Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Genocide isn't funny
My wife received a very disturbing email recently forwarded from a right-wing godder associate. Before I comment I'll let you see it:
The Iranian Ambassador to the UN had just finished giving a speech, and walked out into the lobby where he met President Bush. They shook hands, and as they walked the Iranian said, "You know, I have just one question about what I have seen in America. President Bush replies, "Well, anything I can do to help you, I will."
The Iranian whispered "My son watches this show 'Star Trek' and in it there is Chekhov who is Russian, Scotty who is Scottish, and Sulu who is Chinese, but no Arabs. My son is very upset and doesn't understand why there aren't any Arabs on Star Trek." President Bush laughed, leaned toward the Iranian ambassador, and whispered back, "It's because it takes place in the future."
Ha fucking ha. Get it? Cause there won't be any of them there Arab's left in the future. Hilarious.
It amazes me that there are people out there that find this amusing and worth passing on but I suppose it shouldn't.
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I agree with it.
It's been recycled so many times...
...it's not surprising it got to this incarnation. The standard format merely has an Arab asking an American the same question, as opposed to the Iranian UN ambassador asking Bush.
Just a nit-pick...
Iranians aren't Arabs. They're more than happy to tell you about it at great length.
Not only is this joke in bad taste...it's badly engineered.
--
Rex: a student of physics and history
we didn't hate them then
Actually the reason that there are no arab characters on the Star Trek:TOS is because we weren't at war with arabs at the time, Rodenberry had decided that the enterprise should be crewed by Russian, Japanese and black people as a way to express that we would someday be able to live together without killing each other or discriminating against each other based on race or gender.
Arabs on Star Trek
Actually, Dr. Bashir on ST:DS9 is an Arab character. In addition, Native American characters were featured on an ST:TNG episode, and those series take place even further in the future than ST:TOS, so the joke falls apart. And yes, Sulu is Japanese. This joke was conceived by not just an asshole, but an ignorant one at that.
sulu
Wasn't he Japanese?
Ok, so I'm sick. But, the
Ok, so I'm sick. But, the joke is funny, really funny. I feel ok laughing because it hasn't happened and isn't going to. A similar joke about American Indians is incredibly sick. In addition, it is hilarious to imagine that w could be that clever. I know, I know, I am banned for life.
I am no longer...
Sadly, I am no longer amazed by anything people do, often in the name of religion/God.
Jim Downey
"Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering."
- R. Buckminster Fuller
I have seen a similar joke...
... related to the American Indians. (or "Native Americans" if you prefer) Sick, and sad.