The Simpsons to bring peace to Israel

March 27, 2009 - 12:25 PM by Harry

The Simpsons flee AustraliaLike most existential quarrels, the Arab-Israeli conflict is a nuanced and tricky beast. Those on the outside often take a paternalistic, “Oh, those silly Middle Easterners, why can’t they just realize that coexistence is the way to go, put their weapons down and start getting along?” attitude.

In the minds of most Israelis, I’d wager, this perspective is naïve and can lead to disaster. Many have argued that Bill Clinton’s personal need to end his presidency on a positive note led to over-simplified tactics at Camp David, which in the end backfired and brought about the Second Intifada.

I’m not sure that that thesis is itself sufficiently nuanced, but diplomacy analysis aside, a similarly paternalistic outsider’s view that has informed many tongue-in-cheek pop culture Mideast peace comments. And these comments also come off to us locals as either refreshingly naïve (as in the case of the dreamy conclusion of Tom Robbins’s Skinny Legs and All) or as not necessarily adding to the discussion but amusing nonetheless (especially when they are aimed at exposing the hypocrisies and general lack of vision among our leaders, like when Bruno stopped by last summer).

And our beloved Simpsons, probably one of the greatest TV shows of all time, if not the greatest, has a dodgy track record when it comes to understanding cultural nuances from an insider’s perspective. It’s all part of being an irreverent, edgy comedy.

According to Ha’aretz, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are headed our way in the coming months:

Multiple media sources have quoted the show’s executive producer, Al Jean, as saying that America’s number one animated family will head to the Holy Land next year.

“I think we’re going to do one next year where they go to the Holy Land as we haven’t been there yet. The premise will be that the Christians, the Jews and Muslims are united in that they all get mad at Homer. It’s the only thing they can agree on,” Jean said.

Sometimes the international ethnic and otherwise-sensitive communities don’t manage to take The Simpsons with the appropriate grains of salt. Racial stereotypes as regular characters? But of course. Accusations of homophobia? You got it. And then there are the recurring episodes where the family travels internationally, ripping apart the cultural and ethnic mores of China, Italy, African banana republics, Ireland and Japan. They’re exceedingly funny, but sometimes people get offended. When the Simpsons traveled in South America in a 2002 episode, the Tourism Board of Rio de Janeiro reportedly seriously mulled a lawsuit against the Fox Network for libel. Or slander. Or something.

The episode that kicked off this recurring series is 1996’s “Bart vs. Australia,” which supposedly had Aussies in such a tangle that letter writing campaigns and public censuring ensued. But a closer reading of that episode reveals that it’s all tongue-in-cheek – its very plotline focuses on the Americans’ laughable lack of understanding of anything non-American, which is carried out throughout as the starting point of many quality jokes. The family barely escapes (pictured) with their lives.

So just because the Simpsons talk or act in a certain way, doesn’t mean that the show’s writers or producers want its audience to follow suit. But when it comes to Mideast peace, why not? Sometimes a little naïveté is what we need to break out of our most self-perpetuating, defeatist grooves.

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Comments

One Comment on The Simpsons to bring peace to Israel

  1. Joe Macblow on Sat, Sep 26th 2009 12:12 PM

    2. Israelis shouldn’t worry about a visit from the Simpsons. It’s written and produced by Jews, and the only religion the show constantly mocks is Christianity and Hinduism. Expect to see some insane radical Muslims, while the central Israeli character will be eccentric, but likeable.
    The only religions that complain when questioned are the ones that are insecure about themselves. South Park (another Jewish show) has shown the Virgin Mary with a bleeding anus, Jesus masturbating and many other unsavoury moments. No big stink. No outcry, no lawsuits or trade embargos.
    ‘The Simpsons’ will not offend Israel. They will support it.
    No show, band, organisation or individual will offend Israel. It’s not allowed. People can go to jail for that kind of thing…
    As the world is finally realising what Israel really represents, I think ‘The Simpsons’ – an innocent, fun, slightly anti-catholic family show – should stay well away from it.
    And please don’t brand me with that tired old ‘anti-semite’ tag.
    Are we not allowed to make a moral judgement without persecution?
    Shalom.

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