Penn State Hillel and Penn State's Arab Student Union came together in the HUB-Robeson Center on Monday night to do something real-life Arab and Israeli leaders have struggled to do -- talk openly and laugh with each other.
The two student groups hosted "Stand Up for Peace," a comedy act featuring Scott Blakeman and Dean Obeidallah, two comedians who poke fun at their own cultures to promote communication among diverse groups. The event was sponsored by University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) and the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs.
Obeidallah took the stage first, cracking jokes about what it's like to be Arab in New York City in a post-9/11 world and growing up in New Jersey with a Sicilian mother and a Palestinian father. He said he doesn't look Arab, so people don't hesitate to throw racial slurs at him while out in public.
Along with issues of race and conflict, the comedians joked about typical, everyday circumstances -- such as paying back student loans after graduation.
"I keep getting calls from the agencies," Obeidallah said. "What are they going to do, repossess my knowledge?"
Both comedians ridiculed President George W. Bush and his "lack of regard" for the situation in the Middle East. They expressed hope for President Barack Obama's policies, and Obeidallah said Obama represents the change he and Blakeman talk about.
At the microphone, Blakeman joked that Jews are inept with technology, imitated his mother who's constantly asking him if he's eating, and joked that there are "two Jews left in Afghanistan, but they hate each other."
The two comedians came together at the end of their individual acts and fielded questions about conflict in the Arab world from members of the audience.
"You have to find your common ground and humanity, and then you can discuss issues that divide you," Obeidallah said.
Michal Berns (junior-media law and policy), president of Hillel, said she contacted the Arab Student Union President, Hamzeh Abayounis (senior-biobehavioral health) last semester to plan this event, and the two groups are thrilled to have hosted an event together and hope to do so every semester.
Mohamed Magdy M. Taha, facilities manager of the HUB, was elated to see the groups come together for an event.
"We need to forget about our differences and think about our children's future. Our children shouldn't inherit their parents' conflicts," he said.
