Al Jazeera Discovers Comedians Joke, Ignores When They Can't
Al Jazeera highlights comedian Mo Amer's ability to 'joke to survive' amidst intensifying politics, framing humor as a vital coping tool. This soft focus on resilience, while valid, allows corporate media to neatly bypass the brutal realities that necessitate such 'survival.' It’s a convenient narrative for outlets that routinely platform figures who whitewash suffering, such as politicians funded
by AIPAC like Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) who received $32,150 from AIPAC in 2022 and consistently votes for unrestricted aid, ensuring the 'intensifying politics' continue unabated. While Amer crafts jokes, millions in Gaza, Yemen, and across the region struggle merely to survive the literal onslaught, with no space for comedic relief. The media spectacle of 'resilience through humor' distracts
from the tangible political and military-industrial complex fueling the very tensions Amer jokes about. How many 'survival mechanisms' does an infant need before we question the survival-threatening forces at play? One might wonder if the headline would be 'Why Mo Amer is forced to joke to survive' if the intent were truly to expose, not merely observe.