Laughing Makes It Okay?
23 November 2003
A wise person I know once said, ”Those intent on ’pushing the envelope’ with new social and cultural values have learned that they can progress much quicker with their agenda if they can get us to laugh at something. Think of the things that couldn’t be done or said on television three, ten and thirty years ago, and then think of how the topics became ’okay.’”
She’s right. They got us to laugh at stuff. Sit-coms led the way with all kinds of humorous treatments of otherwise tragic human conditions and choices.
If any of that makes sense to you, then don’t miss this article about Michael Moore, Al Franken and Molly Ivins. Max Goss is a graduate student in philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. He has written a terrific piece for World Magazine. Here’s the title and tagline for Max’s outstanding essay:
They’re Not Kidding
by Max Goss
FEATURE: Three best-selling liberal authors have come up with a clever tactic: Use humor to shield hate, cynicism, and unsupported accusations. Those who object just don’t ”get the joke.”
Filed under: Thinking