Thread: U.S. Funds $20 Million Pakistani Sesame Street

U.S. Funds $20 Million Pakistani Sesame Street

November 2, 2011 by Sam Rolley


Sesame Street will soon be broadcast in Pakistan as part of an U.S. initiative.

At a cost of $20 million to the American taxpayer, U.S. officials have decided to create a version of Sesame Street for Pakistan in order to combat growing radicalization in the country.

The television show, which will feature a cast of Pakistani characters, is part of a broader commitment to provide the country $7.5 billion in foreign aid over five years, according to the Associated Press. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/31 ... latestnews

The show will feature a female character named Rani, who loves traditional Pakistani music, who is reportedly supposed to teach Pakistani children about sexual equality and the importance of female education in the male-dominated country.

Seventy-eight episodes will be aired in Pakistan’s national language, Urdu, over a three-year span, as well as 13 in each of the four main regional languages, Baluchi, Pashtu, Punjabi and Sindhi. The shows will appear on Pakistan state television.

The show will reportedly appear much like the American Sesame Street, though without Big Bird and other iconic cast members. Each episode will follow a similar format to its Western counterpart, but the Pakistani Sesame Street will reportedly focus much more on Mideastern themes.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/u-s ... eet/?eiid=

Along with U.S. capture-or-kill teams and Predator drones, radicals in Pakistan have a fearsome new enemy: Elmo.

Our Joseph Straw reports:

The U.S. State Department has enlisted the baby monster and his furry friends from Sesame Street in a $20 million effort to teach Pakistani kids the importance of tolerance and equality, the Associated Press reports.

The latest incarnation of the iconic 42-year-old show - which already airs in more than 20 countries with U.S. government support - is scheduled to hit the airwaves later this month.

The show, titled Sim Sim Hamara, will star 6-year-old Rani, a curious young girl who is captain of her school's cricket team and a budding musician, illustrating the importance of opportunity for girls and women.

Elmo, however, will make the trip without Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Baily the singing donkey and Haseen O Jameel, a vain, well-dwelling crocodile will charm Pakistani kids in their stead.

Secretary of State Clinton has made several visits to the famed street.

While serving as First Lady in the 1990s, she appeared with the show’s characters to promote healthy habits.

And she appeared with Elmo in a public service announcement in in 2005 while she served as a New York senator.

Pakistan is the new frontier in American efforts to win hearts and minds.

The discovery and killing this May of Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani garrison town, where he had apparently lived comfortably for some time, exposed the divided allegiances within the Muslim nation.

A haven for extremists and a base for attacks on U.S. troops in
Afghanistan, it has become a new front in the U.S. war on terror.


http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailyp ... -extremism


Is this a real " weapon" in our arsenal in the war on terror?
Bugs Bunny or The Roadrunner would probably have more practical approaches towards defeating terrorists. Just hope Elmo and his handlers have the good sense to hire some Blackwater folks to go along just in case.
This is just another example of waste of taxpayer $. But what the heck , it is only 20 million $, and it is for the kids after all.

Government Waste!!!!! Cut my taxes!!!!

PBS was crying this year because they were afraid the US Gov was going to cut funding, so this is a back handed way of the supporters in DC to funnel them the money outside of the budget.

PBS should have some respect and turn down the money and the offer.

Dixie