As a comedian, I'm compelled to bring social awareness to the things I believe could help make this world a better place. Once, I heard someone say "comedians are teachers", and I think this is definitely true. When we do a Sketch, a Stand up or an Improv show, we have to make sure at least one person in the audience feels so uncomfortable that when they get home they have to think about what they've done, and hopefully change their ways, or even better change others.
Racism is a very sensitive issue but we cant pretend it doesnt exist. Unfortunately, since the beginning of time, humans have had the "need" of attacking people who are "different" from them, for the sake of elevating their own low self-esteem and gaining power. Well, by now, you'd think human kind would know better. Nope.. So as comedians, how are we suppose to go around this delicate matter, and "joke" about it? Well, as teachers, we should concentrate in HUMAN behavior. WE ARE HUMANS!!! HUMANS WHO COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES, SIZES, COLOR, JUST LIKE DOGS, BEARS AND MONKEYS (although, there is a theory that says we are the descendants of monkeys, but that's another stroy.) I mean, at the end of the day we all fart, shit and eat chocolate, or is it just me? (I hope not.) I believe we should avoid making jokes based on a"race". And if you HAVE to and NEED to bring race into the equation , what about we all be more sensitive about it? Meaning, when you are writing that "racial joke", think, as a teacher, "what is the point of this lesson?", "is it really funny?", or "is this just racist and stupid?". And please, fishing for a "laugh" by diminishing and insulting a race "different" than yours, is just NOT FUNNY! There's a saying in Spanish "the more we stir the shit the more it stinks" (The magic of translation!), which means exactly that. We get change by changing, rather than by doing the same thing.
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I'm so happy and grateful for the very succesful first weeekend of Jewrican Cocktail! The fact that people from different backgrounds, age, and religion came together, laughed, and had a good time, is just so rewarding.
To see how an audience transformed themselves from "What am I doing here? I'm tired. What am I doing here? I'm uncomfortable surrounded by strangers.", to a HAPPY SMILEY FACE AUDIENCE WHO ARE NO LONGER STRANGERS but a collective who've just shared a good time, its just the TRUE PURPOSE OF COMEDY. I hope I can keep bringing those type of opportunities to you New York, and hopefully to the rest of America one day. Keep supporting us and spread the word! |
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