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Friday, August 3, 2007

Seafair Counterprogramming

posted by on August 3 at 13:22 PM

acwfest07logo_1.jpgSaturday and Sunday at Seattle Center’s Center House, starts at noon, free.

The Arab Festival gives visitors a chance to learn more about the arts and traditions of a fascinating, far-reaching culture that is one of the oldest in the world and comprises 22 countries ….Includes musical and traditional dance performances, children’s activities, authentic Arabic food and deliciously strong coffee, a traditional souk with local Arab vendors and organizations, and a fashion show.

I’m also excited about tomorrow’s first ever Chinatown/I.D. night market (6-11 pm).

RSS icon Comments

1

And some Christian fundamentalists are planning on making an apppearance there too:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003819538&slug=muslimconvert03m&date=20070803

Posted by Tiffany | August 3, 2007 1:45 PM
2

No thanks.

Posted by Mr. Poe | August 3, 2007 1:47 PM
3

I hate Seafair, it's stupid. I'm getting on the train and going to Portland this weekend (and I REALLY hate Portland).

Posted by Crankster | August 3, 2007 1:58 PM
4

Will there be an Arab gay culture group?

Posted by you know | August 3, 2007 2:02 PM
5

@4 That would be fantastic, but honestly, I just want to know if there'll be decent shwarma. I haven't had a decent shwarma since the last time I was in the Arab Quarter in Jerusalem.

Posted by Gitai | August 3, 2007 2:08 PM
6

Traditional dance, Arabic food and coffee, and the Blue Angels coming in low and hard over Seattle Center. Yep, it's be just like the Middle East.

Posted by Mahtli69 | August 3, 2007 2:18 PM
7

Ohhh, wonder if they will shoot machine guns in the sky in celebration or do a ceremonial beheading!!! And yeah, I am sure they will LOVE to meet all the gays. I mean Islam IS a religon of love!!! Are they also offering female casteration as well? Should any girls wear a barka?

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | August 3, 2007 2:31 PM
8

There will be a lecture on the correct way to circumcise women and stone prostitutes.

Posted by dingleberry | August 3, 2007 2:35 PM
9

This sounds like a lot of fun.

I'm assuming lots of my friends from Egypt, Lebanon, and Iran will be welcome as well.

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 3, 2007 2:46 PM
10

I am bringing all my Jewish friends!!!

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | August 3, 2007 2:58 PM
11

dumbfucks. arab does NOT equal muslim. a goodly number of washington state arabs are maronite catholic, or some other christian denomination. i went last year and had a very good time. too bad the arab comedians won't be here this year. they're hilarious.

Posted by scary tyler moore | August 3, 2007 3:23 PM
12

Probably not your Iranian friends, Will, since Iranians generally are not Arab. Iran is a mostly Persian country.

Posted by Tiffany | August 3, 2007 3:27 PM
13

Yeah, but they're foxy hot, so they should be there too.

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 3, 2007 3:46 PM
14

11: Yeah, I totally agree with you. I love these delightful xenophobes that poke their heads out anytime Arabs or Muslims appear.

People could spend the time reaching out to other people who may or may not share their beliefs and maybe even make a connection- something everyone in the city can benefit from- but uh oh, we all know Arabs are universally a "bunch of fucking jihadist savages" who hate teh gays, and they only immigrated to this country to convert the nonbelievers. Tolerance to these guys only means protecting sexual minorities and "enlightened secular liberals/conservatives" from the dark skinned savages of the world- there's certainly no contradiction here at all, guys!

If anything, gays and secular liberals should take opportunities like this to do outreach and cull potential allies from the immigrant population instead of, you know, ignoring or alienating them right from the start.

Posted by Jay | August 3, 2007 4:38 PM
15

Hey, maybe we could convert the converters?

AC/DC ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 3, 2007 4:45 PM
16

Wow, I found the bigots! Sweet!

I'm sure Arabs in the Middle East assume we all love George Bush, love the war, love guns, and hate them because of what they read and hear, too.

There are lots of Arab-Americans around here who are just regular people who want to hang out with other Arab-Americans and eat food from home.

Posted by please | August 3, 2007 5:10 PM
17

And there are those of us who are not Arab but appreciate the arts, music, culture, and history of the Arab countries. ALL of my Arab American friends are atheists, by the way. And we will delight in taunting the Christian preachers.

I knew this post would draw our few (but loud) xenophobe readers. Embarrassing!

Posted by Amy Kate Horn | August 3, 2007 5:39 PM
18

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that some readers of liberal blogs are as racist as their conservative counterparts. Grow up, guys. This thing sounds like a lot of fun.

Posted by Andy | August 3, 2007 5:43 PM
19

I'm totally going to this thing. I know the food will be fantastic.

Posted by Jay | August 3, 2007 7:35 PM
20

I went to a birthday party of a Lebonese friend of mine recently. Aside from saying grace before we ate all the food, it was like any regular, family gathering. Wait it did include cool, live Arabic music and the best hummus I've had in years.

Posted by yup | August 3, 2007 9:17 PM
21

That's Lebanese. Darn it.

Posted by yup | August 3, 2007 9:18 PM
22

Trying to think of the great ideas of democracy and toleration that have originated from the middle east.... hmmmm let me think........maybe one of you liberals can think of one? Can you? We would like to know what it is?

Posted by Reality World | August 4, 2007 8:21 PM
23

I have no respect for a culture that in ANY circustance regardless of WHERE it is that treats women as second class people, kills (YES KILLS homosexuals, not just prevents them from being out) and sits by as it happens. Where is the revolution to bring equality about in Saudi Arabia or UAE or Jordan? Can Stranger staff provide examples?... That is what I thought.

I have major issues with Christians or Jews who do the same thing. So do not even try to pain the racist card on me either Slog readers. Your own quilt ridden liberalism is what is upseting you. If Cato, Mr Poe or anyone else had made those comments about a White Christian culture group you would have totally jumped up in support of that bashing. But since it is not "PC" to treat other opressive cultures the same way as the stranger would treat western civilization the same (and yeah Western Civilization has LOT of SHIT TO ANSWER FOR) does not mean Arabic culture has a lot of shit to answer for. So deal with it.

Posted by Reality World | August 4, 2007 8:32 PM
24

Except that it's the Arab Festival, not the Islam Festival, RW

Posted by Tiffany | August 5, 2007 9:34 AM
25

This is really pretty funny to read. First off, the Stranger staff makes fun of and ridicules Western Culture on a daily basis so some of the Sloggers do the same on Arabic Culture. What I find so interesting is that no one gets all defensive over Western Culture (largly influenced by Christianity) when it is, and usually, correctly ridiculed. BUT turn the tables and suddenly, Arabic Culture is not the same as Islam?? What are you talking about? Religious belief is a huge part of every culture on the planet including our own no matter how hard you may not like to believe it.

So to you stick up the butt liberals. Take the stick out and take what were possibly put out as jokes (based on simply reading the newspaper) and lighten up. If you can not, then you should think twice before taking a swipe at Western Culture. Anything else will make you start to look like hypocrates.

Posted by Good God | August 5, 2007 2:20 PM
26

22. You need to figure out the difference between ethnic/cultural groups and religion smart guy.

Posted by Jay | August 5, 2007 11:19 PM
27

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28

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29

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