A Palestinian Comedian

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Mohammed Amer is an American comedian of Palestinian ethnicity. He’s a refugee who’s family settled in Houston a long time ago.

I discovered his show, Mo, on Netflix. It’s 8 episodes and we watched it quickly.

Can’t wait for season 2.

And yet, before we started watching the show, I was a little concerned.

Did I want to watch an Arab-American who was living in Texas and trying to fit in?

It’s weird how we are programmed.

I brought negative thoughts to the situation. 

Could an Arab be funny?

Well, let me tell you, Mo is.

After watching the series we saw a promo for an hour of his stand up comedy special.

He’s one funny dude, and he appears to take all the negativity regarding being Muslim in America in stride.

It certainly isn’t that easy, I’m sure, and Mo is definitely Americanized.

Yet during his special he made a point that I’ve tried to make for years.

Most Americans aren’t on opposite sides of the spectrum. It’s not a red on one side and blue on the other situation.

Most people, no matter how they identify politically want the same things out of their life.

They want to work. 

They want their children to have a chance and they want to save a little money for a rainy day. 

On weekends they want to eat and drink and play and laugh. 

They want to be entertained. Listen to some music. Watch and play sports. 

Catch a movie. 

Get some rest.

The division we feel is a creation of a constant hammering on social media, on television, on news stations.

All designed to put us on one side or another.

As Mo put it:

A Muslim named Mo and a Texas redneck can live side-by-side in harmony.

And it is true.

Every single day, people of all races and creeds interact. Gay people and straight people get along. People who own guns work side-by-side with woke liberals.

And no one knows the difference until they get home and read the news reports…

…and decide who their enemies are.

It’s tough to take, and my least favorite people are those who bring the political question up in every conversation.

They aren’t sports teams.

We shouldn’t be rooting.

But it’s ingrained in us now.

So glad that I set it all aside and decided that maybe a Muslim adapting in Texas could be a funny situation.

Mo Amer is funny.

Watch him.

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