Youth of Middle Eastern turmoil turn to comedy
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Comedy groups are popping up in countries across the Muslim world. Composed of mostly young men, they are dedicated to making people laugh amidst a landscape of things that provoke anger and tears. They get up in front of people and try to use their skills at humor to take away the negative feelings, if only for a little while. Many of them also organize educational workshops for others seeking to learn comedy, thus growing their numbers and spreading their message.
But it’s not all fun and games when you’re a stand-up comic in the Muslim world. To speak your mind often means going against what is acceptable and even what is legal. To properly use comedy to criticize institutions such as Islam and the government, you need to be honest. That honesty can sometimes get people into trouble, as was the case of one Egyptian comic who was charged because he talked about the wrong subjects. These comics, though they are trying to be funny, often have to take the lead from what their government and religion says is acceptable. Thus, they walk a fine line while trying to tell the truth of what’s wrong with their country.
Still, being a comic, as many have said, is one of the noblest of professions. And it’s far better for the youth of politically torn countries to be looking toward laughs as their answer instead of joining up with the discontent that would choose to further the chaos and cost people more lives. Good luck to them and may people finally realize that it’s much better to be smiling than to be drawn down by bad times.
Comedian Mohammad Salem photo courtes of gulfnews.com