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“Sesame Street”: Under attack by…

AbrahamJSimpson said:
The bigots are back at it. Same old same old.
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It seems that Arabic is a strange language to teach kids about. How about, first, Spanish, French and Portuguese, all spoken in our Hemisphere. Then, perhaps, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Japanese. I'd even select German over... or, at best, at parity with Arabic.
 
Given that “Sesame Street” has various franchises (including Arabic) I don’t see anything wrong with it. Nothing wrong with learning about one’s culture.
 
Larry said:
Predictable response. For at least 3 seasons they did a Spanish word of the day. I didn’t have time to do an internet search for the other languages you cited.
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Wait 'til David finds out that schools teach all kids Arabic numerals from the start!

But seriously, the idea behind teaching the kiddos a little Arabic is no different from when I was growing up (in a lily white small town in the Midwest) and Sesame Street was teaching kids how to count in Spanish, or introducing us to other cultures we might not encounter in our daily lives. We live in a global society now. In the business I'm in now, I've worked with all kinds of people who are from a place outside "our" Hemisphere. Even people who speak Arabic, and take a moment out of their day to lay down a prayer rug and bow towards Mecca.
 
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davideduardo said:
It seems that Arabic is a strange language to teach kids about. How about, first, Spanish, French and Portuguese, all spoken in our Hemisphere. Then, perhaps, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Japanese. I'd even select German over... or, at best, at parity with Arabic.
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My best friend is of Lebanese and Syrian descent. And while he certainly American now (third generation), he has other friends who are first- and second-generation Americans who have either come from, or whose parents have come from, Middle Eastern countries. And while some are Christians, I have also been introduced to many who are practicing Muslims. All of this is to say that @AbrahamJSimpson's comments are right on target and I thank him for pointing out what ought to be obvious (but isn't).
 
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TheBigA said:
Since taxpayer money is no longer involved, what happens on public TV shouldn't matter anymore to MAGA.
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Many people on the far right want public radio and TV to go away. NOW! And they are very upset that their and other people's kids can be exposed to TV shows that show that despite our differences, we are all human beings. And while I'd like to say that this is all because of the current WH occupant, the truth, and whole truth, is that organized opposition to public educational television goes back to at least the late 1970s and the diatribes of both Jerry Fallwell and Phyllis Schlafly.
 
gr8oldies said:
"But.....but.....Trump won the election therefore everything must appeal to only white Evangelical males". See: Super Bowl halftime.
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I did see it. And it was freaking fantastic even without being a Spanish speaker.

It’s laughable we’re using “in this hemisphere” as the rationale, as if we have not become a more and more global society. It’s freaking Sesame Street teaching one lesson. We’re nitpicking that now, because it was Arabic? This is absurd.
 
Just for background: Ramy Youssef was born in the US. His parents are from Egypt. We as a country are friends with Egypt.

www.egyptindependent.com

Trump hails Sisi as ‘my friend,’ commends his ‘great’ leadership in peace process - Egypt Independent

US President Donald Trump affirmed that the agreement to stop the war in Gaza is progressing well, noting that the live Israeli captives held by Hamas have been released and the search for the remaining bodies is underway. During his opening remarks at the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit, Trump...
www.egyptindependent.com www.egyptindependent.com

MAGA has this monolithic view that all Arabs are terrorists and must be deported. They don't see that their hero the president does a lot of business with the Saudis and other Arabs in the middle east.

Ramy Youssef is a comedian and TV star. He's not a politician. He's not a teacher. He's an entertainer.
 
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TheBigA said:
Just for background: Ramy Youssef was born in the US. His parents are from Egypt. We as a country are friends with Egypt.
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My hygienist at my dentist's office is Egyptian. Born and raised in Alexandria, but has lived in the US for decades. She's Muslim, speaks Arabic (obviously) and is very nice. But am I supposed to be suspicious because she's not from "our Hemisphere?" Is the massaging chair while I'm having a cleaning meant to lull me into a false sense of security? Hmm...
 


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