Dean Obeidallah is an award-winning Arab-American comic who has been a part of numerous national and international TV shows and events.  Born of a Palestinian father and Sicilian mother, he believes that comedy is a wonderful way to connect people, and is an important first step toward more serious discussions.  This idea is reflected in Dean's "Standup for Peace" comedy tour, a two-man traveling show created with Jewish-American comic Scott Blakeman.  This project, with performances across the United States, is a way of bringing people of different backgrounds, particularly Arab- and Jewish-Americans, together in laugher, helping to encourage dialogue and foster understanding.  Bridges was pleased to hear from Dean following a recent show in Washington, DC. 

What made you interested in doing comedy in the first place?  I always enjoyed making people laugh. The first time I ever did comedy was when I was  a lawyer and the NJ Bar association sponsored the funniest lawyer show. The other lawyers in my firm suggested I do it.It was a great deal of fun and I started doing more comedy after that.

How do you think your nationality affects you in a post-9/11 world?  It colors the way I view many topics. I view the world as a minority now- before 9/11 I viewed it more as a part of the "white" majority.

What has been the highlight of your comedy career?  There a few special moments that stand out- such as taping the "Axis of Evil" special for Comedy Central, producing the first stand up comedy festival in the Middle East in Amman, Jordan and performing in front of my cousins in Ramallah.

In an article you wrote for the Common Ground, you mentioned that you met Scott Blakeman on a bus. How did start talking and what let you to decide to put together "Stand Up for Peace"?  We had been friends before that and wanted to do some show about the Middle East and encouraging peace.  A show featuring Arab and Jewish stand up comedians seemed to be a great fit and did the shows as fundraisers for the organization "Stand up for Peace."

What role does laughter play in striving for peace?  Comedy is a great way of bringing people of different backgrounds together.  If people can laugh together the hope they can then talk about the more difficult issues.

Have you ever received negative responses? If so, how do you deal with them?  Comedy is subjective - some people like it, some don't.  I have received a few complaints from people on the extreme right who don't like my use of the word Palestine in describing where my father was born in my comedy but those people  have no sense of objective history. My father was born in the 1930's in what is now know  as the West Bank before the modern State of Israel was created. I know some people claim that there was never a place called Palestine but then again there are twisted people who deny the Holocaust. You just hope you can reach out to the people you can - there will always be haters and extremists that we can't reach.

To what extent do you embolden stereotypes about the Middle East by using them in your jokes?  The only way to break down stereotypes is raise them. Comedy is a great way to show how ridiculous those stereotypes are.

Your comedy shows have taken you around the world. How do audience reactions compare between those of the US and the Middle East? The audiences in the Middle East laugh more than American audiences. I basically tell the same jokes in English there and the people in the Arab world laugh a lot. The image of the laughing Arab is sadly something we don't see in the American media.

What about between young and old audiences? There will always be generational gaps with material regardless where you are in the world.

Bridges of Understanding does a lot of work with high school students in the United States and the Middle East. In your opinion, what do you think the best way to create understanding between the two groups of students?  Emphasising the things you have in common - then you can tackle the issues that you disagree on. You have to build a relationship of mutual respect so then you can address the issues that may divide you.

What about with older people? Same as above.

Bridges' mission is to foster better understanding between the United States and the Arab world ? clearly something that interests you as well.  Please comment a bit on this idea ? where do you think we stand, and what avenues do we need to pursue (either in the short or long term)?  The issues the Arab world has had with America really aren't with the American people but with the government policies. I am optimistic that we are on the path to better relations with the Arab world now.

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