180th Fighter Wing Commander Col Craig Bluto Baker declared that an Air Force officer was prohibited from explaining the impact of Jesus Christ on his life, while a Navy Commander in San Diego lauded the performance of comedian Jeff Dunham, who voices, among others, Achmed the Dead Terrorist. From a prior performance:

Achmed the Dead Terrorist is a bundle of bones and bulging eyes and bushy eyebrows who delights with the crowd-pleasing line “I’ll keel you!”

“I’m a terrible father,” he said. “I took my son to take your kid to work day. Now he’s there, over there and over there. [Bomb noises] It’s not funny, kids blow up so fast.”

Achmed went on a rant about loving Ellen DeGeneres and said since he didn’t have a “hoo ha” that “I could be a lesbian and I could have a shot with Ellen.”

It would be kind to call Dunham’s act “politically incorrect.” A few years ago when he was criticized as being offensive to Muslims with his Achmed skit, Dunham said:

“I’ve skewered whites, blacks, Hispanics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays, straights, rednecks, addicts, the elderly, and my wife. As a standup comic, it is my job to make the majority of people laugh, and I believe that comedy is the last true form of free speech.”

Despite that defense, Dunham edited his show for his majority-Muslim audience earlier this year, reworking Achmed — sort of — as a mustachioed Frenchman.

Ultimately, it’s admirable that the Air Force Reserve and Navy MWR supported Dunham’s show even though some might fight it offensive.

Perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned there.

Image caption: Stand-up Comedian Jeff Dunham performs with crowd favorite “Achmed the Dead Terrorist” for service members, families and guests at Naval Base San Diego. The Tour for the Troops’ concert was sponsored by the Air Force Reserve and Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel James Lewis/Released)

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