Learning English Through Culture
Here is an interesting bit of pop culture for you guys.
In case you didn’t know, the famous Hollywood actor Jim Carrey is a Canadian. I’m sure you know that there are many gun deaths in the USA every year. There are basically 2 sides to what people think (2 large groups of people). Of course everyone wants children to be safe, but one group wants to keep gun laws how they currently are, and one group wants to make certain guns illegal.
The story is actually more complex to what both sides believe, but you get the main idea.
Well, anyway, Jim Carrey made a video to “mock” gun lovers in the USA. To “mock” means to make fun of someone. To laugh at them. Jim Carrey is a comedian, his job is to make people laugh. He is a big believer that guns should have more rules to prevent deaths, and that is what most Canadians think too.
The US media and Hollywood always tries to make other countries look bad. Then they laugh at the other countries when they get angry. For instance, Iran (at least the government in Iran) is upset about the movie Argo. Many Americans think “Oh come on, it’s just a movie”. Remember, I’m Canadian, I’m not American. I don’t think this way. I didn’t see the movie and I’m not sure how Iranian people feel about it. I don’t have a strong opinion because I don’t know of this situation well. I do know, that many Americans think Iran, or any country, should not be upset by any Hollywood movie.
But here is the hilarious part. Many Americans are SUPER ANGRY that a Canadian made a little video about why some of the gun lovers in the US might be both stupid men, and have very small “man parts”. It’s just a joke, but it’s funny how upset SOME Americans can be when the same people think other countries shouldn’t be upset when they do it. I’d love to hear your opinion.
Here is the little Jim Carrey song that is going “viral” (Getting super popular fast)
March 28th, 2013 at 9:30 am
I do agree that this is not fair when Americans laugh at other countries (for example “Borat” movie), but penalize others who do the same about americans. Many foreigner comedians are even banned to enter to USA, e.g. Michael Zhvanetsky from Russia. IMHO it is just a propaganda and brainwashing for those who whatch movies and TV news about foreign countries and their culture.
March 28th, 2013 at 11:56 am
Hey guys, I could not understand everything ,if you can write all the song I would be very grateful. As for the movie, I have not seen it, but American people are limited in their thinking.Especially for other countries.
It takes a cold dead hand to decide to pull the trigger
March 28th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
You’re right. its not fair that Americans by Hollywood movies try to shape the way people think about other countries and I like when people want to compensate or revenge and make fun of Americans, this way they may understand how painful it is.
I am Iranian and watched Argo. like many Iranians I didn’t like the way they are trying to show Iranians, maybe most of their show is true but not completely and not all people at that time were belligerent, warlike and stupid. besides it affects our current relationship with Americans too.you know when people see a movie about us like that they may think its our history and we all are that stupid or aggressive as well.some people can’t even separate people from government. on the one side Obama tries to make peace with Iran government and ask them to forget about the past, on the other side these movies hold us back to that moments we were enemies. that’s not really what we need to move forward.
March 28th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Hi Andy and Add,
I’m an Iranian, and I want to talk about my feeling about Argo, I’m not a good representative of Iranians but I try to talk for myself, Argo is not what happened 30+ years ago per se, but it was a good movie and tried hard to be faithful about the details and it was successful in parts of it, but it was not accurate in some other ways. two generation passed from the time that event happened and current young generation in Iran have nothing to do with what their fathers did at that time, and they are angry that why people around the world should look at current Iranians through what their fathers did and they are not in agreement with what happened.
Argo was a good movie, at least with considering this fact that an American made it and Ben Aflak are so sympathetic about the current green movement in Iran.
about Americans, I hate their double standards, but I believe that the best attitude is what Chinese have, if you look at American news media or journals or newspapers, you will see lots of papers aiming to demonize the China, but I haven’t seen any reaction from Chinese side. they are developing and they don’t care about the US. other countries should make their own way without thinking about Americans reactions.
by the way, I’m not sympathetic with current nuclear program of Iran and as a member of green movement in Iran, I believe in reform or any other way that we can change the current constitution of Iran and making it secular.
thanks for your tries in China232, I’m a big fan and follower. It’s hard to catch up with you two brothers, but I have continuous contact with your facebook page, website and your emails.
good luck
March 28th, 2013 at 6:19 pm
Very funny video, for me it was hard to understand all the lyrics,
I found it on internet:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022568165
Thanks
March 28th, 2013 at 6:36 pm
gvc thanks for lyrics
March 28th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
I just started to pull this film off, I want to know exactly What did this film
March 28th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
I watched the movie and do not think anything bad or wrong in it. Argo fuck yourselves.
March 29th, 2013 at 2:10 am
Hi guys,
I think Iran and USA both need an enemy (or at least imaginary enemy) to continue their politics and I have no idea how long this absurd status can be continued? I believe that both nations have missed so many opportunities in the past decades and it is time to move on. Governments and Governors always declare and claim that they are democratic, reasonable and open-minded but in practice they do like a little little baby. I hate both nations behavior in this case. USA try to make movie in holly wood and show Iran as one of the retarded country in the world (of course it is not true.why? just look at Iranian scientist in all around the world and of course in Iran) and on the other side, unfortunately Iranian government have a propaganda campaign against USA, say some vulgar slogan against USA or they sometimes cross the line and burn down the flag of USA which is a token of nation not just a government. I hate these kind of deeds….I hope one day we make a decision to close the deal and just move on for the sake of humanity..
March 29th, 2013 at 11:19 am
I can hardly access this site from china, it’s weird.
March 30th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
“Listen Listen Listen!!! ”
sometimes I got to believe that the world is a total mess! with all the ppl in it. nobody cares what will become of you. The only thing we care about is what will bring us pleasure and comfort – hands down it’s money – , the 232 Fluent English is available for free download and yet we have to buy it from the original company! How crazy it is.
March 31st, 2013 at 7:04 am
it is a very good movie.at least when the Americans see it and test the bitterness it causes they will rethink about the harms Hollywood causes to other nations
March 31st, 2013 at 12:51 pm
It seems that some of American believe they need a gun to do self-defence, because so many crimes happened. The reality is that the more guns the more crimes, and gun owners are not except to become a victim of gun violence in most of the cases, while they are protected by law until some of them go mentally wrong and become another killer.Since it’s illegal to carry concealed gun in public without a license, it is virtually impossible for you to fire back on the spot while being attacked by psycho killer.
When it comes to crime, America might not be much better than some third world countries, many American realized they have had enough, but they can’t live without gun, since it is a part of their culture from head to toe, and many people even profit from it. That’s why US government have been facing dilemma on gun control from a long time ago.
We know after several tragic school shooting, many parents are desperate, even ask their child to wear bulletproof clothes to go school to prevent unexpected incident, but we don’t know how many have to live the life to pray not to be gunned down.
To be honest, I don’t dislike gun, and even shoot few times when I was trained as militia 30 years ago. It’s excited to open fire, and it could be addicted. I’m not sure what I’m going to do, if I got a gun, be careful.
March 31st, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Wow, I love your style, and in my opinion you’re teaching style is awsome because you’re showing the culture part that’s hard to find in any english teaching books. I’M CRAZY ABOUT YOU, GUYS.
But (there’s always a BUT), I gotta complain, why did you change the looks of http://www.speak-fluent-english.com/how-to-speak-english-fluently/? because now I can’t see the other phrases you had plublished previously, I mean, when I got an email with a phrase and I go to the website just pop up the phrase you sent me out but the others, all of phrase you had sent before don’t appear on MY SCREEN!!!