Comments on: Ohio's inspiring Jewish and Arab community http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/ Thinking Ahead Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:46:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: I Darwish http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17389 I Darwish Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:54:40 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17389 Quite frankly I am not surprised by your disappointment in UofC's Arab Community. I went to school there in the mid-90's and found the atmosphere of gatherings to be stifling and suppressive of any dissent. They are dominanted by a bunch of old-school rejectionists and other political eccentrics. Quite frankly I am not surprised by your disappointment in UofC’s Arab Community. I went to school there in the mid-90′s and found the atmosphere of gatherings to be stifling and suppressive of any dissent. They are dominanted by a bunch of old-school rejectionists and other political eccentrics.

]]> By: Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17388 Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:11:44 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17388 Ray, I am proud of you for organizing this tour, and for standing up against extremism, wherever it may be found. Laughter is one way of connecting people. Common sense is another. Perhaps laughter can be a short cut to common sense. We laugh and we realize that a lot of what we think we believe is really a bunch of nonsense; so nonsensical in fact, that it makes us laugh, when presented in just the right way. I like how you make the point that it is quickly becoming decision time. We either start making sense of our lives, by giving each other a chance, or we're going down. It's that simple. And if that happens, it won't be quite so funny. Ray, I am proud of you for organizing this tour, and for standing up against extremism, wherever it may be found.

Laughter is one way of connecting people. Common sense is another. Perhaps laughter can be a short cut to common sense. We laugh and we realize that a lot of what we think we believe is really a bunch of nonsense; so nonsensical in fact, that it makes us laugh, when presented in just the right way.

I like how you make the point that it is quickly becoming decision time. We either start making sense of our lives, by giving each other a chance, or we’re going down. It’s that simple. And if that happens, it won’t be quite so funny.

]]> By: Ray Hanania http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17387 Ray Hanania Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:53:12 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17387 Hey Yaman ... you never agree with me, but I don't think you are an extremist ... unless, of course, you believe: you should avoid all Israelis; avoid all Jews who don't agree with you; refuse to communicate with Palestinians with whom you disagree with; refuse to circulate an email note about an Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour to your email list. Oh, that's a good question, Yaman. Would you have sent the note to your friends if I asked you to please circulate it? (And, if you had me on your list and circulated email notes to me all the time?) Would you? A simple answer will do. Those who refused to circulate it are extremists, in my opinion. An extremist is a one-sided fanatic who rejects openness, denies the other and blames a people rather than a policy. And, an extremist is someone who applies a principle to themselves, but denies it to those they disagree with? We had another GREAT COMEDY SHOW at Hillel in Ann Arbor. The Palestinians were organizing Palestine Awareness Week. Great group of students and I know many of them and they contacted me to say they would have come to the show even at Hillel, had it not been for their own events. Several did come to the show and said they will see if they can get the Palestinians to invite the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour back to campus (and invite Hillel and Jewish students to attend, too.) They're not all extremists. Just some. The Hillel students and our sponsors MASA-Israel Journeys, have been phenomenal. They laughed when I beat the Israelis up with my jokes and they laughed when I beat the Arabs up with my jokes. They didn't bitch because they didn't like a joke criticizing Israel. They laughed and laughed hard. Thanks Ray Hanania www.IPComedyTour.com Hey Yaman … you never agree with me, but I don’t think you are an extremist … unless, of course, you believe: you should avoid all Israelis; avoid all Jews who don’t agree with you; refuse to communicate with Palestinians with whom you disagree with; refuse to circulate an email note about an Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour to your email list.

Oh, that’s a good question, Yaman. Would you have sent the note to your friends if I asked you to please circulate it? (And, if you had me on your list and circulated email notes to me all the time?) Would you? A simple answer will do.

Those who refused to circulate it are extremists, in my opinion. An extremist is a one-sided fanatic who rejects openness, denies the other and blames a people rather than a policy. And, an extremist is someone who applies a principle to themselves, but denies it to those they disagree with?

We had another GREAT COMEDY SHOW at Hillel in Ann Arbor. The Palestinians were organizing Palestine Awareness Week. Great group of students and I know many of them and they contacted me to say they would have come to the show even at Hillel, had it not been for their own events. Several did come to the show and said they will see if they can get the Palestinians to invite the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour back to campus (and invite Hillel and Jewish students to attend, too.)

They’re not all extremists. Just some.

The Hillel students and our sponsors MASA-Israel Journeys, have been phenomenal. They laughed when I beat the Israelis up with my jokes and they laughed when I beat the Arabs up with my jokes. They didn’t bitch because they didn’t like a joke criticizing Israel. They laughed and laughed hard.

Thanks
Ray Hanania
http://www.IPComedyTour.com

]]> By: R E Konrad http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17386 R E Konrad Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:06:00 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17386 Ray, good on ya homeboy! This post is so full of hope. Makes me feel better. I wish this hope/humor/goodwill mix would infect everybody as it seems to have affected your audiences! Excellent work Ray! I'm truely proud of you! Please keep it up! Ray, good on ya homeboy! This post is so full of hope. Makes me feel better. I wish this hope/humor/goodwill mix would infect everybody as it seems to have affected your audiences! Excellent work Ray! I’m truely proud of you! Please keep it up!

]]> By: Elinor (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17385 Elinor (Iran) Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:41:01 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17385 Yaman he didn't say that, but it is true that there are extremists who would not like any kind of normalization in the atmosphere regarding the Israeli and Palestinian relations. right> :) Yaman he didn’t say that, but it is true that there are extremists who would not like any kind of normalization in the atmosphere regarding the Israeli and Palestinian relations. right> :)

]]> By: yaman http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17384 yaman Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:27:41 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17384 The thing I most dislike about your articles is that you say everybody who disagrees with you is an extremist. The thing I most dislike about your articles is that you say everybody who disagrees with you is an extremist.

]]> By: Elinor (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17383 Elinor (Iran) Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:16:17 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17383 Ray, I wish I was there to see the show, I am so happy to hear what I hear from you, a palestinian, I can see how your efforts in making a difference has affected your own views, I love to read what you write Ray. I wasn't there maybe some years from now I will be able to see it, who knows, but I cheer as you find it fruitful, I love how the show has inspired you my dear, I send my truest Salaam and Shalom to all people in ISrael and Palestine who long for peace, happiness, coexisting in a dignified manner, a friednly manly ( and womanly) manner you all deverve, we all deserve, we are all so natuarally entitled to that. Best wishes Ray :) Ray,
I wish I was there to see the show, I am so happy to hear what I hear from you, a palestinian, I can see how your efforts in making a difference has affected your own views, I love to read what you write Ray. I wasn’t there maybe some years from now I will be able to see it, who knows, but I cheer as you find it fruitful, I love how the show has inspired you my dear, I send my truest Salaam and Shalom to all people in ISrael and Palestine who long for peace, happiness, coexisting in a dignified manner, a friednly manly ( and womanly) manner you all deverve, we all deserve, we are all so natuarally entitled to that.
Best wishes Ray :)

]]> By: Josh (UK) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17382 Josh (UK) Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:38:47 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17382 Great article. I don't agree with everything said, but a fantastic effort and more of this way of communicating is needed. All the best, Josh Great article. I don’t agree with everything said, but a fantastic effort and more of this way of communicating is needed. All the best,
Josh

]]> By: Gila http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17381 Gila Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:54:22 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/02/12/ohios-inspiring-jewish-and-arab-community/#comment-17381 I have to tell you that, with all of the bad news, negative news, hate, anger, pain, despair,etc that is out there, or rather, around here (Israel and Palestine), it is so nice to read your post! Thank you so much for trying to make a difference in such a fantastic way. :) I have to tell you that, with all of the bad news, negative news, hate, anger, pain, despair,etc that is out there, or rather, around here (Israel and Palestine), it is so nice to read your post!

Thank you so much for trying to make a difference in such a fantastic way. :)

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