We have this global conscience, right? It’s part of our one world makeup. We all think the same way, right? We’re all incredibly sensitive unless you are talking about Christians and Americans. We have this whole global conscience now. To illustrate my point, remember when Norway published those cartoons of the Prophet (I feel like I am suddenly in a Harry Potter novel, something like saying He Who Shall Not be Named or drawn, or any of the above) a few years ago and the whole world just flipped? That happened, right? People got upset. It’s part of our new sensitive world.
Remember when those soldiers in Gitmo supposedly flushed a Koran, right (thank you Newsweek)? Folks in other countries were turning over their cars! It was nuts! And so typical of our new global mindset.
So here we are, a couple of years later, older smarter, wiser, that kind of thing, and Jeff Dunham takes the stage. Jeff Dunham is unique in that his comedy centers around puppets. His act has been considered controversial from time to time but it is fresh and ridiculously relevant.
Like most folks with some hilarity and a unique presence, he has been tapped to be an international cell phone ringtone. Here is where the controversy comes in. Part of Jeff's act involves a dummy of a dead terrorist. Okay, he’s a puppet (I forget puppets are sensitive too). I mean the terrorist, not Dunham. The terrorist is the puppet! Dunham is the puppeteer.
I know what you’re thinking. I thought it too. Isn’t that being redundant? What — dead and terrorist or dummy and terrorist? It doesn’t matter. Point is this guy, this Jeff Dunham, does this act that can be seen on Youtube now and the whole world watches and we all laugh because it’s funny and supposedly we all have a sense of humor.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Ruvy
Just wondering if I coudn't get a few more details about which South Africans were pissed off about this youtube thingy, Tim: was it the robbers, murderers and rapists, was it the victims of the murderers, robbers and rapists, was it some pathetic cleric with a collar around his neck who assumed he had the right to lecture the rest of the world, or was it that thug Jacob Zuma, who is in line to be the country's next president? Inquiring minds want to know.
By the way, did you catch your bus?
2 - Rusty
Actually it was ONE guy named Muhammed lodging ONE complaint. Jeff Dunham never picks on any one group. EVERYBODY is fair game and if this looney tune can't handle a little teasing, then I hope Achmed gives him no end of Hell! There's PC then there's just plain stupidity!
3 - Zedd
So it wasn't the entire country. It was ONE guy.
Why is this a political piece?
4 - Emil
I am from South Africa, and I LOVE this video! I wish people will focus on real problems (as if we don't have enough) and stop looking for a reason to complain. I'ts amazing how ONE complaint can give an entire country a bad name! Wow!
5 - peet grove
i am a white south african who thinks ahmed is incredibly funny , and so does all my friends ! screw everyone who cant take a joke ! nobody i've talked to found it even remotely offensive ! keep up the good work jeff , youre funny as hell ! peet
6 - loyal
i feel that people bieng upset at jeff dunham is irrational.so he makes jokes about religious beliefs,carlos mencia makes RACIAL jokes and everyone loves that guy.ITS COMEDY get over it!!!!!!!!!!!
7 - Jeff Dunham Fan
I am South African and I love Jeff Dunham. Wish he would come do some shows here. I'm sure they would be sold out so quickly.
8 - Smitters
Im a South African who loves Jeff and Achmed. Its really unfortunate how ONE idiot can give a country a bad name. We arent as mindless and worried about "nothing" as he makes it out to be. If he actually saw the whole show he would see that everybody is a target.
9 - Petro
Yeah I agree, Jeff is funny and my whole family from the age 3 and up loves him.
No matter what the politic says about you, I say keep up the laughter and all the smiles world wide.
You are like the new Microsoft world wide web, keeping our world happy with new technology.
Your ultimate fan from South Africa
Petro
10 - Jarrel Jackson
Jeff Dunham isn't funny unless as Petro mentions above, you're 3 years old, or consider the opinions of a 3 year old valid in determining the worth of comedy.
Who gives a shit if this anti-comedian is censored, except people who'd do better to go finish grade 8.
11 - Walter
What is wrong with this Tim [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]. Isn't there more important things to worry about than what a country or someone thinks of a vent [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]. You [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor] doing the same thing you accusing this guy of. [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor] By the way jeff is funny as hell. But, if people dont like him then dont go on like a jehovah's witness and try and convert people to your opinion. You are so upset with the ban on that ringtone thingy as if the lifting of the ban is really that important( oh, wait, yes it is, a few people might die if they dont see it. SHIT! What are we goin to do Tim) So a few people dont like him, so what! Some like michael jackson and some dont some like passion of christ and some dont. Just enjoy what you wana enjoy and live how you see fit or how jeff see's fit instead of bitching here and getting a fit. [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor] Oh yes dont forget to tell jeff to stop making jokes cause there's more important stuff happening in the world than jokes( no wait jokes is as important as all that crap you mentioned) In america we had that east side and west side issue amongst the brothas where one made fun of the other in rap songs and guess what tim, people actually got killed.( God damn people in america is so damn sensitive they must get themselves a sense of humour) You know Tim, world war2 started with hitler vilifying and making fun of jews at 1st and then it went on to killing( seems like the god damn world needs a sense of humour they so sensitive they made war over it) [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
12 - Tim Girard
Walter I have to say I love you. Really. I do. You are quite possibly the most likable insane person I have come across in a long time. Unfortunately I have to block you like I block the monsters and the zombies and the prison gang on the cable commercials. You see, Walter (as if that is really your name) my article is in SUPPORT of Jeff, not against him. I believe the word is irony? Or maybe a little bit of satire? You see WALTER, I spent some time in the Middle East. I have a rough understanding of the culture and the mindset (not a perfect one, just a rough one) and I thought it hysterical that South Africa was bent out of shape. So your silly little attacks were just that: silly. And thanks for the history lesson about World War 2. It was refreshing to see you regurgitate (that's a big fancy word that means throw up, y'know? barf, puke, retch, etc.) what they taught regarding Hitler and the Jews. I'm afraid that fact escaped me when I walked through Dachau and stood in their gas chamber. But hey, live and let live, no? My point is this(and I'll use small words for you Walter): as a world we have more important issues such as human life and legitimate issues like corporate corruption and so on to be legitimately concerned about rather than a comedian and his dummy. So WALTER, since we're on the subject who has their hand in your back? Just curious.
13 - Walter
ZzzZzzzzzzzz! Huh! What! what. Oh its just Tim, Still bitching, about the same crap again. Thanks for highlighting the point that you are in favour of jeff and that your article supported him, I really dont know how i missed that. Maybe its all your nagging that confused me. Maybe next time I'll try to become a slave of your mental gymnastics but right now i'll just piss you off with my silly little comments. And since you the pundit of semantics maybe you can help me with this small word- curmudgeon? Seems like you cross I dont have YOUR hand up my back hey tim, because its just that your opinion is the self evident and absolute truth right Tim. Why didn't you try the gas chamber out then, you would have spared us this intellectual attempt to serve the cause of this fancy idea of yours. On a more lighter note here's the weather. Tomorow your brain's gona be sunny and bright until Tim comes along and cloud it for you and blots out your brain with all his crap. Have a nice day.(thats just me being insane again)
14 - Hannibal
I had the opportunity to read this article and the subsequent responses. I was particularly engaged with the last two responses between the author and Walter. I held my own response after some reflection on the article and the interaction between these two gentlemen. I believe the internet has brought about the best and the worst of our humanity. I am not speaking of some fundamentalist nature here, rather the simple way in which we interact with one another. I read the article and I believe what the author is trying to convey is there are larger, more engrossing issues that deserve our attention without the distraction of our sensitivities. Peeling back the layers of the article one sees many of the issues we face are manufactured or simply contrived. (I loved the line about the polar bears relating to global warming! Brilliant! Without the worry of ice sheets melting what else would they do but take up belt fed weapons?) How can we thrive in an environment where one person has to be on constant guard against the backlash of another’s emotional response? Sounds a lot like a bad marriage to me. And yet that is exactly the relationship being formed here. From my position I see Walter did not engage on a rational level but instead opened up with a hostile attack so vulgar the editor would not allow the content. This prompted a response that was amusing but futile. Maybe the author is on to something here. Maybe this exchange has underscored the avalanche we face. In an age of communication how is it we cannot communicate? How is it we cannot come to the table and calmly discuss the issue? It is our obligation and duty to articulate the argument not slip into insults and name calling. Honestly, how juvenile is that? Perhaps when our global persona matures we can truly enjoy the benefits of one another. For now, though, I fear we are stuck with the likes of Walter and his ilk, feigning outrage to allow for his own attacks. Maybe Walter has more in common with the terrorists than I thought.
15 - chayd
Dude, I'm from south africa and there are probably one person offended.. the people behind the ban have probs never finnished primary school, no joke!!! living in cape town for couple of years, I've worked with the Muslims. They don't drink or do crack! (I "never" tell lies)... by the way, crack consumption and pot aswell as cheap wine to go with the last two items is commonly used by most of a 2% populated group of South Africa some where in the region of cape town.... This is Africa!! it's the new white
16 - Roxanne
I'm a South African (whom was unaware of the statement that my WHOLE COUNTRY has been offended)
I would liketo ask Mohammed;
if he maybe thinks complaining to our so called democratic government about his feelings of inequality? Achmed rocks and Jeff Dunham is awesome for coming up with him! We need laughter in a country where 2 year old children are gangraped and the goverment does nothing because sending someone to jail for longer than 3 months is an infringement on a CRIMINALS HUMAN RIGHTS!!
I say Jeff's next puppet should be Jacob Zuma....
17 - SA Indian
I happen to be an Indian, born and brought up in South Africa. I find Jeff's humour absolutely hillarious and so do all my friends. People need to learn to take things with a pinch of salt, somethings are said in jest and are meant to be taken in the spirit of light hearted comedy. We really cannot take everything so seriously. My South African friends and I are certainly not offended or upset by Jeff and we would definitely support him if he were to tour SA.
18 - Michelle
Most people who enjoy Jeff's shows are intelligent enough to know that not all Muslims are terrorists.
It's a pity our government doesn't have enough faith in us to distinguish between damn good entertainment and reality.
Jeff, you rock!
Another South African Fan
19 - free thinking south african
This has to do with visual literacy and subtle brainwashing. Jeff dunham is irresponsible in his use of this particular stereotype. "bullshit" you say? Well alright, as you grew up on action flicks with towel-head rpg toting, illiterate bad-guys, you now subconsciously buy in. The guys who dont have a problem with this (achmed) probably don't have a problem with say.... Dont mess with the zohan (film). Right? "cos its just entertainment".
Well unlucky guys, you all live in a little box. PLEASE do us all the favour of not letting your kids watch this stuff. Some worry more about zuma etc... Every day reading no further than a headline, drawn more and more into the reality presented to you by government controlled newspapers and news. Thats why the freedom fighters who pick up arms to remove occupant forces will never recieve your support or attention. Palestine is apartheid FYI. The first female suicide bomber in Palestine was a young paramedic (ironic no?) Who was pushed over the edge by having patients die in the ambulance, stuck at one of numerous checkpoints. Being unable to get to an aaccident scene. Woman having to give birth at checkpoints...
Here's an informative article regarding hollywood and arabs.
No matter what you post underneath this i'll never read it cos' im never coming back to this blog. haha. No personal attacks towards tim please.
Jeff has a right to make fun of whoever he chooses! black, white, indian! whatever! It's just irresponsible that he does it as kids are watching cos' it's spreading a prevalent stereotype on what arabs and muslims are!
20 - 'hive mind'
zzzzzzzz, everyone knows he's politically incorrect, he's said so himself.
21 - Jagermeister
Please come 2 RSA. We love your show. F*&%$ the people we are the people.
C u soon
22 - Kerry Moran
I live in SA and havent even heard about this whole story until I decided to do a search on Jeffffff DuN HAM. I have every DVD and intend on collecting them as they come out. We in SA love you jeff pop down south for a visit we will welcome you and I am sure I speak for most south Africans here.....
23 - Rina kingma
Jeff my man you ROCK BABE. I love peanut.
24 - Drummerboy
Jeff dunham rocks ,dnt know wot d8 egghead`s problem is
25 - SA Muslim
i am a south african muslim, and i LOVED the jeff dunham show. especially ahmed (and not forgetting peanut, hahaha). i dont see why it should be offensive because NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS (im sure there are terrorists other then muslims in the world aswell anyway, we just dont hear about them) as a few people stated above. i think the people who should actually take offence....are the terrorists themselves......
myself and a number of my south african muslim friends watched it and WE LOVED IT!!!!!!!