Ali Al Sayed grew up feeling lost and out of place in Israel – stuck between lands and languages, trapped. He learned that to be heard, humor was essential.
Sayed’s an Arab-Israeli writer that lives and teaches in Chicago. He wrote Israel’s first prime time T.V. show to feature an Arab family. His biggest success though is his beautiful, evolving approach to the intense and complicated Arab-Israeli relationship.
Trying to have breakfast like adults, it’s not working 😂 pic.twitter.com/eYrjaHFB44
— Ali Al Sayed (@AlSayedcomedy) April 19, 2017
“I still believe that the only way to figure out the solution is to tell the Israelis a different story. I always use the sentence of, ‘Please don’t shoot me, I can tell you a joke.'”
But it’s not only that. It’s more: “I will tell you a joke, and maybe it will make you laugh, and then I tell you another joke and maybe we can laugh together and you will listen to me, then maybe I can tell you a little bit of a sad story.”
We’re with ya, Sayed. A little more laughter and a lot more understanding would be good for all of us. Keep putting out good vibes and we’ll keep spreading them around.
Ready for more comedy? Meet Maysoon Zayid.
