Who is Sasha Cohen?

Last week I went to see the new movie "Borat" with some friends at one of our local cinemas. We had to wait 3 shows in: it was sold out, and sold out, and sold out. When we sat down at 10:30pm, every seat was filled(and by a suprising number of orthodox Jews). How was it? It was outrageous and yes, I laughed my head off. It was gross; I put my hands over my face--but continued watching through my fingers. No one near me vomited during that scene. you know which one I'm talking about, but I sort of wished someone had, because it would have validated some things for me, but whatever.

The thing is with Sasha B. Cohen, some of the tears of laughter are really tears of pain. You laugh at the anti semitic jokes because you see the irony. Yet you are aware of the people sitting a few rows behind you who haven't a clue--their bigotry is as apparant as your diet coke in the cupholder in your armrest.

I know Jews who act like Sasha Cohen, and I think a lot of Jews identify with what he does. Call it chutzpah or madness--they show the world for what it really is--they bring out humanity in its best and worse forms, and Sasha can do it better than anyone. When he enters a bar in the deep American South and performs an open mike song titled, "Throw the Jews Down the Well." you are not outraged by him, but of his audience, who gleefully sings along.

What propels his masochistic behavior? One wonders how he stays in character as his target/victim blandly utters a brutal remark against some minority group. Here is where you wonder about his sanity.

I have a relative who passed away a few years ago from colon cancer. When he received his dire prognosis from the doctor, he flew to Israel for inspiration? closure? Before he left for his trip, he made a bet with a friend that he would go to Ramalah and try to get someone to give him a cuban cigar. The intifada was just starting then. I remember him telling the story with a mixed sense of awe and revulsion. His audacity was propelled by grief and dispare--and by a sense of rage and fustration against what he believed to be a people who condone suicide bombers and terrorism agains Israel. He went to Ramalah to find out why, what and how. He wanted to see the faces of those who wish he were dead.

Sasha Cohen gives us the same sense of catharism. He is the Jew who laughes at non-Jews laughing at Jews. It's painfully funny. It hurts, but it's a release.

Musings on Anti Semitism

Recently, a number of unrelated snarky events have linked themselves into a chain of thought relating to Aunti Semitism. I didn't know we were related, but I guess we are.

Thing One:
Attending the Holocaust Memorial Annual dinner. I went with a few friends because someone sponsored at table for Hillel studnets. It was unfortunatly, stuffy, and boring. Hardly meaningful. If there hadn't been an open bar, we never would have made it to the keynote address. The problem with having a big stuffy dinner commemorating the holocausts, is that you are having a big, stuffy dinner rememboring the holocaust. If that doesn't make your skin crawl, I'm not sure what will. Maybe incident 2:

Incident Two:
I joined students for Israel because on campus there has been an unfortunate string of anti-israel demonstrations, chalkings, and pamphleting calling for the distruction of Israel, that my university should stop supporting Israeli interests, that Jews are anti-semetic and White Supremecists, just aweful, hateful lies. Its been very uncomfortable--unsettling to walk to your classes every day and have to step over some cheerful sidewalk chalking calling for the destruction of the state of Israel. I am not an ardent Zionist, but I know when I am experiencing hate: It;s a sick horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach. The student group that I am a part of hands out fact sheets, designs showcases and attends counterrallies, and we are also bringing out a speaker. Its all a lot of work, but it is paying off. We have had positive press. We are PC and positive and don't do counterattacks because we see our position as that of educators, and promotion of tolerance (at least on campus). The hate ebbs and flows: two weeks ago: nothing. Last week two guys dressed as Israeli soldiers and carrying cardboard machine guns staged a 'checkpoint at the security fence.' Studnets going into the Undergraduate Library were roughed up and harrassed to show how terrible it is to be a Palistinian trying to get into Israel. I don't think they faced any suicide bombers trying to blow them up, although, there may have been, it just didn't seem that way.

Incident 3:
Went to see Borak last night with friends. Even after a few beers, somethings remained unfunny. Anyway, dumb offensive movie that made me laugh. Also made me feel like vomiting becuase its a bit, well, aweful. But at least its supposed to be all in good fun. And then, becuase it's Ali G. It just isn't. Today I watched every Ali G I hadnt seen yet, on youtube.com--He acts anti semetic (he is of course a Jew) but the response he gets from true anti semites who truly believe he is a kindred spirit, are acctually very unsettling. After watching afew episondes of southerners laughing about Jews being drowned in the well, you start to think that its all hopeless. What they tought you in Hebrew school is true. They do hate you.

Wierd ending:
I was in Steve and Barry's today and saw a tee shirt on the rack that had fake Hebrew Lettering that read "Everybody Loves a Jewish Girl." I don't know why they were selling them. I asked the Muslim clerk at the counter if they were a popular item, and she said no. I said, "small market, ay?" I decided to buy it for 7 bucks. As I was paying she quieries, "Your Jewish, Right?"

"No ma'am. I'm Japanese."

Predictions

November 7th is around the corner, and that is the day I anticipate because I will be able to watch TV without having to vomit during those wretched political attack ads. Joy of free-speech-laws-we-write-'em-we-abuse-em congressional-hot air balloon muckheads. And they are ALL guilty Elephants and Asses alike--at the end of the day, they all leave behind a trail of steaming, foul smelling waste throughout the national media.

phew. what a stench.

My biggest fear is this: If the Democrats take control of the House (and maybe the Senate, but I cant wager on that one), than they will have two years before the next presidential election to attempt to put the various shambled pieces of our country back together again. This can only be partially accomplished because they still have to contend with a Republican White House, and so, the damage will occur more slowly, and compromises will leave everyone with a bad taste in their mouths, and overall, the Democrats will only be able to bring about half assed attempts, and then, come November 2008, the Republicans can blame Democrats for lack of progress. Worst case scenario--we elect another Republican into the Oval Office.

If we win enough seats we will be held accountable for fixing the mess created over the last 6 years. The American people will let the Dems in as a Courtesy: not because they like them, but because they are a bit miffed with Republicans. They are sick of Foley, Abramoff, War on Terror and lack of job security. They might even feel that Bush is not the guy you'd imagine fishing with on a Sunday afternoon. Likability? Ha. So the Dems will get elected, but they will be scrutinized. We will have to recreate Iraq into a Utopia, Reconstruct social security, the health care system, education, medicare, the environment? ...Its a never ending mess and there is only room for widespread disappointment. And we will only have two years to fix it--under a Republican White House.

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Happy Voting---and I hope you do