I’ve been asked for my opinion on the Riyadh Comedy Festival and rather than answer the same question 23 times, I’ll just put this out here. Oh, and I should preface this with the fact that I was not offered the gig but it should go without saying that there’s not enough money for me to help these depraved, awful peopl
Perhaps the argument that could be made is that the US does not place limitations on speech (for now, the current government seems intent on changing that). But, as far as I can tell, engaging with the US economy indirectly funds the genocide in Gaza and other abhorrent actions by the US government. I have trouble seeing it as any more than “they’re the bad team and we obviously must be the good team”.
Saudi Arabia wouldn’t even be in a position to host such an event if the US hadn’t spent decades buying their oil. Most Americans have historically supported the Saudi regime financially just by going to the gas station.
The phrase “money talks” originated in the US in the 1930s. Americans have largely lived by that mantra since WW2, using economic force to shape the world as they see fit, sometimes resulting in incredible harm to others globally.
One can’t have their cake and eat it too I’m afraid.
Finally, while Saudi Arabia is not a perfect nation (I’d like to see which nation is) having progressive voices (relative to the cultural standard there) be amplified is a benefit to humanity. This is how minds are changed. Through stories from different perspectives. Through art. No nation, no people are so far lost that they are beyond conversation. That’s would be a level of dehumanization that’d call into question our own humanity.
Did someone in the US lure a journalist they didn’t like into an embassy, kill him, have his body chopped up into tiny pieces, and force it down a drain?
Depends what era we’re looking at because the US government has been responsible for several assassinations and substantial foreign interference. I can assure you the US government has done worse at a much larger scale throughout its history. Americans tend to be less aware of their own history than folks around the world since they don’t bear the brunt of the worst of their governments misdeeds.
By this logic, any foreign comedian that performs in the US should be admonished because of every wrong the US government has ever committed. I’m sorry but the reasoning is flawed.
Its better to just say you’re biased (as we all are) and that Saudi Arabia is, in your perception, not on your team so that’s why its a problem to you specifically.
No, it isn’t. Comparing the shitty actions of a government to the shit decisions of individuals is not equatable. It’s foolish to even try that argument.
Perhaps the argument that could be made is that the US does not place limitations on speech (for now, the current government seems intent on changing that). But, as far as I can tell, engaging with the US economy indirectly funds the genocide in Gaza and other abhorrent actions by the US government. I have trouble seeing it as any more than “they’re the bad team and we obviously must be the good team”.
Saudi Arabia wouldn’t even be in a position to host such an event if the US hadn’t spent decades buying their oil. Most Americans have historically supported the Saudi regime financially just by going to the gas station.
The phrase “money talks” originated in the US in the 1930s. Americans have largely lived by that mantra since WW2, using economic force to shape the world as they see fit, sometimes resulting in incredible harm to others globally.
One can’t have their cake and eat it too I’m afraid.
Finally, while Saudi Arabia is not a perfect nation (I’d like to see which nation is) having progressive voices (relative to the cultural standard there) be amplified is a benefit to humanity. This is how minds are changed. Through stories from different perspectives. Through art. No nation, no people are so far lost that they are beyond conversation. That’s would be a level of dehumanization that’d call into question our own humanity.
Did someone in the US lure a journalist they didn’t like into an embassy, kill him, have his body chopped up into tiny pieces, and force it down a drain?
News to me if that happened. It’s a fucking FACT because this asshole running the show over there bragged about it. He was a US citizen. His name was Jamal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Jamal_Khashoggi
Uhhh. I mean they didn’t do that exactly,but…The US does love killing journalists
Depends what era we’re looking at because the US government has been responsible for several assassinations and substantial foreign interference. I can assure you the US government has done worse at a much larger scale throughout its history. Americans tend to be less aware of their own history than folks around the world since they don’t bear the brunt of the worst of their governments misdeeds.
By this logic, any foreign comedian that performs in the US should be admonished because of every wrong the US government has ever committed. I’m sorry but the reasoning is flawed.
Its better to just say you’re biased (as we all are) and that Saudi Arabia is, in your perception, not on your team so that’s why its a problem to you specifically.
You don’t know when to stop, huh?
A double standard is a double standard, I’m afraid.
No, it isn’t. Comparing the shitty actions of a government to the shit decisions of individuals is not equatable. It’s foolish to even try that argument.