PHOBIA OBMANIA OMAHIACATHOLIC NUN FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM PLANE FOR WEARING “MUSLIM GARB” SO SHE IS SUPPOSE TO BE DRESSED LIKETHIS LOOK AT THE PICTUREA
Matt Kazam Thanks, Omar. Since my mother is Jewish and my father is Muslim, I have a very personal reason to support inter-religious peace. Every time the families get together, we have our own Holy War going on in the living room! It actually is not that bad. For the most part the two sides get along, so I have seen firsthand that people of differing religious views can not only live in peace, but can produce a marriage of 47 years and four children. So if Mohamed Kazem can love Norma Epstein and they accept each others’ differing beliefs, maybe we can all get along. This is why the ‘FUNATICAL Comedy Tour’ is so important. If we can laugh at each other, we can love each other. Comedy is about comparing and contrasting differences. Be it about gender, married vs. single, race, religion, politics etc. So, as long as you take a respectful approach in writing the material, religious differences can be funny. Also, I think God has a sense of humor. Have you seen the platypus? Half duck, half beaver. That seems like the start to a bar joke. Seriously, I do think the Jewish faith has been tied to humor since the beginning. This probably explains the over abundance of Jewish comedians, and I know some pretty funny Rabbis. 
Maria Shehata Very true. I’m Christian and Arab so I support inter-religious peace because none of us have the answers and it really is a huge ego that is intolerant of others just because they have different beliefs. I don’t need anyone to believe in the same things I do — I’m all for the “agree to disagree” mentality. What’s worse than getting into a religious debate with someone? Everyone’s on the defensive, and they just dig their heels harder into what they’ve always believed. The good thing about comedy is there’s an opportunity to be understood without all the defenses. Of course on the other hand, you can’t control how people take a joke. Sometimes people hear the word “Jesus” and suddenly they are up in arms, even before they’ve heard the rest of the joke. There’s really nothing you can do. You’ll probably always offend someone with religious humor, but at the very least you’re reaching the people who are willing to laugh. But if you want to do jokes about religion AND you don’t want to offend anyone then please, use a puppet.
Paul Singh I agree with Maria that it’s a fine line. The religion that I was born into is called Sikhism which means “learning forever.” I feel that it is a very pragmatic religion. It is based on the fundamentals of “live and let live” and equality and justice for all. A true Sikh strives to learn from other religions and achieve salvation. The aspect that I find hilarious about religion is that originally all religions start out teaching peace and harmony, but today, more people are killed on the name of religion than any other threat to mankind. If you look at the true essence of religions, they are all supposed to lead us salvation and peace of mind. Ironically, today more people have lost their minds and their peace because of religion. If the basic core of every religion is peace, then why is there so much violence in our temples, churches and mosques? We all claim that our religion is best and the only toward salvation and internal peace. I look at religion like a school: It does not matter what school you go to, they all should get you a diploma. Similarly, all religions lead you toward salvation. Once you understand this basic concept, you will have a hard time hating other religions. Said, what do you think?
Said Durrah As a Muslim, it is extremely important for me to encourage tolerance and peace among all religions because that is essentially what my religion has taught me to do. Islam is not a set of rules I aim to follow, it is a way of life. Part of that way of life is what I always refer to as Jihad 2.0 or Jihad of the 21st century. You see the word “jihad” and you think of the references to Holy War, as if it is some battle with guns blazing and Clint Eastwood standing in front of you with darker skin and a thicker beard asking if “you feel lucky, punk.” In truth, jihad in our present day is not a war with guns or swords; it is a battle of tolerance. If I am on stage performing for non-Muslims and I get them to laugh with me and enjoy my comedy, I made an impression on them. Nobody trusts someone that they don’t like, which is why you never hear a person say, “I sure hate Abdullah, but I trust the hell out of him!” Muslims can be funny and we can make you laugh with us rather than at us. If we all smile and laugh and loosen up — and I can learn about you and you can learn about me — through it all we will build respect and tolerance for each other. Not much in life can be more important than that, so give me your best joke …
Tehran “SoParvaz” In so many parts of the world, religion is the border divide. Yet when you look at the basis of religion, just like people, they are not all that different from one another. The details may be different but the overall basics are the same. “Thou shalt not lie, cheat, steal, kill, and/or covet thy neighbor’s wife”. When you look at these regional conflicts you realize it is not truly a matter of religious conflict but regional conflict. These people are arguing over land, water, resources, not really over God. Religion is supposed to make you a better person with ideals and morals. It’s not about suicide bombings or AK47s. I’m a true mix: Half Iranian/half black with a Muslim/Baptist/Jewish/Zoroastrian mix. I feel that I embody the ideology that can make peace in the world. These religions can all get along because they all get along in me. Bringing people together is why I do what I do on stage. However making religion and/or race funny is always a very tricky game. There is a very thin line between funny and offensive and I try my best not to cross it. The best way to make everyone equal is to make fun of them equally. The biggest difference between a Jew with a big beard, a Christian with a big beard, and a Muslim with a big beard is the way they are dressed. Make them metaphorically “naked” and they are really all the same.
Ahmed Ahmed All very interesting perspectives. I was raised Muslim and was taught that we should respect all religions, beliefs, etc. My old friend and colleague, Rabbi Bob Alper, once told me, “You can’t hate anyone with whom you’ve laughed.” Everything about religions is profoundly funny, I think. The stories are amazing! I mean Jesus walked across water? God spoke to Moses through a burning bush? Mohammed ascended to Heaven from a rock in Jerusalem? Noah built an Ark and was able to gather TWO of each animals from around the world?! We are talking about the super heroes of religion. BRILLIANT!
Omar Regan (“Rush Hour 2″), Matt Kazam (NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”), Maria Shehata (Showtime, Comedy Central), Paul Singh (Apollo Theater), Said Durrah (“Arabs Gone Wild”), Tehran SoParvaz (Laugh Factory) and headliner Ahmed Ahmed (“Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show,” Tonight Show with Jay Leno, “Iron Man,” “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” Axis of Evil, Comedy Central, Showtime) will be performing in‘FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme’s “We Come in Peace” Tour’on April 14 (Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse) and April 16 (Ernst Theater at NVCC Annandale) in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Producers and performers of ‘FUNATICAL’ have also been invited to speak at panel discussions at The National Press Club on April 14 and Georgetown University on April 15.
The shows will benefit the Nooristan Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit that supports charitable projects in Afghanistan.
Blanche Dubois was another passenger sitting close to Sister Cora-Ann and explained: “Once I heard that her name sounded like Koran, I got worried. That does not mean that there is anything wrong with me, does it? I just did not want to die. I was so scared, that I just yelled out her name to all passengers.” Mr. Okonkwo was a passenger seated a few rows behind and stated: “Once we all heard that the passenger’s name was Koran, things started falling apart.” Frodo Baggins, a frequent traveler, said he had heard that Muslims do not eat beef. “I did not think that she was Muslim, and to help her out, I took out some of my beef jerky and asked the lady to eat it to prove that she was not a Muslim.”
However, Sister Cora-Ann politely refused the beef jerky and reminded the other passengers that it was the time of Lent, during which Catholics often abstain from eating meat. The unrest in the plane kept growing, because most passengers were now convinced that Sister Cora-Ann was indeed Muslim and they demanded that Sister Cora-Ann leave the plane. “I did not want to cause my fellow humans any distress, so I left the plane”, she said.
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