Monday, April 02, 2007

Daughter of My Ass


"Palestine is now a map on the breasts of hookers."
- Nizzar Qabbani


The above quote really sums up my whole feelings about this Bint-il-Rafidain ordeal, how countries today are mere slogans that are not really very different from corporate sponsorship.
I must say that it is with a feeling of pure and utter disgust that I feel I have to include such cotton-candy corporate whoredom show on my blog. and this contempt is now only compounded by the recent manufactured event of having the winner of the show, an Iraqi of Moroccan mother who's spent almost all of her life in France, to win the show and be trumpeted as the symbol of Iraq's unity. I could almost feel the blobs of vomit boiling up right now.

Zeyad's blog says that about 7 milllions inside IRAQ ALONE voted for her, that is a ratio of one out of four Iraqis but let us not forget that you can vote multiple times and some nerdy geeks finished whole prepaid cards on this travesty - I am against this show for several reasons, first, while she has a pretty good operatic voice that could do some classic 60s songs beautifully - it's a show that has that stupid consumerism Diva-worshipping crap that I, as an anti-mainstream, anti-establihsment rock fan, feel horribly insulted by - pre-packaged starlettes and the show is in the end not about talent, but actually about the boy-girl mixture which tingles repressed feelings in the Arab community, and most importantly, national bias.

Okay, regardless of my own feelings about the show, I have no problems with her winning, or of the people who voted, but my beef is with all that thing about her becoming a national symbol.

Sir Nir Rosen has an interesting paragraph on his seminal 'Civil War Anatomy' that I feel is fitting for the occasion:

I first visited Adhamiya on April 18, 2003, to see the triumphal return to Abu Hanifa of Dr. Ahmad Kubeisi, Iraq’s most famous living Sunni theologian, the mosque was covered in banners. On top of its walls young men held ones proclaiming “One Iraq, one people,” “No to America,” “We reject foreign control,” “Sunnis are Shias and Shias are Sunnis; we are all one,” “All the believers are brothers,” “Leave our country; we want peace.” Demonstrators chanted, “No to America, no to Saddam. Our revolution is Islamic!”

In 2003 Kubeisi’s followers held joint demonstrations and joint prayers with radical Shia movements such as Muqtada’s. Their message was “maku farq” there is no difference” between Sunnis and Shias: “We are all Muslims.” But they were protesting too much, and behind the stentorian insistence that they were united was the fear that they were not, and the knowledge of what would happen should this secret become known.

Yes, we are too much afraid, and we only graze and polish our external image to prove to our dear Arab brothers how much strong we are, while inside our houses and ourselves, therein lies the roots of separation, of hatred and of discord, planted deep within, we are afraid to go deep there and solve them, instead, hey, here's that snotty lady that looks like a beautiful pig swagging around on that show, she is Iraqi, so let's give her a help....Iraqis have gone and done it yet again, proving how pathetic they really are, when we continue to insist on such frail people as symbols for our unity, then that really means that we have a huge fucking problem. We did it last year when some folks began pointing at the abominable show 'The Government, or He's Dead' as a show where Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds can laugh at together - The show was a huge failure, terrible script, terrible puns, looks over content, just about every mistake there ever is, and here we laud it yet again as the solution to the failure of those childish politicians, even the title of that show was stolen from a hugely successful and funny satire-show that's done by another civil war-candidate country, the Lebanese "Basmat Watan" which can also be translated into two far more biting meanings: "Smiles of a Country" and "Yet, the country's dead". ًًWe can't do ANYTHING right. What good did this victory do for a mother who lost her son, or a family who lost their house. I can't believe our stupidity! I don't think any air-headed nation, even America, would do such a stupid thing when their country is being demolished and tattered piece by piece, this is not a time for celebration, it's a time of mourning. Don't cry all day, but still, respect the lost souls.

36 comments:

annie said...

kid kid kid, i wish i could give you a happy pill.

you express so many feelings i wouldn't know where to start.

the show is in the end not about talent, but actually about the boy-girl mixture which tingles repressed feelings in the Arab community

sorry for being the stupid american but could you please elaborate on this sentiment for me so i can better understand your culture.

Anonymous said...

I take it you were not among this crowd of iraqis in Amman.

Bassam Sebti said...

Take it easy man! I disagree with most of what you said about the show. Whether it reflects oppression or not, I find it very interesting in the way that it makes people relax and enjoy some music. It's alover the world, so why not in the Arab world?

As for Shatha, she might have not brought a mother her child back but her winning was able to leave a smile on the faces of millions who almost forgot what a smile means.

So it doesn't hurt if you leave a smile on a face. It's far more better than leaving a roadside bomb or an IED!

Hope all is well.

nadia said...

i don't know.

i mean obviously the headlines that she united iraqis are crap that nobody but the newspapers believe.

but at the same time, can't people just enjoy the stupid song and not think about things too hard every once in a while? especially when there's so much to worry about.

the only thing that really bothers me is being an iraqi symbol when you've lived in morroco/france part.

the vast majority of guys making punk and metal talking about the darkness of the world are largely priveleged white guys in rich countries that don't know a damn thing about what real suffering is. they write about it, and use pictures of starved and mutilated bodies on their albums but for most of them it's an abstract idea.

so whatever, just let people feel better for two minutes about something before we go back to sniping at each other.

Bassam Sebti said...

"the only thing that really bothers me is being an iraqi symbol when you've lived in morroco/france part."

Give me a break Nadia! Isn't she better than those freaks who are leading Iraq who spent their entire lives in luxury in London and US and who came back claiming that they suffered. At least Shatha did something really positive even it's just a smile on a face. What did these freaks do to Iraq other than being sectarian and tyrants like Saddam?

nadia said...

I don't think any air-headed nation, even America, would do such a stupid thing when their country is being demolished and tattered piece by piece

also, first off, I AM NOT COMPARING THESE TO THINGS, obviously america is much better off than iraq.
BUT
right after sept 11th there were a lot of shop for america on the news, a lot of people dealing with it by partying and doing drugs, american idol specials and stupidity that way outweighs this stuff. like TONS cnstantly. on every possible sitcom, music video, comic strip, soap opera, whatever you want there was some stupid half assed tribute like this, but much cheesier.

you probably missed it over there cause you were paying attention to their just wanting to bomb the shit out of the world.

nadia said...

Give me a break Nadia! Isn't she better than those freaks who are leading Iraq who spent their entire lives in luxury in London and US and who came back claiming that they suffered.
yeah you've got a point there. but i wasn't disagreeing with that.

sorry it's kind of a personal issue for me.

but regardless it's all symbolic, so who cares what i think? it made people happy for a little while and that's a good thing, i agree with you on that. don't let the haters get you down man:)

3eeraqimedic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Lighten up man, lighten up. Life does not have to be so serious all the time.

ahmed said...

Well dudes, unfortunately I cannot take it easy on this because i precisely hate the national unity hero crap - because that's just crap, and i outlined what i think are the reasons for it, now, Shadha is not different than the Iraqi soccer team, i do not hate either and as a matter of fact i do care about the iraqi soccer team, but what i hate is the iraqi crowds who label all that as a symbol for unity that doesn't go anywhere outside the football field. this weakness is tragic i think. She's got a lovely voice but what she's doing is not art, it's corporate dicksuck, had she been doing something really artful or tasty I might have thought of her otherwise.

nadia said...

Celine Dion - That's The Way It Is

nadia said...

just teasing. allright, i'm out of here before somebody else yells at me.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Ahhhh, I can read your blog again. The squishing effect is gone. :)

Well, I think she has a lovely voice, but the show itself was a little over the top. Too much "Hollywood" hype.

Yes, the unity thing is only skin deep, but I can't really condemn those Iraqis who felt a moment of respite from the situation they find themselves in.

Nice post, though, Kid. :)

Anonymous said...

It seems to me she gives some Iraqis an escape from the day to day grind. That would be a good thing, right?

Bill said...

I think you are lacking some knowledge about show business, when I viewed clips of the show, what I see is a whole lot of artists, musicans,dancers,back-up singers, set design, lighting, cameras, sound and on an on working a gig.

If you went to a concert featuring any of the music you have listed on your site, you will find the same people, show business is show business.

I don't believe there is such a thing as anti-mainstream/anti-establihsment rock, if your listening to it someone has done some (as you put it) corporate dicksucking.

Anonymous said...

we need to forget, we need to laugh, we need to live THIS selfish stupid life that we never knew. Man in the iraqi community when you lose a close person to you, after a week you'll start laughing and listen to the iraqi jokes and just move on. That is life, as stupid or bitchy it seems and as much as we hate it but we need it otherwise WORLD WIDE SUICIDE.

A&Eiraqi said...

Kid
I'm not going to say that I disagree with you,you're absolutely right that show is silly and has nothing to do with talent, it's about natins want to win something on each other.

Yet, I agree with B.T and 3eeraqimedic

It's not going to help mothers or children and not going to solve problems, but , it gives hope to a group of Iraqis who want to say that we are united.

Even those who you've mentioned as Sectrianism is inside their houses, sometimes they say that we want to get rid of it, I don't think that Shatha feels Iraqi at all and I disagree with her when she said I made their dream fact when I won as she didn't win, people show how much they love the name of Iraq so she got more votes and that is the difference between her and the national football team , those guys do their best to do something (no hypocracy and no benefit form people).

Still the whole matter is to feel Iraqi for a moment , Iraqi and nothing else and that what they got from that event.

Regards

Anonymous said...

To Bill,

Kid isn't lacking at all in knowledge about "Hollywood".

He pretty much summed it up perfectly in few words in his comment above:

it's corporate dicksuck

To quote an anti-establishment rock band on the same subject...

"Phony people come to pray... look at all of them beg to stay... phony people come to pray." -System of a Down - Lost in Hollywood

Assault Kid's tone all you want... but he is in fact very much correct.

Bill said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bill said...

Chrysm,

There is nothing anti-establishment whatsoever about this band, by quoting lyrics from one of thier tunes off an album, only makes my point.
Hollywood? anti-establishment?

Little Penguin said...

cotton-candy corportate whoredom is exactly what StarAcademy is.. it pathetically exploits Arab/Muslim society's religious and/or cultural taboos.. where on earth would you allowed to gain access to female bedrooms?.. StarAcademy..

With regards to the whole Shatha fiasco.. it's over-blown. she does have a fantastic voice (and will definitely look good once she's had that nose-job, eventhough it's not setting a terribly good example for female viewers..)

if she really wants to be something good for Iraq, if she really wants to be Daughter of Mesopotamia, she'll have to be a good ambassador.. she'll have to mirror Iraq's glory through her modesty, honesty and self-respect.. rather than giving into the arab celebrity lifestyle.. time will tell if she's worth all this noise..

Regards

Iraqi Mojo said...

willeck kid you crack me up:)

Anonymous said...

I think she has a cute nose. Just the way it is.

Morty said...

What I think about the whole Shaza incident is that Iraqi people r hungry to make their voice to be heard by the world to declare that we r still alive and that we r not a cold blooded killers, we enjoy art and for God’s sake we have a great amount of (فياخة) we r just like any other country we watch TV and we participate in scam programs just like any ordinary human being and that is that (at least that is what I think and I could be wrong).

Now after writing my opinion about Shaza I’ll turn to u Kid:
What have u done in your life to put a smile on an Iraqis’ face what have u done to add a moment of joy to his/her life u’ve lived in Iraq and u should know how these moments r precious in Iraq many people died not knowing any and u speak ill of Shaza I know she hasn’t united Iraq (and I don’t believe she’ll ever do) but she made a lot of Iraqis happy and added mere moments of joy to their lives (whether inside Iraq or out side) she gave us the feeling (even if false) of belonging and for few moments we forgot about bombing and fear of the unknown and for that I say God bless Shaza and all the Iraqis.

Sorry Kid if I sounded too offensive but the thing is we r in a time that ceasing any opportunity for joy is essential and may God bless and protect u and all the Iraqis…

Anastasia said...

Kid, I totally get where you're comeing from. Most of us rock types here in the US don't like American Idol. Last season was unusually good, though, with Chris Dautry- truely a rocker, believe it or not, and Taylor Hicks (he showed up at try- outs, and walked into the room playing the harmonica. It was so... awesomely out of the ordinary.)

I too, am disgusted, though. More people in the US probably voted for American Idol than President! Which is how you end up with the dumbass we have now :P

Nadia-

I also agree with you, however. Like yah. If it makes you happy, why not?

I was 11 years old on 9/11, and I remember how sick it made me to see them digging through the rubble for months after the towers fell. I don't remember much, because I was a kid and didn't get it. I'd never payed attention to the news, but I'm sure most people just didn't want to see it. And I'm sure watching stupid Kelly Clarkson is better than going out and shooting someone just because they're middle- eastern. And those cases made me truely sick. Like, just 'cause I'm Christian doesn't mean I'm going to burn Harry Potter, and (Should I choose to get married) obey everything my husband says. And just because someone's Middle Eastern doesn't mean they're going to strap a bomb on themselves, and go on the subway. Like, give me a break, people.

But, I digress. Good points made by all. Of course, without a Pop culture, there would be no counter culture... or the counter culture would become the Pop culture, so totally artless things like American Idol, and the Real World have to exist.

Oh- Nadia- mostly true about the rockers, lol. Good point.

Kid- liked your point about the national hero. I havn't seen the show, but I sounds similar to American Idol. Like, geese, she's not even an established artist. Like people who will put down, say, Pink Floyd or something, and go listen to some band that just came out a few Years ago. Like Pink Floyd is LEGEND, these guys are rookies. Give 'em another year or two.

This comment is WAAAY too long...

beachmom said...

Kid,

It's strange to observe, but your commentary on this show (which sounds like American Idol) seems to have been matched by Americans, who appear to be sabotaging the current season here, by voting for the worst singer -- Sanjaya -- every week. There is a movement (started by shock jock Howard Stern) and even a website votefortheworst.com to stick it to American Idol, which is considered too self important and arrogant.

The difference is, the Iraq War here is only a burden to about 1% of the population who are in the military, whereas your people have suffered immensely with seeming no life untouched. There is a feeling of pessimism here, I suppose, which is breeding the cynicism, yet we seem to have the luxury to be cynical.

I get what you're saying about real art vs. bubble gum pop, but this IS a good story from and for Iraq. And as someone looking in, I am happy that Iraqis had something nice to see on their TV screens, if not to have just one nice moment.

Anonymous said...

Konfused Kid I would normally agree with you concerning any sort of "Idol" show like this one, but Iraq needs a unifying figure right now more then anything else. Even somebody like Shatha is important because she can fulfill this need.

annie said...

what's wrong w/her nose??

i saw 2 videos of her sing and i think she is beautiful.

aren't they limited to the people who try out? they are unprofessional unknowns for the most part aren't they?

give me a break people. i like american idol. lynn, i think the kids are voting for sanjaya because he's 16 and a kid. did you see the little girl crying her eyes out? these are the young teens w/their cell phones voting. none the less, he is not receiving the most votes, he wasn't in the top 3 last week as they had them in groups.

i see it as a competition, one people rally around, just a way to have fun and celebrate.

Anonymous said...

I agree with kid that this national thing about shatha is crap ..
I never watched the show but I just saw a couple of youtube clips and she has a very good voice. I'm surprised that she can handle Arabic pretty well (considering she grew up in France as some people here have commented)

Anonymous said...

Its really pathetic what has this show turned into, and whatthe propoganda made out of her.
7 million votes means about 5 to 6 million dollars spent for Shatha..!!!
I would have spent it on generators to provide people ith electricity.

Anonymous said...

um who ever that girl was saying bad things about iraq the american no 1 told u 2 freaken bagg in as all americans do bro who do u ppl think u r my god just leave us alone u dont have 2 no our culture man most iraqiis hate.....

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