meehawl

all that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned

Dying For Laughs

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At least 140 people were reported killed around [Iraq] Monday … At least 60 bodies were discovered in the capital. Most were middle-aged men, stripped of identification papers, who had been handcuffed, tortured and shot. Among them was Walid Hassan, a comedian with a hit television show.

For the last three years, Walid Hassan had an impossible task. He had to make war-weary Iraqis laugh. Week after week, the comedian and broadcaster found inspiration in the turmoil and bloodletting. On his weekend television show, “Caricature,” he poked fun at the poor security, the long gas lines, the electricity blackouts and the ineffective politicians … Last week, in his final role, Hassan played a man who made his way to the top of his company through connections, only to find out he was the wrong person for the job. Many viewers interpreted that as a slap at Iraq’s unity government, in which sect and tribal allegiances are clearly visible in many ministries.

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