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Politics

What America Needs is a Hearty Laugh

Tom Purcell on

America could use a hearty laugh right now, but laughter doesn’t come easily because too many Americans have lost their sense of humor.

Humor, says Merriam-Webster, is “the ability to be funny or to be amused by things that are funny.”

We are at our best when we’re amused. Few things can better reduce stress or shed light on truth than a good joke.

I can’t think of a better time to revisit what some great minds have said about humor’s incredible value - to both individuals and well-functioning societies.

“Nonsense wakes up the brain cells. And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age. Humor has a tremendous place in this sordid world. It's more than just a matter of laughing. If you can see things out of whack, then you can see how things can be in whack.” - Dr. Seuss

These words couldn’t be more pertinent to the wackiness of 2021, when half the country thinks the other half should be silenced in all public forums.

 

“If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you.” - Groucho Marx

Groucho’s words remind me of something that “Saturday Night Live” founder Lorne Michaels said about poking fun at politicians. He noted that when the show pokes fun at Republicans, they find it funny - they don’t take the ribbing as personally as do some with opposite political points of view.

“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.” - Francis Bacon

To be sure, we human beings can be flawed in so many ways - our politicians, who are supposed to reflect our will, even more so.

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Copyright 2021 Tom Purcell, All Rights Reserved. Credit: Cagle.com

 

 

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