It’s Obvious

“So what are we doing here then?” I asked.  “It is obvious that you don’t need the twenty-five percent minority.  Good luck with your majority.  History is full of others like you who got arrogant because of percentage points and statistics and masses cheering for them in the streets.  Many of them wish they would have listened to much calmer voices who didn’t cheer their every move.  But why would you be any different?”
—  Bassem Youssef
From his book: “Revolution For Dummies“
.
On This Day In:
2018	Passed Too Swiftly
2017	On Our Wall (Part 1)
2016	Or The Ripples From A Good Life
2015	Titles And Reputations
2014	Unfolding
2013	Again
2012	Needs
	Damned
2011	Potter & Prejudice
	Blink, Blink

Read Full Post »

The Tragedies Are About To Get Worse

Egypt was living through one tragedy after another.  People were killed every day because of something.  This became our own Columbine reality on a weekly basis.  There was always this challenge of trying to make people laugh amid such terrible circumstances.  But what could we do?  If we closed up shop every time Egypt lived through another tragedy or unrighteous killing, we might as well not have a show at all.  Nonetheless, my team implored me to cancel the show.  They were worried about how we would be perceived.  I was already stressed out because I still wasn’t used to the timing of a live program and found myself shouting in the control room, “I can’t just go and cancel the show every other episode!  This is the country we are living in.  Death has become a mere statistic.  You will always find trolls who will say to you, how dare you laugh at whatever tragedy is going on in the country.  Well, guess what, the tragedies are about to get worse and the trolls will watch us in secret anyways.  There are people out there who need this.  I am doing the show.”
—  Bassem Youssef
From his book: “Revolution For Dummies“
.
On This Day In:
2018	Plunge
	Time To Meet God
2017	Wealth Within
2016	Soaring
2015	Gone To The Library…
2014	Choose To Lead
2013	Not Sent Yet
2012	Wall-Crawler Reboot
	Learning To Count
	On Worshiping God
2011	Emancipated Differences
2010	A Little More Technology, Please…

Read Full Post »

Instantly Turned

Many of my “liberal” friends turned fascist overnight and actually believed the bullshit the military was pushing.  There is something very interesting about becoming a fascist.  It turns you instantly into a dumbass.  The same educated people who’d traveled the world and called for freedom and liberalism and opposed the fascist agenda of the Islamists had now turned into what they were attacking for the past couple of years.
—  Bassem Youssef
From his book:  “Revolution For Dummies“
.
On This Day In:
2018	Sitting
2017	No Right Way
2016	Still Ticklish
2015	Maybe Sooner Than You Think
2014	The Path Of Mastery
2013	Love’s Ignorance
2012	Here’s To Enjoyment
2011	Not Just The Facts, Ma’am

Read Full Post »

Talking About Egypt, Not The White House

My god, I was sitting with a con artist!  This is how they intended to control the country.  Religion when needed, business when appropriate, and deception all the time.
—  Bassem Youssef
From his book:  “Revolution For Dummies“
[But is sure sounds like a meeting with #LyingDonald in the White House – doesn’t it?  —  KMAB]
.
On This Day In:
2017	Left Behind
2016	Self-Restraint
2015	In The Midst
2014	Match Book
2013	Disservice And Disingenuous
2012	Giants Win Game 1 Of The World Series 8 to 3!!!
	On Death
2011	The Spirit Of Universal Connectivity
2010	SF Giants Pitchers Witness Protection Program
	Orange Outside (Too) & Fear The Beard
	Non-Taxing Read

Read Full Post »

The Privilege Of Milking

A revolution is not just about freedom of speech, but the ability to monitor authority and hold it accountable.  When a revolution fails, whether in Tahrir Square or Wall Street, it’s always because someone doesn’t want to get caught.  It is imperative that they keep their privilege of milking the goods of the country any way possible.
—  Bassem Youssef
From his book:  “Revolution For Dummies“
.
On This Day In:
2017	Try Not To Run Short, Too
2016	I Feel The Same (Thankful)
2015	It Couldn’t Hurt
2014	Sir, I Have Reasoned It Out!
2013	What Are We Becoming?
2012	Miracles
2011	“W” Finds A Nut!
2010	No Strain At All, But I’m Not Sure About Stress…
	An Evening at the Pavilion…

Read Full Post »

Disruptive Definition

Many are starting to recognize that American democracy is actually changing into an oligarchy.  People are vocal about all the imperfections of the system and yet free speech alone might not even leave a dent in the problem, let alone fix it.  When people get more physical, they get crushed by the militarization of their own police.  That’s why the Occupy movement was looked upon as a bunch of crazy hippies who wanted to disrupt the system.  Well, isn’t a revolution, by definition, disruption of the system?
—  Bassem Youssef
From his book: “Revolution For Dummies“
.
On This Day In:
2017	A History Of Small Insights
2016	Be Uncommon
2015	Ooops!
2014	What Price Freedom?
2013	Remembering Val
2012	Good-bye, Val
	Survival Value
2011	Traitors In Our Midst
	Life Ain’t Easy

Read Full Post »

Respect Is Long Gone

I see how my work inspired millions of young people around the Middle East to make their own contributions.  With every video, vine, and meme, I see the youth using the Internet to challenge the hideous propaganda machine.  They are finding ways to make fun of these brutal dictatorships, and in a small way I feel that my show is still going on.  A revolution is not just an event, it is a long process.  And the process might start with those young people losing respect for the establishments that controlled and brainwashed their parents through religion and fake nationalism. Those young people are questioning everything.  Nothing is off limits and nothing is taboo anymore.  Questioning in itself is a prequel to a revolution.  The fall of the social, religious, and military idols that controlled the Middle East is already happening.  Those idols are losing their most important asset, being respected and being revered.  The young generation is not taking the bullshit again.  They may rule for a while with fear and brutality but the respect is long gone.  It is just a matter of time.
—  Bassem Youssef
From his book: “Revolution For Dummies“
.
On This Day In:
2017	Dream Of Dreamers
2016	Dear Automakers
2015	And Some Not So Brave Too
2014	In My Lifetime…
2013	Democracy
2012	Borrowed Expectations
2011	Not Necessarily True

Read Full Post »