Minary: Humor is good—even and especially in politics and culture

By Russ Minary | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

“And now for something completely different.” (the opening scene of every episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus on BBC)

This article is a departure from the usual banter on politics, religion, morality and taxes.  We can all use a good laugh now and again. 

Monty Python was a British comedy troupe that did out of the box, thought-provoking, bawdy, irreverent skits on a variety of topics including politics and religion. That show has aged very well.  

Politics should still be a rich source of humor.  Here’s a simple way to tell if something is genuinely funny: it will make most people laugh, smile and feel better.  

Mark Twain, one of my favorite humorists wrote two of my favorite quotes about politics and politicians:

1. “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”  
2. “Politicians and diapers should be changed often, and for the same reason”

Late nite TV was once a place to go for a much-needed good laugh and some clean entertainment at the end of a hard day.  Hosts like Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Jay Leno made us laugh at ourselves and each other.  Their guests included great comedians like Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Jonathan Winters, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.  

These comedians didn’t demonize anyone, or resort to crude language or insults (at least not on prime time TV).  They lampooned people – even politicians and other public figures – who were often sitting right next to them.

And believe it or not, no one was offended.  But today, comedy is rare. 

CBS recently cancelled Stephen Colbert’s late nite talk show. I don’t believe it was because of monetary or political reasons.  I think it’s because Colbert stopped being funny and became an angry ideologue.  So people left in droves.

Today, we use social media to find things at which we can be offended and outraged.  It trains us to fear, hate or divide with others just because we heard or were told that they said something, usually based on a soundbite, without trying to understand their comment in context or source-checking.  We talk about people, but not with people.  Things get quickly out of hand.

I try to find the humor and bright side to things while not taking myself too seriously.  No matter who you are, it’s never a good idea to believe your own PR.    

Pres. Ronald Reagan was a consummate politician and humorist. He was known as “the happy warrior” because of his ornery sense of humor, his uncanny timing and his ability to make even his adversaries laugh.  

Reagan was also an unapologetic and enthusiastic conservative.  

For example, in his remarks at the1985 CPAC dinner, Mr. Reagan said, “Conservatives were brought up to hate deficits, and justifiably so. We’ve long thought there are two things in Washington that are unbalanced — the budget and the liberals.”

Note: as a conservative I tend side with the Right, but I can laugh at parties and politicians across the spectrum.  

Sadly, most parties and politicians today seem to have lost the ability to laugh at themselves.   Don’t get me wrong; some issues do (and should) provoke our anger and outrage.  But not every issue should do that. 

The person who cannot find something to laugh about, and others to laugh with them, is a very sad person indeed.   And they probably have very few real friends.

Groucho Marx said, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”   That kinda says it all for me.  

Humor is a very effective weapon when dealing with Leftists, Marxists, Socialists, Communists, Progressives and many Republicans who have no effective defense against it.  If you don’t believe that, refer back to my earlier remarks about Stephen Colbert.  

I’ll leave you with this, and you may quote me.  “Keep smiling.  It confounds your adversaries; and it makes your face better.”   

Russ Minary is a retired sales executive, marketing consultant, small business owner, veteran and freelance humorist. He has lived in CO for 50 years and resides in Douglas County. 

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.