Jackie Mason Axes Palestinian Comic's Act

[WhiskeyPapa]

Full story here (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,61521,00.html)


A comedian scheduled to open for Jewish comic Jackie Mason was told hours before the show he couldn't perform because he is Palestinian, Mason's manager said.

Ray Hanania was supposed to open for Mason on Tuesday night at Zanie's comedy club in Chicago, but the club phoned him a few hours before to tell him his act was canceled.

Mason has been an outspoken member of the Jewish community. His manager cited recent Israeli-Palestinian violence and delayed peace talks in explaining the decision.

"It's not exactly like he's just an Arab-American. This guy's a Palestinian," said Jyll Rosenfeld, Mason's manager. "Jackie does not feel comfortable having a Palestinian open for him. Right now it's a very sensitive thing, it's just not a good idea."

"Don't turn this into a racist issue, because it's not," Rosenfeld said. "We just felt this is not a good idea at this time."


I love that last quote: "Don't turn this into a racist issue".

[sbp]

Discrimination by Brits? (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,57235,00.html)


Two Israeli scholars have been fired from British academic journals because they are Israelis. Professor Mona Baker of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology dismissed Professor Gideon Toury of Tel Aviv University and Dr. Miriam Schlesinger of Bar-Ilan University, from language journals, which Baker owns. Professor Baker, who is Egyptian-born, told the London Telegraph, "I deplore the Israeli state." She said she was taking part in a boycott of Israel because that country "has gone beyond just war crimes. It is horrific what is going on there. Many of us would like to talk about it as some kind of holocaust."

[johnnymk]

Good for Jackie!!

[topane]

Originally posted by johnnymk
Good for Jackie!! Mmmmm... So because of someone's heritage, we shouldn't let them do certain things... That's a great idea! Let's bring back racial segregation while we're at it.

[johnnymk]

It's his show and he has the right to have anyone he wants to.
Besides, we've been through the phony baloney politically correct "Oh, I'm not biased against anyone or any group" before.

[Merlin]

Hey if he wants to play out that conflict he should go to Israel to do it. Leave that war off our shores.

[WhiskeyPapa]

While I believe that Jackie Mason can refuse any opening act for whatever reason he wants (there's no law against being an idiot) I think it was really stupid for him (or his manager) to say it was because the guy is Palestinian.

But hey, it's not like I'm expecting the guy to be a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist - he's just an entertainer.

Now if some club refused to allow Jackie Mason to perform, and said it's because he's Jewish, there would most certainly be a lawsuit.

You'd think Jackie Mason would understand better than anyone. He was virtually blacklisted for most of the 60's and 70's because Ed Sullivan though he gave him the finger...

[jase71]

If Mason fired the guy because his act was offensive, then I'd have some sympathy. Mason does have the right to choose the type of material that opens for him.

However, if the guy was fired not for anything he did or said, but purely because he was Palestinian... then Mason is a racist.

The same would hold true for the case sbp presented.

Firing someone because their comments or actions are not respresentative of your organization and it's goals is admissable.

Firing someone because of their genetic background is not. Doing so is just plain old garden variety racism, and reprehensible.

[eSDee]

Originally posted by johnnymk
It's his show and he has the right to have anyone he wants to.
Besides, we've been through the phony baloney politically correct "Oh, I'm not biased against anyone or any group" before.

WWJD?

[psycho-]

Originally posted by eSDeeLoco


WWJD?

No worries, the guy's Jewish. Jesus was a heretic to them :D (Prepping for the flames from fellow GAers)

[Merlin]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't firing someone beacuse of their nationality against the law in this country?

[whitak24]

Originally posted by jase71
Firing someone because their comments or actions are not respresentative of your organization and it's goals is admissable.

Firing someone because of their genetic background is not. Doing so is just plain old garden variety racism, and reprehensible.
agreed. no more to say :disa:

[WhiskeyPapa]

Originally posted by Merlin
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't firing someone beacuse of their nationality against the law in this country?
Yeah, but the guy wasn't an employee of Mason, just the opening act for that particular show in that particular venue. It's standard in the entertainment industry to give the headliner veto power over the opening act.

[Tommy Boomfiger]

Originally posted by psycho-
No worries, the guy's Jewish. Jesus was a heretic to them :D (Prepping for the flames from fellow GAers) just checking if youre joking or not. the palestinians consist of Christians and Muslims. i actually didnt know this until a few months ago.

Christian religion is based on Christ and Islamic belief is that Jesus was a very very important prophet sent by God.

yes, i saw the grinning smiley and the flamers remark, and im not intending this as a flame, im just wondering.

[Grimm]

Well jackie mason took the low road.I don't think I will be watching any show he is in or hosts.

WWJD? is always a good question to ask. Especialy when a person who claims to be a Christian forgets that he is not without sin and starts casting stones. :nono: It's not my job to judge people, it's my job to set an example of upstanding behavior.