2006年VOA标准英语-Arab-American Comedians Counter Stereotypes Wit

By Barbara Schoetzau and Amanda Cassandra
New York
20 November 2006

A group of Arab-American performers in New York is using comedy to raise awareness¹ about stereotyping² and help change attitudes toward Arab-Americans. 

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many Arab-Americans reported they were subjected to harassment³, discrimination and suspicion.

Four years ago, in an effort to dispel⁴ stereotypes⁵ and negative attitudes provoked by the attacks, comedians⁶ Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayid co-founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival.

Obeidallah says comedy is a way to create a broader understanding of different ethnic⁷ groups.

"The Arab-American Comedy Festival began four years ago. It was three nights long, it was never intended to be annual. It was just a way of trying to showcase artists and do something that gives a positive image of Arab-Americans in America at the time," he said. "So, we did shows that foster understanding, dispel stereotypes, make people understand who we are a little, and define us in a much more accurate way."

The festival has expanded to a six-day blend of standup performance comedy, situation comedy and film, selling out to diverse audiences over the past two years.

Cofounder Maysoon Zayid says the festival is pan-Arab with 50 Arab-American comics, artists and performers with roots in 22 countries.

Although the featured performers are all Arab-Americans, Obeidallah says the shows are for everyone.

"It's just been a growing interest by non-Middle Eastern Americans to our shows. And, we are so happy about that, because we don't need to tell fellow Arab-Americans that we're not all terrorists, we're not all bad people, but we need to tell the average American. And, that's what the shows are about," she said.

Zayid says portions of the show that have been performed in the Middle East have received positive responses.

"Not only has the reception been unbelievably supportive, but there has been a lot of curiosity, because standup [comedy] is not an Arab thing," explained Zayid. "People never saw standup before we started doing standup. Once we started doing standup comedy, people got really, really excited about it."

"So, I've seen two things happen," she continued. "One is that when we do go the Middle East, the shows are insanely popular. And, the second thing is, there is a new generation of standup comics growing up in the Middle East, because now they've seen someone do it."

Zayid says the content of the show has evolved over the years from defending Arab-Americans in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, to mocking themselves and society.

Zayid draws on personal experiences for her comedy. She says she often talks about undergoing additional security checks at airports, as part of what officials call random⁸ screening.

"I am always 'random,' so I actually do a joke about that in my routine, because I also have cerebral⁹ palsy," she said. "And I talk about how, when I walk in, airport security just goes ballistic, because I'm not only an Arab, but I'm a shaking Arab, and they think I'm guilty."

Obeidallah says comedy is the best way to reach the masses with a positive message.

"People laughing in an audience, it makes it more difficult for them to be angry at you. I also believe that, if they are laughing, they are agreeing with you. I may be delusional¹⁰, but I feel, if they can laugh with you, why can't we get along," he aded.

Obeidallah says the comedy festival has achieved its goal of garnering¹¹ positive attention for the Arab-American community, and increasing the visibility of talented Arab-American artists.

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 stereotyping   

v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I realize that I'm stereotyping. 我认识到我搞的是老一套。 来自辞典例句
• There is none of the gender stereotyping usually evident in school uniforms. 有没有人的性别刻板印象通常是显而易见的。 来自互联网

3 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

4 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

5 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 comedians   

n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The voice was rich, lordly, Harvardish, like all the boring radio comedians'imitations. 声音浑厚、威严，俨然是哈佛出身的气派，就跟无线电里所有的滑稽演员叫人已经听腻的模仿完全一样。 来自辞典例句
• He distracted them by joking and imitating movie and radio comedians. 他用开玩笑的方法或者模仿电影及广播中的滑稽演员来对付他们。 来自辞典例句

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

9 cerebral   

adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的

参考例句：

• Your left cerebral hemisphere controls the right-hand side of your body.你的左半脑控制身体的右半身。
• He is a precise,methodical,cerebral man who carefully chooses his words.他是一个一丝不苟、有条理和理智的人，措辞谨慎。

10 delusional   

妄想的

参考例句：

• You became delusional and attacked several people trying to escape. 你产生了错觉并攻击了许多人还试图逃走。 来自电影对白
• He is incoherent, delusional, suffering auditory hallucinations. 他出现无逻辑的，妄想的，幻听的症状。 来自电影对白

11 garnering   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• And at the forefront was Bryant, garnering nothing but praise from his coaches and teammates. 而站在最前沿的就是科比，他也因此获得了教练和队友的赞美。 来自互联网