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Posted on 04/09/2011 5:18:23 PM PDT by mandaladon
It’s a good thing we’re flush with money, highly influential and well respected around the world. Otherwise, this plan might not seem like such a spectacularly fabulous idea.
The United States is funding a Pakistani remake of the popular TV children’s show Sesame Street.
In a new effort to win hearts and minds in Pakistan, USAID – the development arm of the US government – is donating $20m (£12m) to the country to create a local Urdu version of the show…
The remake will star a puppet called Rani, the six-year-old daughter of a peasant farmer, with pigtails and a school uniform, according to Britain’s Guardian newspaper.
No word on whether or not the female child puppet will be wearing traditional garb, or how much of it, but we do know that they won’t be including Count Von Count in the cast. I’m guessing that’s because… he’s a vampire? Further, the show’s creators have stated that they’re going to be avoiding questions of religion, so I don’t know how much westernization might be taking hold from this.
So should we be dumping money into a project like this right on the heels of the bruising budget battle which just concluded? James Joyner notes that it’s not really a significant chunk of change and he might get behind the idea.
Is this an incredibly brazen waste of money? Or a drop in the bucket well spent? The second, quite likely…
I haven’t the foggiest whether a Pakistani Sesame Street will succeed in transforming the culture on matters of gender equality or literacy. But, given that we’re pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the region, I’m willing to risk $20 million to find out.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
When she gets head first into the sack dress, how will anyone know she has pig tails.
Yeah because 8 is too late to undermine their traditional family values. Commies want the children.
“James Joyner notes that it’s not really a significant chunk of change and he might get behind the idea. “
I bet that if James Joyner had to personally come up with $20 Million Dollars he might change his ‘tune’.
Thanks mandaladon. And since this is the Obama administration, they’ll contract with Hamas for the production.
Gonna call it “Open Sesame”.
Trying to curry some favor I suppose.
In a seedy little backwater.
I don’t think it’s going to end well.
Not end well? In Pakistan?!? Oh pshaw. ;’)
Yes. What was I thinking? What could possibly go wrong?
Hearts and minds, baby. Seriously, I think it’s terrific (if they do it well) and money well spent. We have *got* to combat that “great Satan” thing if we ever hope to have peace. I hope the next step is actually opening free, elite U.S.-based schools in Pakistan. Only let the smartest kids in. Make it something they compete for. Win the next generation, because we sure don’t have this one in our pocket.
I heard BOTH Howdy Doody and Charlie McCarthy are hoppin’ mad over this!
It's un-Constitutional lunacy. We're frigging BROKE Hetty. Got that? Every dime of that 20 million is borrowed from the frigging CHINESE and will be paid back by our kids and grand-kids.
I hope the next step is actually opening free, elite U.S.-based schools in Pakistan.
What do you mean by "free"? "Free" to whom? And who's going to pay for that stupid idea? More money extracted at gunpoint from Americans? More debt piled on our kids and grandkids?
And just for the hell of it can you point out to me where exactly in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution Congress is authorized to spend US taxpayer money to produce a kids show anywhere on the planet, let alone in that Paki sh**hole?
Win the next generation,
I've got a better idea. Let's just kill this generation of Pak's. If we're going to spend US taxpayer money pacifying Pakistan I vote for a couple of rounds of nuke strikes. I don't want them in our pockets.
I want them quivering in fear at the mere mention of the word "America".
L
I’m not going to bother replying to most of your post, since it’s clear you’re not interested in a dialogue, but just your own opinions. Fine, so be it.
I will reply to one part, though. “If we’re going to spend US taxpayer money pacifying Pakistan I vote for a couple of rounds of nuke strikes. I don’t want them in our pockets.” I’m biting back my first few replies (not wanting to annoy our gentle Moderators). I will simply point out that in the long run, nuking Pakis won’t do a bit of good. Amazingly, that part of the Middle East is one of the *friendliest* ones toward Americans. (Not that they are “friendly” in the Western sense of the world. Just that they are at least not overtly our enemies.) If you want to turn that whole part of the world into slag, well, do all the “stans” at once, and don’t forget Iran. At least the whole thing would be over with, I guess, though God knows what it would do to the world’s environment. But nuking one country (and a “friendly” one at that — good grief — for no reason except that they are a thorn in our side) will just piss off the others. Completely useless.
Coward.
Amazingly, that part of the Middle East is one of the *friendliest* ones toward Americans.
Thanks for making my point Mensa genius. If that's 'friendly' then we're better off reducing them to ashes. Then we can tell the nutballs who really hate us "that's what we do to 'friendly' muslims."
If you want to turn that whole part of the world into slag, well, do all the “stans” at once, and don’t forget Iran.
Fine by me. Turn Mecca into radioactive rubble while we're at it.
At least the whole thing would be over with, I guess, though God knows what it would do to the world’s environment.
Yea, I notice that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are uninhabitable wastelands since we nuked them 65 years ago and the Earths environment never recovered. Man, they've really dropped the membership standards at Mensa since I turned in my card.
I noticed you failed to point up that pesky little part of the Constitution that authorizes Congress to spend US taxpayer money on TV shows for savages. Go ahead, take your time. I'm sure a smarty like you will find it lickety split.
L
Oh . . . .
That Mensa thing really bothers you, doesn’t it? Did you take the test and fail it? Wow. Sorry ‘bout that.
You don’t want to discuss, you want to fight. Not interested. Have a nice evening.
Actually I was a member of Mensa ages ago. Had you applied an iota of comprehension you could have gleaned that little nugget in my response.
Now go find that part in the Constitution that authorizes the expenditure of tax money on a television program for savages on the other side of the planet. Let me know when you do.
Best,
L
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