Humor On the Left
I am conservative, politically, but, every so often, I do enjoy a good laugh from a well-aimed poke-in-the-eye from a clever liberal pundit.
The past election cycle and the current rhetoric in the U.S. Congress affirms, I think, that there is more mean-spiritedness (as well as outright hate) among liberals than conservatives these days. I also sense more of a willingness for conservatives to laugh at themselves.
I can remember the recently-elected President George W. Bush speaking to what I seem to remember as a public high school in Texas. "I am living proof," he said (or something like it), "that anyone can become President of the United States. Even those of you with a C-average!"
I cannot picture John Kerry or Teddy Kennedy laughing at themselves in such a light-hearted manner. The closest thing to an exception is John Dean, who recently, successfully and unintentionally, achieved self-parody by mimicking a drug-snorting Rush Limbaugh. After the Minnesota crowd finished laughing, Dean added, "I'm not very dignified but I'm not running for president anymore!" At least he is honest concerning his character!
In all fairness ("warning-sarcasm alert") , after typing in "liberal humor" on Alta Vista "search" I discovered such amusing sites as Evil GOP Bastards, Michael Moore.com, and Democratic Underground (with its evolving list of the "Top 10 Conservative Idiots").
The one thing liberals have over conservatives when it comes to humor, however, is their inherent bent towards satire. While leafing through our local, "Green Party-leaning" free throwaway newspaper, "Honolulu Weekly," I came across these two comics (clicking on them will enlarge them).
This first one is "This Modern World" by Tom Tomorrow. In the second panel I had to smile at the double-reflective parody on the conservative attitudes towards "Fahrenheit 911" and those who thought it worth watching. The final panel takes a well-deserved shot at the incessant conservative whining over liberal bias in the mainstream media.
While I consider this bias to have been well-documented there are times (such as this, couched in Kos' usual "colorful" vitriolics) when the bias appears to have popped up in the opposite direction.
The second comic is "Troubletown" by Lloyd Dangle. It's not a bad "over the top" parody of many actual attitudes swirling around in some "fundamentalist" Christian circles. Some of us have rolled our theological and spiritual eyes more than once when approached by some well-meaning soul-winner with a handful of Jack Chick tracts.
I do take offense at the mocking and unnecessarily anti-Christian tone of the third panel, however. That which is sacred and holy to others should never be mocked. It may be discussed, it may be debated, it may even be declared to be foolish and wrong-headed. But it is bad form and bad humor to satirize, parody, mock and belittle the core religious beliefs of others. Even so, given the inherently "irreverent" nature of satire and parody, I am willing to forgive one panel out of 16.
Humor and laughter are good for the soul and good for the intellect, too. A well-aimed barb can deflate many an inflated ego. If pompous asses must be "de-pomped" then I will vote for humor as the most effective cure every time.
Both liberals and conservatives need to relearn the art of true and genuine humor. The laughter that comes from such genuine mirth comes from deep in the soul, and not at the price of the dehumanization of others.
As Abraham Lincoln knew so well, a good sense of humor is most useful when it enables your enemies to not only see your point, but to laugh along with you as well. "Good" humor turns enemies into friends. "Bad" humor drives them farther away.
I would welcome the day when liberals and conservatives can once again be genuine friends affirming their common humanity and love of America....even while passionately debated the merits of their respective political agendas. I would welcome the day when jokes told on the the Senate floor by a Democrat bring laughter from the other side of the aisle, and vice versa.
"A house divided against itself will fall." A family that laughs together can and will stand together. Even in politics!
The past election cycle and the current rhetoric in the U.S. Congress affirms, I think, that there is more mean-spiritedness (as well as outright hate) among liberals than conservatives these days. I also sense more of a willingness for conservatives to laugh at themselves.
I can remember the recently-elected President George W. Bush speaking to what I seem to remember as a public high school in Texas. "I am living proof," he said (or something like it), "that anyone can become President of the United States. Even those of you with a C-average!"
I cannot picture John Kerry or Teddy Kennedy laughing at themselves in such a light-hearted manner. The closest thing to an exception is John Dean, who recently, successfully and unintentionally, achieved self-parody by mimicking a drug-snorting Rush Limbaugh. After the Minnesota crowd finished laughing, Dean added, "I'm not very dignified but I'm not running for president anymore!" At least he is honest concerning his character!
In all fairness ("warning-sarcasm alert") , after typing in "liberal humor" on Alta Vista "search" I discovered such amusing sites as Evil GOP Bastards, Michael Moore.com, and Democratic Underground (with its evolving list of the "Top 10 Conservative Idiots").
The one thing liberals have over conservatives when it comes to humor, however, is their inherent bent towards satire. While leafing through our local, "Green Party-leaning" free throwaway newspaper, "Honolulu Weekly," I came across these two comics (clicking on them will enlarge them).
This first one is "This Modern World" by Tom Tomorrow. In the second panel I had to smile at the double-reflective parody on the conservative attitudes towards "Fahrenheit 911" and those who thought it worth watching. The final panel takes a well-deserved shot at the incessant conservative whining over liberal bias in the mainstream media.
While I consider this bias to have been well-documented there are times (such as this, couched in Kos' usual "colorful" vitriolics) when the bias appears to have popped up in the opposite direction.
The second comic is "Troubletown" by Lloyd Dangle. It's not a bad "over the top" parody of many actual attitudes swirling around in some "fundamentalist" Christian circles. Some of us have rolled our theological and spiritual eyes more than once when approached by some well-meaning soul-winner with a handful of Jack Chick tracts.
I do take offense at the mocking and unnecessarily anti-Christian tone of the third panel, however. That which is sacred and holy to others should never be mocked. It may be discussed, it may be debated, it may even be declared to be foolish and wrong-headed. But it is bad form and bad humor to satirize, parody, mock and belittle the core religious beliefs of others. Even so, given the inherently "irreverent" nature of satire and parody, I am willing to forgive one panel out of 16.
Humor and laughter are good for the soul and good for the intellect, too. A well-aimed barb can deflate many an inflated ego. If pompous asses must be "de-pomped" then I will vote for humor as the most effective cure every time.
Both liberals and conservatives need to relearn the art of true and genuine humor. The laughter that comes from such genuine mirth comes from deep in the soul, and not at the price of the dehumanization of others.
As Abraham Lincoln knew so well, a good sense of humor is most useful when it enables your enemies to not only see your point, but to laugh along with you as well. "Good" humor turns enemies into friends. "Bad" humor drives them farther away.
I would welcome the day when liberals and conservatives can once again be genuine friends affirming their common humanity and love of America....even while passionately debated the merits of their respective political agendas. I would welcome the day when jokes told on the the Senate floor by a Democrat bring laughter from the other side of the aisle, and vice versa.
"A house divided against itself will fall." A family that laughs together can and will stand together. Even in politics!
posted by Bird of Paradise at 2:55 PM
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