[Swamp_Thing]

Any of you guys watch the WWE wrestling show? Like Taboo Tuesday, New Year´s Revolution, and all that crap? I don´t watch it much, but just now i was working with TS a bit, and the TV was on and the show was on. Well, the show i saw today is probably a couple of weeks old. Anyway, today they made a "debate", between the commentators and a couple of arabs, Hassan and some other dude. Anyone saw it?
Well, i´m at a loss for words, explaining what happened to those who didn´t watch.  You´d had to see it to believe it.
Basiclly, what happened was they just found a new and improved way to get americans to hate arabs, on TV!
I really don´t get this. Why on earth would anyone want to present such an idiotic thing on TV, for millions to see? Are the WWE people really that dumb and racist, willing to jeopardy the already thin threaded relation between arab-americans and white americans?
I was revolted watching it. I was sick to my stomach. And most of all, i´m at a loss as to how those two idiots that played the role of angry arabs ever accepted to play such a part. Don´t they realize they just helped to kill some poor arab shopkeeper somewhere in America because of it?
I know american TV airs a lot of garbage, but today i´ve seen it reach a pinnacle of stupidity. Maybe wrestling is only watched by dumb red necks, and they think it´s ok to pull such a stunt, but they are messing with a serious business here. People might get hurt over this.

[BlackDove]

Originally posted by Swamp_Thing
Are the WWE people really that dumb and racist

Yes.

[Swamp_Thing]

You saw it?

[Tiara]

Ever seen that French Tag Team that was (or still is, I dunno cuz I don't follow it) pretty much hated all-around?

[Swamp_Thing]

Originally posted by Tiara
Ever seen that French Tag Team that was (or still is, I dunno cuz I don't follow it) pretty much hated all-around?

What the french team had doesn´t come even close to what happens with these 2 arabs.
For those who didn´t see it, i will try to paint a picture of what happened:
Last week, these 2 arab fighters came in, and started insulting the commentators, saying americans were racists and anti-arab, and called the US troops in Iraq "cowards". So, they "decided" to have a debate between the arabs and the commentators.
So, today they had their debate. Basically more of the same, the arabs saying americans are racists, that arabs are suffering at the hands of americans, etc etc. During this time, the crowd is chanting "USA USA" , and calling the arabs "assholes". Then the commentators step in, a little more name calling, tough talk, etc etc. And the public vibrates. And then the arabs start beating the crap out of the commentators, while the crowd gets all worked up. There were guys in the audience foamming at the mouth.
Basically that was it. Remember, this was all theater. But how many people who saw it, will start hating arabs for it?
 "Oh, those poor commentators, beaten by those evil arabs... Let´s beat the living crap of those towell heads!"

They painted all arabs like criminals, thugs, freedom haters and America haters. How many left that arena that day, just aking to beat the shiit out of the next dark skinned guy they come across with? Note that the show took place in a southern state, i think it was Mississipi. Now imagine how many white supremacy red necks were there watching, and are now feeling like their hatread for arabs was vindicated because of that...

I give up.

[Rictor]

Dude, its wrestling. You're not meant to take it seriously.

Thats like saying you're surprised and insulted that clowns have red noses. Being on the mental level of a 6 year old is part of the job description. These are half naked men who pretend to beat each other up on national television. Its your own fault for having expectations.

[Tiara]

Originally posted by Rictor
Dude, its wrestling. You're not meant to take it seriously.

Dude, you would be unpleasantly surprised how many numbnuts take this stuff seriously. And most people who DON'T take it seriously are easily influenced.

It's propaganda. Pure and simple.

[Flipside]

You see, the thing is that certain racist 'puritan' shows don't think theres enough racism in the world. While a black can still walk down the street with his head held high, there will always be small minded tossers, who have exactly the same rights, who nonetheless resent him for it.

This doesn't really surprise me all that much, I'm amazed the caricature hasn't emerged more to be honest, It's difficult to justify hating someone who is a complete pauper and lives thousands of miles away, it's a lot easier to create a stereotype and hate that instead.

[Dark_4ce]

Swamp. I saw it. It came on tv not two days ago. I wasn't really watching it per se, since its on Subtv (local channel) all the time and I leave my tv on when I surf, I just happened to watch it. Quite shocking actually  that they decided to do it. Thankfully everyone here in Finland knows its fake, but all those in the audience during that thing.... Wow... They were cheering "USA USA USA" When they were called racists. Uuuhmmm... Though WWE is senseless fun none the less. John CENA!!!

[ShadowWolf_IH]

Originally posted by Swamp_Thing
Maybe wrestling is only watched by dumb red necks,
 

i know of people who watch wrestling, mostly Hispanics, in fact, demographics will show you that wrestling is actually geared more toward the minorities.  

Originally posted by Swamp_Thing
Now imagine how many white supremacy red necks were there watching

Maybe this statement sounds to me like "all people in the south are racist."  I'm sorry but that is exactly what i correlate when i read that.

I don't watch wrestling, .....but of people that you would call rednecks want my Dale Earnhardt bed sheets.  Nascar is the sport watched by the people that you would call rednecks, wrestling caters to the minority groups.

Redneck has become synonymous with cowboy, and white southerner.  Generally used as you used it, as a slur.  Ends up nearly a racial remark.  I am a white guy who lives in the southwest, i watch nascar, i don't watch wrestling.  Am i redneck because of where i live and the sport i watch?

[Dark_4ce]

I doubt he was calling YOU a redneck. He was probably calling the white supremists watching it, red necks.

[Flipside]

I think anyone who can't see through the gauze of propoganda is to blame here, whether they be rednecks or not.

It's easy to put the tag 'Redneck' and 'White Supremists' on people who are simply too stupid to think any other way than the TV tells them. But where does that racism and prejudice begin? It's not with the people watching the show.

[vyper]

You see nature had a cure for stupidity... then we introduced health and safety...

[Windrunner]

I saw that too. It really suprised me that they could show such thing on the TV. I guess its one way to get the TV audience to watch their stinkin show

[Tiara]

Well, if you say "All white people are money-grabbing *****es!", the show gets cancelled in the US. Funny that...

[Windrunner]

Originally posted by Tiara
Well, if you say "All white people are money-grabbing *****es!", the show gets cancelled in the US. Funny that...

thats true

[01010]

See, you call them dumb for doing it, I call YOU dumb for watching it, at least the wrestlers get paid.

[diamondgeezer]

Hello, WWE fan here

While I agree Muhammed Hassan is a rubbish character and certainly has stereotyped overtones (he uses the camel clutch for submisison, for ****'s sake), he's simply the result of a rubbish attempt by the WWE writers to promote racial tolerance.

If you actually watch the shows of late, you'll hear JR and the King repeatedly state that Hassan and his 'manager' Davari DO NOT represent the views of the average arab-american.

But in fact none of that matters. Hassan is what we technically term a 'heel'. That is to say, it's his job to be a hated character. In a year or so, if he's still employed by the company, he'll undergo a 'face' turn and become a fan favourite. That's just how wrestling works.

So far, Hassan hasn't given me concern to give much of **** about him. Yes, he's physically very impressive but he's yet to show us any particularly flash moves. But for the record I have a lot of respect now for Rene Dupree, a French Canadian who was part of the 'French' tag team La Resiatance. Dupree was split off from the group and is now doing rather well as a solo heel. He's under-used by the writers, but that's common for a mid-card talent. But my point is that Hassan will be respected on the basis of his wrestling and microphone skills - if he ever deigns to show any.

Oh, and as Rictor mentioned - it's just wrestling. It's not real

__________________
Diamond Geezer has a short attention span

[Night Hammer]

is booker t still around? back in the day when i used to watch wcw he was my favorite..

[01010]

Well phuck me sideways, I never thought I'd see a character study on a wrestler.