At least the Canadians still have a sense of humor about religion, and they know that “terror” needn’t always be mentioned in the same breath as “Islam.”
On Tuesday Jan. 9, the first episode of the new CBC series Little Mosque on the Prairie will air. The show focuses on a fictional Muslim family finding its place in Canada’s Western prairies. The series creator, a Canadian Muslim who moved to Saskatchewan 10 years ago, apparently drew on her personal experiences for comic fodder.
While the popular crusade against Muslims since 9/11 is no laughing matter, comedy has always been a good way to enlighten the average couch potato. Plus, any American who watched the early DeGrassi Junior High episodes knows the Canucks have always been way ahead of the U.S. when it comes to addressing important social issues.
Speaking of Little House, Canada’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters is the Canadian Half Pints, a basketball team with an average player height of 4 feet 3 inches and a “Don’t Tease” program with the slogan “Bullying Stops Here.”
Not to be confused with the (American) Half Pints, a New York metal/rock/glam band. The band’s members (Laura, Laura and Laura) all dress like Little Miss Ingalls and concentrate on “takin’ the prairie to the people.”
