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January 21, 2008

This is not a joke

Did you know that one of the official "accusations" being made against Mark Steyn is that he allegedly believes (based on a published review in with he panned "Little Mosque on the Prairie"):

9. Moderate Muslims are a rarity; Moderate Muslims who are actually funny are an even greater rarity.

Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen: government commissions are now being used to settle disputes over whether or not "Little Mosque on the Prairie" is funny.

Posted by KShaidle at January 21, 2008 9:45 AM
Comments

amazing the show lasted this long. It isn't funny.

and a projection of "CDN values" by non-muslims!

my that CBC is devious....

Posted by: puddin and pie at January 21, 2008 9:58 AM

Does this mean that if I make comments about Corner Gas to people, that some gas station jockey can take me to a Kangaroo Rights Council?

Can't we consider the consider these councils to be Sitcoms in their own regard, then at least we get some entertainment value from the absurdity!

Posted by: Frenchie77 at January 21, 2008 10:07 AM

Well, I can answer that right now, in my capacity as a daily TV columnist.

It isn't.

I'm available to testify in support of Mr. Steyn at any time.

Posted by: rick mcginnis at January 21, 2008 10:12 AM

Well he deserves a smak down for that statement...just look at the number of Muslims on the stand-up comedy circuits...there's uhhh...and then there's ahhh..hmmm....well I'm sure there may be a few muslims subscribed to comedy central cable.

Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at January 21, 2008 10:13 AM

Will Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant be on the Bill O'Reilly Factor on Tuesday at 8:00 pm as advertised on Ezra's site?

Just wondering.

Should be a doozie!!

http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/

Posted by: Joe Molnar at January 21, 2008 10:20 AM

Reality TV.....and I kid you not

See Calgary Herald/Sun/Jan20 (City & Observer)

"Reality TV delves into faith leader's lives"

Coming to a TV near you :

"A Priest, a Monk, and a Rabbi"
sometime in late Feb/early March on CTS channel(multi-faith based). See www.ctstv.com

Producer -Lindsay Speer (Edmonton based Idea Factory)

Starring from Calgary:
Syed Soharwardy (Imam)
Sensei A.W.Barber (Buddhist)

and from Edmonton area:
Father Paul Moret (Catholic Priest)
Ari Drelich (Rabbi)
Marc Brisbois (Pentecostal Pastor)

and from Medicne Hat
Mesh Hit (Alliance Pastor)

Profiles as husbands, parents, hikers, and hockey players...etc.


Posted by: calgary clipper at January 21, 2008 10:22 AM

When is CBC gonna show Little Synagogue In The Desert? I may have to contact the CHRC about this.
Discrimination against Jews?

Posted by: Ralph R. at January 21, 2008 10:22 AM

"just look at the number of Muslims on the stand-up comedy circuits..." WLMR

Surely you haven't forgotten Achmed the dead terrorist and his sidekick Jeff Dunham.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4rB-go

Posted by: Texas Canuck at January 21, 2008 10:31 AM

I watched exactly One episode of it.

NO.

Posted by: otter at January 21, 2008 10:32 AM

I've just sent a missive to the CBC Ombudsman about CBC's abysmal record re covering the HRC fiascos. It's posted on the thread just below this.

Posted by: Concerned Canadian at January 21, 2008 10:40 AM

You're right, of course, that it's not an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars, and it's the sort of thing that governments at all levels do all the time. San Francisco, for example, has the money to pay for sex change operations for its employees, but not to hire more policemen. Across the bay, Oakland, which was recently ranked as the fourth most-dangerous city in America, recently passed a law outlawing smoking on sidewalks. That's the kind of problem that government can handle. Keeping residents from getting killed evidently isn't.

Posted by: Silicon Valley Jim at January 21, 2008 10:45 AM

It looks like they are more upset that they can't prove him wrong (re:moderate/funny Muslims). To cover up this fact they need to shut him up.

Posted by: LynnH at January 21, 2008 10:45 AM

From the 5 seconds I've seen of the show, the meme seems to be that Muslims are crazy fun-lovin' types, as opposed to their whitebread Canadian counterparts who are square and uptight.

My question is why haven't some of the actors and actresses, who must have bought into this, converted to Islam? What's stopping them?

Posted by: Mississauga Matt at January 21, 2008 10:48 AM

Jonah Goldberg's LIBERAL FASCISM, folks. Must read. And it's NOT off topic!

Posted by: Doug at January 21, 2008 10:51 AM

Is Little Mosque on the Prairie funny? Damned if I know because I haven't the slightest inclination to watch it. People like Rick McGinnis above suffer so that I don't. My hat is off to you Rick.

Posted by: John B at January 21, 2008 11:04 AM

Doug, haven't read Goldberg's LIBERAL FASCISM but as someone who completed highschool before the "Just" society was implemented I remember the history courses that were once upon atime mandatory in this country. Indeed it doesn't take a brain surgeon to see the similiarity between the HRC and the People's Court of Nazi Germany.

Posted by: Antenor at January 21, 2008 11:24 AM

Hmm wonder why they haven't launched an HRC complaint against Tarek Fatah for his less than complimentary Little Mosque review?

http://www.muslimcanadiancongress.org/20070212.html

Posted by: Blazingcatfur at January 21, 2008 11:28 AM

I watched the first two episodes of LMOTP, and it was like suffering through a high school play in which your kids WEREN'T involved.

My wife tried her level best to watch it regularly, but gave up after about four episodes as, said she,"it just isn't funny".

If CBC wants to make a comedy show about ethnics, may I suggest they film a few specials of the hilarious Russell Peters.

Posted by: dmorris at January 21, 2008 11:44 AM

People act as if being cynical about your country is a waste of time, and a negative trait as it stands today.

If anything it's a barometer the speaks of a sane persons awareness to the insanity many are content being "governed" by.

Progressives that try and excuse crap like this with a gray fog of enlightened gobbledygook are a big part of the problem, they know better, they just don't have the guts to admit it.

Posted by: Mugs at January 21, 2008 11:51 AM

The globe and mail finally crawled out from under the bed and acknowledged the story of Ezra and the HRCs. But only as web content. I guess they figured that since everyone in the blogosphere already knew about it, it would be safe to mention it there, but not in the print edition.
BOO!

Posted by: Stan at January 21, 2008 11:53 AM

I was surprised to find out Steyn wasn't Jewish. That being the case he is somewhat less of an expert on what is and what is not funny. Everyone knows "those other desert people" may or may not be running the banks but they definately have a foothold in comedy.

I watched part of an episode of Little Mosque. I did not find it the least bit funny but hey, chaque a son gout.

My question is this: is there an accurate rating source through which I can find out how many people do watch it?

Posted by: EyesWideShut at January 21, 2008 12:08 PM

I tend not to focus on the misconceptions that Muslims are by a majority lured to radicalism. But insofar as you point out the Little Mosque on the Prairie, I take issue with the show. Little Mosque is based on a kind of multicultural Utopianism ala "Dances with Wolves" or "Lawrence of Arabia" in which cultures work together in seemingly strange circumstances to achieve the desires which are a common bond of all peoples. It is unmitigated propaganda, firstly because it implies that such communities in Canada are as forthcoming, open, and flexible as the Muslims on Little Mosque, and second because it also assumes such scenarios are played in the gentle good humour that is common among Canadian disagreements.

It is a falsehood to portray our society in this way, particularly when Muslim enclaves in Mississauga and throughout Canada are largely segregated into areas in which cute and fanciful Little Mosque skits would be entirely impossible, short of the tiny minorities of Canadians who might stumbled into a Muslim corner store by accident.

Little Mosque is a work of fiction, full stop. So long as we remember that, we do not have to relate their actions on the show to events in real life.

Posted by: Raphael Alexander at January 21, 2008 12:09 PM

What's the big deal , everyone knows it bombed .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 21, 2008 12:18 PM

Watched the first episode of Little Mosque - not a funny show, but a painful display of CBC pandering to a violent cult 'religion'.
Say this out loud 5 times a day:
Diversity is good, Diversity is good, Diversity is good, Diversity is good, Diversity is good!
Then watch Little Mosque to prove you accept people of all cultures!!

Posted by: Lorraine at January 21, 2008 12:19 PM

The hypocritical Muslims who would haul folks like Steyn and Levant to the kangaroo courts, which we know to be corrupt and in need of shutdown, would be a laughingstock right now if the whole matter weren't so damn serious.

Posted by: Canadian Sentinel at January 21, 2008 12:39 PM

Silence! I keel you!

Posted by: Eskimo at January 21, 2008 1:05 PM

"In the US, the people hate the government; in Canada, the government hates the people."

(If you want to sum up this case in one sentence)

Posted by: Hannibal Lectern at January 21, 2008 1:10 PM

Its about a funny as a heart attack! It really is the least funny show I have ever seen!I cant beleive it is still on. I read somewhere today that the writer claims 1.2 million Canadians watch it weekly ! I would have to see the proof of that to beleive it!
George

Posted by: George Bolger at January 21, 2008 1:14 PM

'I tend not to focus on the misconceptions that Muslims are by a majority lured to radicalism'~ Raphael

I have to agree with you. How I see it: the majority of muslims are more like the people of Germany, circa the 20s and 30s. They saw what was happening, knew it was going down seriously bad roads... but it was safer to remain Silent.

...and who knew? Maybe they'd still get what they wanted in the end (if they survived it).

Posted by: otter at January 21, 2008 1:31 PM

I've watched the show a couple of times, a while back, and I'm stumped. Was it suppose to be funny?

Posted by: Joanne at January 21, 2008 1:32 PM

Considering that these people are not self-employed, we, the tax payers and the employer, need to insist on either a serious house cleaning or ending all public funding to the Communist Broadcasting Corp.

This is simply the latest and one example of the rubbish produced and broadcast with our money, as the list is endless. I never watch it or listen to their radio but yet have to help fund them. It is sad since I am old enough to recall, a very long time ago, when the CBC stood for quality and excellent reporting.

Posted by: Alain at January 21, 2008 1:43 PM

Years ago I used to listen to CBC radio on my way to work in the morning. Mostly this is because commercial radio was all advertising at that time of the day. They had a few good presenters, but they became so hard left (that or I finally noticed it) that I just could not listen to it any more. I used to watch CBC news in the Nowlton (sp?) Nash days but I haven't watched that in years either. Does anyone watch CBC, why does it exist?

Posted by: minuteman at January 21, 2008 2:40 PM

"...read somewhere today that the writer claims 1.2 million Canadians watch it weekly !"

I don't know, I'm visiting Toronto the good from Vancouver Island, and it sure looks like there ARE 1.2 million muslims in just this neighborhood.

Posted by: Alienated at January 21, 2008 2:43 PM

I see the creator of the taxpayer-funded Canadian sitcom "Little Mosque On The Prairie" has criticized "Seinfeld" for "failing to deal with the contentious issue of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory".


"I spit on you, and jihad, in your general direction." BWWWAHAHAHAAA!!!!

Posted by: Orlin at January 21, 2008 2:44 PM

I am wondering when the descendants of Laura Ingles Wilder will be suing CBC for attempting to make a mockery of her novel, "Little House on the Prarie"?

Should be comming down the tube anyday now ...who is going to defend those fools at CBC when they are taken to task for 'hurting' the feelings of millions of Canadians and Americans whose fammilies (like my own) lived the life discribed in Mrs. Wilder's novels?


Posted by: Jema54 at January 21, 2008 3:11 PM

True comedy allows you to laugh at yourself.
Islam can not, by nature, even see the irony
of calling itself the ROP.

"Above all else, the devil cannot stand to be mocked."
-C.S. Lewis

That you can be condemned of mocking Islam by pointing out the truth is an insane irony.

Posted by: orvict at January 21, 2008 3:14 PM

In answer to 'why the CBC exists' - it exists for the same reason all government corporations exist. For its employees.

The CBC provides excellent jobs for thousands of like-minded Liberals/NPD/leftists. High wages, excellent benefits and pensions. Safe, assured jobs. It can churn out whatever propaganda it wants, because its income, from the hapless entrapped taxpayer, is guaranteed. Unlike a private company which requires positive feedback from its customers in order to stay afloat, the CBC doesn't need any positive feedback from the Canadian viewer. Remember, it doesn't exist for the Canadian viewer. It exists for its employees.

It can manufacture feedback, it can manipulate its reports, it provides an 'Ombudsman' to deflect criticism - and he does that neatly by informing you that he has nothing to do with programs or content (then what's his role?).

The CBC was supposed to function to express Canadian content. However, since there are very few Canadian shows produced (I wonder why?), the CBC spends a great deal of its time in propaganda. Endless bashing the US. I suppose that's Canadian content for the definition of Canada is only that We Are NOT American. Endless shows about global warming, against Iraq, more against the Americans..and so on.
And, endless shows supporting the Liberals. That's insurance in case anyone gets uptight against the CBC. The CBC functions as the Propaganda arm of the Liberals.

This transformation from an ideal of being of service to Canadians, to being solely focused on employee welfare and benefits - has also occurred in our health system. In our educational system. Indeed, any service that was set up to serve Canadians, has reduced and transformed to focusing solely on the welfare and benefits of its employees. Period.

Posted by: ET at January 21, 2008 3:34 PM

They just have a different sense of humor than ours. Like when the leader of hezzassholes is bragging about having the body parts of dead Israeli soldiers, they get a hoot of that.

They laugh when they teach their children to hate Jews and infidels, that makes them smile.

It goes over well in the Me, and amongst the terrorist supporters in the civilized world, but I can honestly say I don't find anything funny about it.

Posted by: Honey Pot at January 21, 2008 3:37 PM

islam is not funny and the moron/morons who came up with little mosque should be forced to live in s.a. for the rest of their lives, that should help with the comedy writing.

Posted by: old white guy at January 21, 2008 4:00 PM

Chemical Ali was pretty funny.
Remember,...
"We are roasting their stomachs in hell" as they cut and run from their own Bagdad airport.

AHHHHHH, hahahaha
That stuff never gets old.



Posted by: richfisher at January 21, 2008 4:31 PM

I was reading the one actress on little house in the mosque did recently convert to islam. It must be the new rage (pun intended) amongst actors. Brittany Spears is wanting to join up too. I am not so sure if it less harmless then cocaine, time will tell.

Posted by: Honey Pot at January 21, 2008 4:38 PM

CBCpravda needs balance. they need to put on "Little Synagogue on the Prairie" plus the joos have a way better sense of humour.

lets start of list of funny joos with non jewish surnames.

Billy Crystal
George Burns


and now one with funny muslims....


....


....

Posted by: cal2 at January 21, 2008 4:41 PM

The Ayatollah Khomeini famously said: "An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam."

Looks like the votes are in, and the SDA readers have determined that there is no humour in Little Mosque On the Prairie, either. Does that now make those CBC writers the subject of a fatwa?

Posted by: Kevin at January 21, 2008 4:48 PM

Nesrallah, Chemical Ali, et al.

Don't forget the hilarious antics of Ayatollah "Judge" Kalkali at Desert One, sticking his enormous honker into the body bags and spitting on the remains of American servicemen. Ah, that Mohammedan humour! ROFLMAO? Definitely not.

Posted by: Charles MacDonald at January 21, 2008 4:54 PM

Ici, Radio-Canada. Bonjour. Le Petite Mosque de la Prairie is not available in French.
...-

2005-2006 Fact Sheet

Excerpt:

Two Happy Faces for:
Equitable participation – Part VI
a) Percentage of Francophone participation throughout Canada (5%)
Overall, 46.7% of employees are Francophone. (Source: OLIS II, December 26, 2004)
...-

One Unsad/Unhappy Face for:

b) Percentage of Anglophone participation in Quebec (5%)
In Quebec, 4.6% of employees are Anglophone. (Source: OLIS II, December 26, 2004) ...-
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) http://tinyurl.com/34jckp

Posted by: maz2 at January 21, 2008 4:55 PM

Funny? Really funny is imagining all those suicidal jihadists arriving in heaven, just to find out that those 72 virgins ( or whatever the hell the number is this week ) are all redneck mamas sitting around munching on fried pork rinds and watching NASCAR.

That ought to be good for about 12 episodes.

Posted by: Yoop at January 21, 2008 4:56 PM

The 72 virgins are called houris, from the word whore.

Religion?

Posted by: irwin daisy at January 21, 2008 4:59 PM

I thought the Seinfeld episode where they made fun of dentists, and Gerry was branded an anti-dentite, was pretty funny.
I have not seen LMOTP, however it appears I am not missing much.

Posted by: gobi desert at January 21, 2008 5:07 PM

I have from time to time tuned into LHOTP, just to keep an open mind. (Impossible and you know it). Ok, just to carefully observe, so that I can know what I am saying.

There is a surly, introspective man, with a bald head. He is a "muslim", with a "convert" wife. She tries to placate the man and so on. Last time out they awaken a boozed up, befuddled woman, from the couch. This after their little family get together watching T/V.

I have the National Post dated Oct 29th 2007. Shown is a scene from the Taylor-Bouchard Commission hearings on Islam in Quebect. Mr Taylor (bless him) is at a table. He is laughing uproariously at a skit. Two actors show a dialogue. One a "local man" in a plaid car coat, an ill fitting scarf with tassels. On his head is a sort of toque. He is arguing with a young woman. She has a most pleasing face, gently reasoning against the man. She has a bright blue headscarf.

Somehow this does not jibe with a photograph of a confrontation at Herouxville, Quebec, between two women. There is anger and confrontation.

Yes, it is all an act. They need actors. Would they show a face of an El Masry?

Posted by: Peter(Lock City) at January 21, 2008 5:38 PM

"What's the big deal , everyone knows it bombed .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 21, 2008 12:18 PM"

Not according to the CBC - every press release and mention of it from the corp calls it a "surprise hit."

Posted by: rick mcginnis at January 21, 2008 6:20 PM

Well, yeah, but, a 'surprise hit' on the Mother Corp is when all CBCProavda staff says it is a hit. A 'surprise hit' does not maen that anyone watches it, or that the Mother Corp has tried to measure if anyone is watching. It is still on because the Mother Corp WANTS to APPEAR to be open to Islam.

Posted by: terrence at January 21, 2008 7:09 PM

Let's hope that O'Reilly can shut up and let Ezra and Mark Steyn run with this story tomorrow. Hey, I'm a fan of his, but, see his limitations. He eats up valuable time yakking on issues deserve more time.

FOX has been using bloggers as a resource. Brit Hume's "News Hour" regularly summarizes stuff they have pulled off of blogs.

Afer some hype on FOX, the most viewed US cable news now, how long can the Canadian MSM on the airwaves keep up their wall of silence.

Power to the people.

Posted by: penny at January 21, 2008 8:59 PM

Of course the charges against Steyn are from the bureaucratic fantasyland. The charges have nothing to do with real world. An opinion is an opinion; everybody has one, even the low life bureaucrats, though they are trained on taxpayer’s expanse how to obfuscate their opinion for it to come out right.
Don’t watch CBC as a rule, though being involuntary associated with it through taxes, ‘have right to comment. Seems those comments on The Corner are about the sum total of the problems with it. Only on CBC will you find programs that few people watch. As one of the ‘creative minds’ said, ‘if 10 people watch it, it should be on, because it is uniquely Canadian and people are interested’.

Posted by: Lev at January 21, 2008 10:31 PM

The only question that matters is this: was Mohammed a prophet? Moses told people that if a man claimed to be a prophet, but could not support it with signs from God, then he was a false prophet (for which there would be serious legal sanctions, not to mention hell to pay). Which is common sense for everyone. For believer's in God because otherwise you would have to allow yourself to be upset by anyone who claimed to speak in God's name. For atheists, because they do not believe in prophets anyway. I have asked Mahomet's followers for evidence, and the best answer I get is that the Koran is so beautiful. Which is not evidence at all. As for all the particular questions that bother people, they are red herrings. Are they nice people? Do they have jokes? Do they plan world conquest? Should women wear burkas? Should they wear bras? Should Britney Spears wear undergarments? Are there too many of them, having too many children? The only thing that matters is whether he was a prophet, and they can bring forth not one bit of evidence that he was.
But such is our sorry state, that a public debate on the one point that matters is out of the question, because we have an implicit and false irenicism regarding questions concerning religious belief. I do not think that any major publication would allow a reasoned debate on questions of dogma. After all, someone might win a debate, and what would that mean for everyone else?

Posted by: hyoo at January 21, 2008 10:42 PM

To continue. When our Heroes are hauled before the tribunals, force the tribunals to take a stand that: (1) they think M was a prophet; (2) they think he was not; (3) they think the question cannot be resolved. (1) and (2) are unlikely answers, but suffice it to say that if they answer (2), then they are tarring themselves with the same brush as their prisoners. If they say (3), that the question cannot be resolved, they are still insulting the followers of the M, because they will be saying that those followers are irrational.

Posted by: Hyoo at January 21, 2008 11:11 PM

I hope LMOTP stays on forever. The thought of all those leftys forcing themselves to watch it and trying harder and harder to find excuses not to is hilarious. Can you imagine how hard it is to pick out when the jokes are supposed to be and forcing laughter? They have to keep up to speed on it all so they can show how progressive they are around the ol' government water cooler the next day. Missing a couple of episodes without a good reason could be detrimental to one's career. People might start talking about them in hushed whispers.

Posted by: Stan at January 21, 2008 11:48 PM

How many of our Muslim citizens watch LMOTP? What's the target audience? ... or is this art?

Posted by: ural at January 22, 2008 1:27 AM

The problem with the Leftoid brains running the CBC is they're not in the real world as is the case with all cloud dwellers.
They don't seem to realize most of the real world don't find much humor in the Muslim world or among Muslims living in our part of the world either. Though there may be some exceptions, it's not widespread. Why have the zealots among the Imams not taken a complaint to the HRC about this show?

I resent deeply that they were allowed to bastardize the title of a much loved story, Little House on the Prairie.

Big Farce on the Prairie would be closer to truth.

Posted by: Liz J at January 22, 2008 2:31 PM
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