I’m Beginning to Think the “Humorless Muslim” Stereotype is True
By Jimmie on Dec 5, 2008 in Fighting the Islamists, Gimme that Old Time Religion
Do Muslim leaders have a sense of humor, even a small one? I’m beginning to serious doubt that they do based on this story. A company called Brick Arms makes and sells custom Lego Minifigs. One of their figures is called “White Bandit” and looks a lot like an Islamist terrorist. That’s caused the leader of this Muslim group in Britain to become outraged.
I can’t help but notice though, that while Mr. Shafiq is railing against stereotypes, he is one himself. There is a lot more damage being done in this world by the stereotypical knee-jerk displays of outrage from those like Mr. Shafiq than there is by cartoonish action figures. It’s a shame that his strongest language lately is about a toy instead of the people murdered in his religion’s name in Mumbai. Perhaps instead of looking for reasons to be offended, he could figure out other ways a child could use that toy in play. Perhaps Mr. White Bandit isn’t a terrorist at all. Perhaps he’s a hero of the Arab Revolt, fighting alongside T.E. Lawrence to gain Arab independence from the Ottoman Empire. Perhaps he’s one of the very, very few Arabs in the Middle East who fought against the Axis in World War II (and he could buy one of the seven or so German soldier minifigs there that have yet to raise a fuss in Germany). Of course, that latter game would have White Bandit fighting to save Jews from Nazi depredations, so he may not be terribly interested, but you never know.
The thing is, you see in an icon what you want to see. Mr. Shafiq saw an insult. I saw a villian to pit against the Lego Jack Bauer.
(via Michelle Malkin)
Stumble it!
Actually, the stereotype is bogus. I’ve traveled a lot in Muslim cultures, and they tend to have a pretty good sense of humor. Better than Southern Baptists, at least. The Baptists have no sense of humor whatsoever. Except for their racist jokes that I don’t find funny. The Muslims certainly don’t have the humor of the Irish, but nobody has that. After a night with an Irishman, your ribs are sore and your cheeks are so worn out that you think you may never smile again. With Muslims, the jokes tend to be intellectual and culturally local. If you don’t understand the culture, you won’t get it. But if you do, their jokes are actually pretty funny. What might surprise you is that I’ve never heard a joke about the Jews from a Muslim. Christians say those jokes all the time. The weirdest jokes come from the Turks. There were many times that I needed a history lesson to get them. They sometimes make these obscure jokes about Mohamed that require an intimate knowledge of his life. If you don’t know that story, you don’t get it.
fostert | Dec 5, 2008 | Reply
Fostert…you are a stereotype of the average liberal. Admiration & defense for ALL religions…except for Christian ones, of course….especially southern ones and, who of course, only tell racist, bigoted jokes all the time. Why don’t you try to have an original thought once in a while…
I suppose the same couldn’t possibly be true for Southern Baptists, could it. Because you are so smart, with an ear for supremely intellectual, highly cultural humor and YOU KNOW….no conservative, Southern Baptist could have that.
Cheesestick | Dec 6, 2008 | Reply