It’s no laughing matter — Or is it?

Years ago I suggested to a justice-seeking colleague that we should investigate the role of humour in our social and ecological justice advocacy. We can be awfully serious, I said. Off-putting even. She replied that the context — human rights abuse; the climate crisis; avaricious market hegemony — didn’t lend itself well to comedic treatment. Turns out however that some clever writers and performers have found a way to keep people engaged with matters of consequence. Well-wrought humour can surprise, inform, and delight us. Did you know that comedy is considered by some as a science? No kidding. Check it out.

Writing in the Student Christian Movement’s Faith in Action blog stream,  PhoebeE describes Comedy as Protest — not exactly “a funny thing happened on the way to the sit in” (which may include stand-up) — a way  to use “humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.”

Personally, I love to laugh and I have an ability to help others laugh. Laughter helps us all relax and take a broader view of issues, persons, and frankly, all of life. Once on base, I am able to capitalize on the energy of the moment and help people laugh at themselves or discover a new take on a serious matter. I exaggerate, poke fun, create impossible scenarios, and invent unexpected and surprising outcomes. I use language and wit, timing, gestures, images and sometimes music. These soliloquies are not planned, ever. They just happen.

Laughter can both lighten tension and allow beautiful truths to emerge. Think of a good funeral eulogy, or a good political speech. Many admire Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who all brilliance aside, can laugh at himself. We don’t see that down south these days.

Speaking of “down south” what we now see is a grumpy, cruel, and divided America. Anger, frustration, and suspicion, these are the hallmarks of public discourse in the “new” America. As for humility, nobility, respect, wisdom — all these are disappearing fast if not already gone. Could humour somehow create a forum for a recovery of basic human virtues? It’s a lot to ask, but I do wonder if anyone down south can laugh at anything, including themselves, right now? PhoebeE writes:

“Comedy can also be a powerful tool for drawing people together during divisive times. During my time at drama school, we had a guest lecture from a woman who now works for community theatre company Collective Encounters, and had run clowning workshops with Catholic and Protestant children during the Troubles in Ireland. This was less about creating political messages through laughter, but instead using laughter to rise above political unsettlements.”

So how might comedy contribute to the sharing of truth and the building of trust anywhere and everywhere? Look no further than Stephen Cobert and Rosie O’Donnell. For the next ten months until The Late Show is cancelled follow Cobert’s latenight commentary. (Disclaimer: Most of us over sixty don’t stay up late but watch clips the next day.) Until cancellation day the gloves will clearly be off; his ratings will go through the roof; and we will laugh, out loud.

Concerning Rosie O’Donnell enjoy this nugget I just found, written from Ireland where she is now exiled, her new comedic frontier:

Hey tangerine trump

First you said I should be stripped of my citizenship

Now you’re publicly celebrating that Stephen Colbert lost his job.

You’ve never understood the role of comedy — or the role of truth.

You think silencing a comedian means you’ve won something.

You haven’t.

Stephen stood up to you, like so many of us have.

Not because it was easy — but because it was necessary.

He told the truth with wit and courage, night after night,

while you used your platform to spread fear, lies, and hate.

You don’t want free speech — you want blind loyalty.

But America doesn’t work like that.

We question power here. We laugh at bullies.

And we speak out — it leaves u undone.

Stephen will be fine. So will I.

So will every artist, journalist, immigrant, teacher,

parent, and kid who sees through you

your desperate grasp at relevance u r craving for control

Truth isn’t going anywhere.

Neither are we.

As someone said to me, somewhere, sometime, “them’s fighting words.” I try to embody such an attitude in my own writing and advocacy. A former bishop of mine used to say that he enjoyed “playing in the traffic” sometimes. Comedy helps me play in the traffic of life and love. Comedians help me find confidence, inspiration, and encouragement to do what I can, with what I’ve got, in the time available.

Political humour isn’t “just for laughs.” It’s a platform and practice for justice and peace for all. Funny huh!

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