other day – sorry I don’t remember which article or link, maybe someone can provide it.
The gist was that you are one of the hasabarados following a set of ‘instructions’ on how to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of goyim while Israel still brutalizes the Palestinians.
I can see how the attacks on you on this link would seem out of the blue if you hadn’t read that aforesaid link. I’m sorry about that. It can’t be nice for you.
To me, even if you’re following such instructions, you’re still welcome here. We can disagree and shout and scream but we don’t need to hate and confuse each other.
I maybe totally off the mark here, I don’t know you but from your writings I perceive you to be some oldish lady, a zionist, who’s sad and worried about the way things have turned out in the holy lands – someone who deep down knows there’s something very wrong with the picture you’ve lived with all your life yet you feel helpless to do anything about it especially if it’s going to upset your family and loved ones.
Thank you Taxi I really appreciate you reaching out.
dearie me, Taxi, you’ve been snookered.
BSD (does that stand for body odor?) is a college student with zits on his/her face, greasy hair and an unpleasant personality with narcissistic tendencies. he was over-indulged at home but his/her mother could not be more pleased that he/she is out of the house so she doesn’t have to spend her energy catering to his self-absorbed needs/wants. he/she has few friends outside his/her yehsiva mates. he/she thinks he is doing favors for israel and upholding jewry by de-railing substantive debate on fora where criticism of Israel might gain a toehold.
I think you are very kind, Taxi, and I wish I could be as generous as you. But I ain’t.
Neither is BSD the creature that you think is worthy of your concern.
Hey c’mon, very now and then you gotta help an old lady cross the road, right?
But seriously, I don’t know how old BSD is or what kind of complexion he/she has. All I’m doing is giving room and space for people to be themselves despite my disagreements with them.
If you feel that BDS is practicing the politics of distraction, then just simply don’t fall for it by responding and getting entagled.
For all it’s worth, my objection is first and formost to the ideology of zionism – some of it’s adherts make me sick, others I just feel very sorry for. BDS falls into the latter category.
Why would someone with BDS’s views take the name BDS now? It doesn’t make sense, except as a cover for trolling. Or else extreme confusion.
Anyway, ignoring BDS does seem to be the best policy.
you’re not appreciating the nuance donald. BSD did not take the name BDS. we’re just supposed to think this poster is on one team when he/she is really on the other. if you click the link on the bsd’s name it takes you to a link about “bsd operating systems” for computers (Berkeley Software Distribution).
“hasabarados”
I’m sure the Eagles won’t mind if it’s sung to the tune of “Desparados”
I watched that episode a couple of days ago on Hulu.
link to hulu.com
Meh, it was okay – much of the humor was a bit forced and dry. Usually, Lisa the humanitarian, is usally the one to bring up touchy social issues but she barely figured in the episode.
Honestly, I’m not sure that the Simpsons has the time scope to address something so complex as the I/P conflict. I think it would also confuse their mostly uninformed on I/P issues audience. Not forgetting of course the advertisers might find it too controversial and off kilt.
It would be cool though if the South Park gang were brave enough to go to Israel. They have a lot more maneuvering space for controversial commentary than the family friendly Simpsons show.
Not sure, it’s really that big a deal, Phil.
South Park in Israel would be hoot.
I don’t watch either shows really, but would definitely tune in for that one ;)
I’ll admit this episode wasn’t exactly the shit storm I thought it be. And I’ll give it to Yonira, they do make a few jabs at Israel
Yes it has super cliche themes throughout, yes it wasn’t that funny, and yes it doesn’t present the Palestinian situation (imagine the Simpsons going to Apartheid South Africa, and completely ignoring the apartheid).
And yes, there were a few insensitivity thrown at the Palestinians (Krusty the Clown going to the Gaza Strip club being incredibly insensitive and just downright inflammatory).
However, my biggest gripe with the episode was that at the very end they seem to make the conflict out to be over religion. As if the Jews, Christians, and Muslims living in Israel and Israeli occupied territories don’t like each other because of religious differences.
I forgot to mention that at the beginning, when the Simpsons arrive at Ben Gurion Airpost, there’s a frame where a sign reads: “Welcome to Israel – Your American Tax Dollars At Work” (o4:12)
I thought that was nice and sneaky.
Well, yes, the sign–but nothing about the Gaza Turkey Shoot to put that sign in proper context?
Gotta be grateful for small mercies, Citizens :-)
Thanks Taxi. It was bizarre to watch or read.
Besides I tried to watch the episode, to see for myself. I can’t access it “from my location” if I don’t want to subscribe to some web offers. But you can
The most peculiar thing, which now I understand: thanksgodimatheist, brought up the suicide bombers and Hasbara, later blaming BSDNOW for bringing up the topic. I am not a fan of considering every “conventional” statement as Hasbara, beyond Mooser’s humorous approach. But the grotesque turn was “thanksgod’s” own creation. Bizarre:
thankgodimatheist April 3, 2010 at 10:40 pm
I will always stand against suicide bombings,
————————
You see! You keep bringing it up when no one was standing for it anyway!! You don’t even realise how grotesque this is becoming!
At that point he obviously forgot his double posting earlier.
thankgodimatheist April 3, 2010 at 10:21 pm
(Oh dear the above is a bit messy. Here:)
Oh dear..
Lea!
You missed the discussion which preceded this bit you’re quoting..That’s why it sounds bizarre to you but it doesn’t for those who were here (on the suicide bombing thread) yesterday. If I’m guilty of anything it was reminding BDS that when he disappeared yesterday, I was making the observation to him that I knew why he was repeating the same line (that you didn’t read on the other thread) and where it comes from..
Maybe the Family Guy should episode over to Israel and its occupied lands? How about Aqua Teens? King Of The Hill even?
It’s a cartoon show, which evidently lost its bite and satirical wit a long time back (so much so that fans who grew up with the show, including myself, have given up on it in recent years), though many fans have been far less generous and shun The Simpsons post season 10 altogether.
When they announced this episode, I thought the Simpsons would play it safe (well, extra safe since its an American show and it was concerning the American sacred cow, Israel). They threw in a celebrity guest appearance, the tour guide premise of the storyline itself indicated a cursory glance over what Israel really is. Perhaps The Simpsons would simply visit Jerusalem, poke fun at the host country’s culture, and return to America as is routine of their travel episodes. But that even this superficial trip of from a fictional cartoon series finds time to reinforce the Israeli efforts to dehumanize the Palestinians, is truly disturbing. The Simpsons were never politically correct but to engage in such markedly offensive treatment of an area and its population that has been (and continues to be) massacred, pillaged, destroyed and imprisoned – is more a reminder of how the Zionists have succeeded in completely selling their sadistic narrative to the American people.
The Gaza Strip? is there any other dehumanization I missed?
is there any other dehumanization I missed?
Judging by your other comments in this thread, you missed a lot more than you could ever comprehend or even care for.
so you have nothing huh Sherbrsi? thats all you had to say, i got nothing for you yonira.
hey yonira, answer Phil’s main points. You dismissed them all at once as sensationalist but did not list why.
And predictably, throughout this thread you make a bunch of one-liners. Do you think – ever?
what were phil’s main points?
did phil even post his?
what are you talking about?
Go read it again. Sheesh, he summarized it and highlighted parts he found disagreeable. So if you felt the opposite, you’d deal w/ his examples.
Instead, you just ignore all of them and say it was a good episode and was ‘balanced’.
Dude,
are you talking about Barnabe’s post? I honestly don’t have a clue what you are talking about right now.
I never said it was balanced it was quite unbalanced w/ all the cracks made at the Israelis, but it was still funny. You guys are up in arms about the “Gaza Strip club” when the rest of the episode was making fun of Israel and their culture.
And Muslims believe something, too. To find out, hire a Muslim tour guide—that’s a barrel of laughs.”
that is a shot at Israelis and Israeli tour guides.
The Gaza Strip thing is so laughable, if Gaza was known as just Gaza and not the Gaza strip there would have been no talk of it at all on the show, it was a stupid attempt at humor, thats it. Making it out to be some sort of crack at a besieged people is so wild. . You guys are quite hypersensitive to the littlest things.
This was a 22 minute cartoon and you are expecting it to delve into the occupation and the besieged Gazans? give me a fucking break. You all need a serious mental examination.
Ok now how about Addressing BDS’s qualms w/ the episode (minus number 4 which is kind of weak)
1) Jews shown on their holiest site temple mount with yarmulke when that is illegal
2) Jewish girl dancing in army gear at strip club at the airport
3) Jewish man (krusty) giving up his morals for a strip club
4) Jews kicking people in the testicles (this is against Jewish law)
5) Israel as a complete desert state where camels are the main source of transportation
6) Pulling out personal prayers from the western wall
I agree, this episode has very little to do say about the palestinian people. Although it is of course offensive to completely ignore the larger issue, it also may be say something about the bubble many Israelis seem to live in.
Judging by this thread alone, the kind of treatment Yonira and his/her likes gets seems unfair and overly aggressive. (I am saying this simply because it might scare new visitors off, and it can be used to show zionists as victims) Yonira does have som valid points about the simpsons episode. It was mostly making fun of Israeli jews, (but no jokes about what they have done and still do to the palestinians).
The jokes about Israel have no punch. That the Palestinians are not even worthy of contextual depiction, is the one-two lack-of-punch. It’s a cartoon segment where Jews are shadow boxing, and the shadows on the wall for the US goyhim is thus simply written.
Citizen, if that is the case (which it is) then admit the the Gaza Strip ‘Club’ reference also had no punch.
Ah yes! The special guest appearance. That was Sacha Baron Cohen. The same guy that did this: link to youtube.com
I don’t like Sacha’s humour because it thrives on humiliating other people in public and on purpose. I refuse to support any entertainer who makes money out of humiliating others.
It’s rather telling that the guy (Baron Cohen) whines and moans about anti-Semitism, Jew hatred this and Jew hatred that, but when it comes to the sacred cow, Israel, suddenly all of Israel’s and its colonial settlers’ atrocities are forgotten and the real victim is painted yet again as the barbaric victimizer. And the idiot has the gall to say, “If you’re looking for a suicide bomber that’s who you go to”.
You’re right Avi, when you are looking for a suicide bomber, you should go straight to Hamas or maybe the Black Widows of Chechnya, they are the new kings (or queens) of suicide bombings.
Baron Cohen did a lot of mocking of Israel’s in Bruno (I only saw bits and pieces though, I, like Taxi, find his humour impossible to watch as it is all about humiliating others.)
As others have already pointed out, this topic had nothing to do with suicide bombers. It started out with the inherent racism in the Simpsons episode. It was either you or BSDnow that gratuitously introduced suicide bombings. This is the instructions from Hasbara central – turn any criticism of Israeli racism into a discussion of suicide bombings. Sorry boob, that is not what this thread is about. You may want to change the topic, but we are not biting.
Cohen drew the line when he tried to frame a Palestinian Christian peace activist as a member of Al-Qaeda.
link to youtube.com
simple test. Can I turn off this blockquote.
you should go straight to Hamas or maybe the Black Widows of Chechnya, they are the new kings (or queens) of suicide bombings.
—————
I knew you would integrate this black widow thing in your take on the conflict but I really want to know what has got toz to do with marhaba as they say in old country of mine? I thought the whole issue is about occupation and dispossession, not religion! Correct me if I’m wrong.
Jesus Syvanen, read what Avi wrote directly above me. Are you guys incapable of reading an entire thread instead of just seeing someone you don’t like in the sidebar and automatically commenting on what they say? It makes you look like a moron!
It is about occupation and dispossession. I’ve never question the reasons or intentions of suicide bombings. I just think the bombers themselves are pawns who are coerced into taking their lives, while their handlers go unharmed.
yonira babbles:
read what Avi wrote directly above me.
Yep I did. He made reference to some irrelevancy that either you or bsd introduced into this thread. It was, as others pointed out, one of hasbara’s instructions on how to dissemble and divert discussions that bring up the topic of Israeli racism. Stick to the topic. Your diversion tactics will not work here.
I don’t think you are correct, I think in fact thanksgodimatheist started the suicide bombers / Hasbara topic, than in a “grotesque turn” blamed it on BSDNOW pretty sucessfully it feels.
thankgodimatheist April 3, 2010 at 10:40 pm
I will always stand against suicide bombings,
————————
You see! You keep bringing it up when no one was standing for it anyway!! You don’t even realise how grotesque this is becoming!
At that point he obviously forgot his agitated double postinga earlier.
This is the first allusion to suicide bombing:
thankgodimatheist April 3, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Trick4- “There is NEVER, EVER, any justification for the deliberate slaughter (suicide bombing) of women and children. The primary BDS
BDS..you asked for it and here it is:
It’s actually completely unrelated what BSDNOW wrote on this thread.
Lea
You haven’t been following. This is a follow up on a huge discussion we had yesterday on another thread (suicide Bombing) where he kept repeating the same line (suicide bombing is morally wrong) over and over again and suddenly disappeared. I put it to him that I knew where he got the trick from and I reminded him today of it.
Most commentators here today have been in the discussion more or less.
Here’s the thread that you missed Lea:
link to mondoweiss.net
You can call it unfinished business if you wish.
Moron,
he was quoting Sacha Baron Cohen in the youtube video posted in Barnabe’s original post. So please, keep on digging your hole, it must be 6 feet already.
You must be working out of the Idiot’s handbook, #7 don’t have a fucking clue what you are talking about, hope you can survive on passion alone.
Yes, now I understand.
Suicide bombing is immoral but nuking Arabs into surrender would be in the realm of highest moral standards, e.g. according to Israeli American Yaron Brook.
Or targeting Gazan or West Bank civilians is morally sound since most of them are suicide bombers anyway. (do I need an irony alert here?)
Still, it doesn’t make too much sense to take old quarrels over to a new thread. Ignore BSDNOW or address the issues s/he* raises.
*I am leaning towards she, but not quite towards Taxi’s image.
Concerning Hasbara. Basically I don’t think anyone needs the book to argue that way. She simply has to repeat what she has read and been told.
Ignore BSDNOW or address the issues s/he* raises.
—————-
Lea
One thing I learned early on arguing with hasbara hacks is to never let them frame the discussion according to their terms. “Addressing the issues he raises” is playing into his deceptive hand. That’s why the words suicide bombing morally wrong (even when no one was condoning it) kept popping up in every sentence he was writing over and over again..The message was clear, I think.
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This episode sounds absolutely disgusting, especially, as Pam Olson noted, the tasteless remarks about a besieged population. I hope some of you will write to Matt Groening and express disappointment; I certainly plan to.
Addresses at this site:
link to animatedtv.about.com
I watched the episode a few days ago and it was a total whitewash of the situation in Palestine / Israel.
The closest it got to “edgy” (ie honest) is when the family have a moment of anxiety about their passports, and that is so subtle you’d miss it if you didn’t know about the Dubai/Mossad hit.
I agree with Barnabe Geisweiller – the joke about the Gaza Strip was really offensive given the siege and massacre.
One more way in which Americans are kept in the dark about what their tax dollars are paying for.
Hey, yeah, the Gaza Strip is just a white trash drinking dive in a barren USA strip mall.
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I suppose that satirists have to deal in double meaning and to lead up to overt protest, if that is what they intend, by certain stages. Gulliver’s Travels opens pleasantly enough and you think that the Lilliputians might be quite nice people, only slightly paranoid. After a while you see that Lilliput is England and that there is an accusation of moral underdevelopment and religious craziness. As the four books of the satire proceed the protest becomes angrier and more radically disturbing. Perhaps the Simpsons will revisit Israel.
I hope instead they go to the West Bank / East Jerusalem one week and Gaza the next. Now they would be consciousness-raising episodes.
If only..
I see no reason that Israel should be worked in to a Simpsons episode, but what’s new? And why is anyone surprised that politically correct bigotry and stereotyping should be a part of an American cartoon? For the last twenty years, The Simpsons has bashed the groups that are acceptle to bash, while painting itself out as being edgy and non-pc. Family Guy, South Park and just about every other mainstream American movie, cartoon and televison series has done the same. Everyone knows what’s acceptable to lampoon, and what is off limits. Just like Family Guy and south Park, The Simpsons is just another example of the lampooning of middle America, and it gets even uglier when regional stereotypes come into play. Why get upset now?
I think what’s new is that Israel was treated with kid gloves, considering. I guess we’ve found something that even Matt Groening is afraid of confronting (or is willing to sell out to, possibly).
Is it possible that Groening agrees with the media opinion makers on most issues? What separates one mainstream program or movie from another? The humor, dialogue, jokes, winners and losers, themes and messages are all pretty much the same.