Opinion  Ray Hanania
We can’t surrender our sense of humor
Ray Hanania
Published: 20.08.06, 09:43
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23 Talkbacks for this article
1. WE LOVE YOU RAY - SERIOUSLY
andrew ,   miami,fl   (08.20.06)
FOR ALL THE HATE MAIL YOU GET - YOU "GET IT" COOL
2. Why aren't you in Gaza laughing with us?
Ahmed ,   Gaza City   (08.20.06)
You write your idiotic drivel from Chicago and claim to be Palestinian. Why don't you come to live in Gaza if you are really Palestinian? Don't think life would be so funny here? Ha Ha Ha? If you ever had a Palestinian soul, you've sold it for American $$$.
3. An Arab is explaining humor to Jews?
Z Lando ,   Tekoa, Israel   (08.20.06)
That's chutzpah!!!!! (and this guy has sure got a LOT of it!)
4. Ray's bombastic sentences.
2-sided perspective ,   US   (08.20.06)
"Every day...an Israeli tells them they don’t exist and have no rights." Ray, so one-sided, as usual. While some Israelis may think that, the Israeli leadership certainly doesn't reject (in fact, it encourages) the two-state solution. Jewish groups protest in Tel Aviv squares, calling for a faster approach to the two-state solution. Jewish groups stand at checkposts to try to increase awareness of Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, the Palestinian LEADERSHIP, in its formal charter, calls for the destruction of the entire state of Israel. Ray, who exactly doesn't recognize whose right to exist?
5. I DONT READ THIS GUYS DECEIPT
DACON9   (08.20.06)
6. Ray, You Must be an Idiot. #2 U R 100% Correct
Sammy ,   Canada   (08.20.06)
Where is the Humor in watching KIDS WOMEN HUMANS killed and where is humor when u see destruction in Lebanon and Gaza and in North of palestine. Where is te humor when u watch Qana and other Israeli Massacres. You Must Deaf or Blind Buddy. My advise to you is to stop laughing and may be even writing all togther because you bring shame to palestiinians.
7. SAMMY BABY CANADA
DACON9   (08.20.06)
YOU MENTION EVERYTHING BUT YOU CRAZY ARABS KIDNAPPING AND BEHEADING. YOU WACKO ARABS CROSSED THE BORDER KILLED 6 KIDNAPPED 2 PLUS 1 IN GAZA... WHERE EVER YOU START IN HISTORY THE ARABS ALWAYS STARTED THE FIGHTS. WHY NOT START COUNTING FROM MOOOOhamed READY FOR ROUND 2? I MEAN ROUND 2355? give or take a few
8. is this man funny or what?
termite   (08.20.06)
but even a little termite can perceive the humor that escapes from the dead wood leadership on both sides of the Wall. termite has swam a lot of miles in many venues and not once was accosted by a bully in a bathing suit. termite envisions the biggest water park in the world, whirlpools, fountains, slides, lap lanes, and diving boards. Framed verse from both books on the joy and happiness found in water. Sitting down for coffee or tea (no alcohol allowed) and sharing a halal and kosher meal from the same plate. termite and all the bugs will be happy to see the men and woman shed their hats for caps and wear the trunks and suits and splash and have fun.
9. #4
Jeff ,   Philadelphia, USA   (08.20.06)
My exact thoughts but stated better than I planned!!
10. #6
Jeff ,   Philadelphia, USA   (08.20.06)
Perhaps there is some sick humor in the made up so called massacres and the made up photographs. You refer to northern Israel as the north of Palestine. It is called Israel. So you do not recognize Israel's right to exist? I agree that Ray should stop writing, but then again we should stop reading his stuff. Imagine his having no talkbacks!! Perhaps we could agree on a desire for peace and mutual existence.
11. If only it will come true....
Karen R ,   USA   (08.20.06)
12. Well put Ray !
Yehuda ,   USA   (08.20.06)
The joys of life must not be forgotten. Laugh, sing, dance, wear bright colored clothes and shave. Feel good and look good people. Also Ray, please remind your relatives that the mojority of Israelis voted for and support a two-state solution. The Palestinians voted for Hammas. They need to get Haniyeh to crack a good Yasser joke and do a belly dance on TV. Abbas would be a natural belly dancer as he has no spine. Olmert, Peretz & Livni = Moe, Curly and Larry. They were elected to leave the West Bank, so they went into Lebanon to convince us that it was still smart to leave the West Bank. I think Moe finally hit Curly too many times over the head.
13. Ray Hanania's Humor
Wine Country Jewess ,   SF Area, CA   (08.20.06)
Ray's words: "It’s not just an Arab thing. I imagine there are many Israelis going through the same things that the Palestinians experience, maybe in different ways. "Let’s face it, Israel is not a dream come true, that’s for sure. Unless you consider living in a hell hole surrounded by conflict – some of it your own making – as heaven." ...are not funny but reflect the view of someone who is not at all Pro-Israel nor pro-two-state but of one state -- "Arafatland". Does Ray even know that over 900 from the US last month made aliyah? And there are another 1800 planning to go within the next few months? Gee what is the attraction? With as much respect as I can possibly give you, please get a job with CAIR and the Arab American Institute -- perhaps they can appreciate your brand of "humor" than those of us who do have humor but also know when to cry when we need to. We who are Jewish are survivors and we always have HOPE for others. But that hope can die when the others have no quest or zest for life. Ray perhaps had forgotten that 847 children were murdered by their parents in "Palestine" (Arab-controlled Israel) and the silence over this heinous act is deafening. I'm sorry Mr. Hanania I do not find the humor in that. And as a parent you shouldn't either.
14. made up, so-called massacres
(08.20.06)
with REAL dead people...
15. Jeff (6): who reads Ray's stuff?
sk ,   USA   (08.20.06)
I only stop by for the Talkbacks. We should be able to indicate whether or not we have read the column. I'll bet that almost nobody reads it very carefully.
16. TO SK and DACON9 ... THANKS!
Stewart ,   USA   (08.21.06)
Thanks for NOT reading Hanani's column. Maybe if enough others follow suit or stop writing, YNET will get serious about finding us another Arab, hopefully Muslim columnist with insight and honesty that we can have a real, productive dialogue with. PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF HEARD TO YNET IF YOU WANT ANOTHER, ARAB COLUMNIST! As far as Arsinio is concerned, read my response to rays last column, but probably better after you read the US constitution.
17. Ray = American arab ars
(08.21.06)
do the world a favour and move to bat yam that way you can sit in the circle and talk crap with like minded people without bothering anyone else on this mud ball george bush is funnier and more intelligent than you are (and he has the brain the size of a pea with the humour of a constipated moose)
19. No Soap Radio
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (08.21.06)
I read Ray's entire column and I didn't find the punch line so here it is: NO SOAP RADIO
20. Ray, Always Good For a Laugh
Dan Friedman ,   NYC, USA   (08.21.06)
Laughs are great, Ray. Especially the last laugh. :>)
21. Humor is an arab lecturing us in a Jewish
jason white ,   afula,israel   (08.21.06)
news site. You want to hear something funny?You think you belong here and the land is your's.It is not,never was,never will be. As for someday in the future,we Israelis may laugh at how the kadima/labor regime formed a govt.Our enemies will not be laughing or breathing.
22. #16.TO SK and DACON9 ... THANKS!
DACON9   (08.22.06)
I AM NOT FOR ANOTHER ARAB REPLACING ANY ARAB. I AM FOR A JEW TO REPLACE ALL ARABS. I AM NOT FOR APPEASEMENTS. I DONT FEEL GUILTY. I AM NOT SORRY FOR ANYTHING. I OWE THEM NOTHING. THE ARABS OWE ALL JEWS EVERYTHING. THEY ARE WILD THROUGHOUT HISTORY. ISRAEL IN 60 YRS BECAME ONE OF THE MIGHTIEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THROUGH PEACEFUL OBJECTIVES AND THE NEED TO SURVIVE FOR OUR CHILDREN. ARABIA HAS SHOWN TO LACK MORALITY AND FAMILY BUILDING AND WILLINGNESS TO SEEK PEACE WITH ANY WORLD. IF YOU WANT TO PREACH TO ME THAT THERE ARE MODERATES... I ASK YOU.. WHERE? THE ARABS ARE A TEAM PLAYER, RIGHT OR WRONG THEY WLL DIE FOR THEIR MULLAHS SHIEKS AND KINGS WHO ARE FACTUALLY DESTROYING THE ARAB WORLD THROUGH THE BRAINWASH OF THE ARAB POPULATION. I DONT READ ARAB RAY FOR HE IS A VERY DEVIOUS WRITER OR HE IS VERY BLINDED HIMSELF..RAY IS FAR FROM MODERATE..HE HAS HIS ARAB AGENDA...THAT IS TO CAUSE YOU JEWS TO THINK AS YOU DID... REPLACE ONE ARAB FOR ANOTHER... WHY? WHAT DID YOU JEWS LEARN FROM THE GREEKS OR GERMANS ? ONLY HOW TO BE MORE PERVERSE, STAND UP AND BE A JEW SEPARATE ... REBUILD YOUR SOUL AND YOUR NATION TO WALK WITH THE ONE 'HOLY GD OF ISRAEL''. STRENGTHEN YOURSELF WITH 'GD' THEN WALK LIKE A PROUD JEWISH KING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS THE LIGHT OF TORAH
23. Right on, Ray!
Arja ,   Canada   (08.24.06)
Ray, I'm sorry you have to read so much vitriolic drivel as in these talkbacks. You have to have a sense of humour to put up with it! Yes, a sense of humour is critical for survival in bad times. Laughter helps release anger and frustration, and that is definitely a good thing. Perhaps if enemies got together in a beautiful natural location and laughed and laughed till they peed their pants, they'd realize how alike they really are. Why do human beings waste so much time and energy on fighting and hating?! I like the image of everyone one day laughing together.
24. Thank you
Reda El Khattabi ,   Rabat, Morocco   (08.25.06)
for the best thing I read today. Yes, palestinians and Israelians are te same, they are both HUMANS. Maybe one day they will realise that, and try to live together peacefully, and not follow the agendas of their leaders, funding them with their lives and their hapiness.
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