READY, SET -- SMILE

By Edwin Cooney

A few days ago one of my readers sent me the following:

The economy is so bad--
1. I went to buy a toaster oven and they gave me a bank.
2. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
3. CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
4. Hot wheels and Matchbox cars are now trading higher than GM.
5. Obama met with small businesses to discuss the Stimulus Package: GE, Pfizer and Citigroup.
6. McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer.
7. People in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.
8. The most highly paid job is now jury duty.
9. People in Africa are donating money to Americans.
10. Mothers in Ethiopia are telling their kids, "finish your plate, do you know how many kids are starving in the US?"
11. Motel Six won’t leave the light on.
12. The Mafia is laying off judges.
13 The bank returns your check marked "insufficient funds". You have to call the bank and ask if they meant you or them.

My favorites of these are numbers one, four, seven, eleven and twelve.

During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, cowboy-comedian Will Rogers observed: “We’ll hold the distinction of being the only nation in the history of the world that went to the poor house in an automobile.” Comedian Eddie Cantor also joked during the Depression: “When someone goes into a hotel these days to rent a room, the desk clerk asks—for sleeping or for jumping?”

Scholarly educators haven’t written much about what our ancestors in America or throughout all of world history have joked about during times of crisis. For instance, no one has suggested that the English barons of 1200 AD who forced Britain’s only King John to sign the Magna Carta had a sense of humor. Nor has it been recorded that ale house drinkers throughout sixteenth century London were exchanging quips about Henry the Eighth’s latest wife or wife-to-be. Neither do we read much about Nathan Hale’s “gallows humor”.

While no serious observer can expect to retain much credibility by suggesting that all we need to do is to “ha ha” our way through these scary times, it’s almost equally true that a society that can laugh at itself when things hurt stands a reasonably good chance of recovery.

I’ve often been irritated by what has seemed to me to be too many instances of “God Bless America” -- especially during sporting events. Nevertheless, a society that genuinely loves itself demonstrates that it loves best when it laughs at itself. It’s been well documented that although Abraham Lincoln suffered bouts of deep depression, he could (and often did) laugh at himself.

I recently read a story about President Lincoln: During the Civil War, he was confined to his room due to a slight case of smallpox. He joked that just when he had something to offer every voter and politician he was being kept away from the public.

Even George Washington reportedly had a sense of humor. Kenneth C. Davis opened his 1990 bestseller “Don’t Know Much About History” with a story about Washington on Christmas night 1776. As he stepped onto the boat to cross the Delaware to give the British forces a drubbing at the Battle of Trenton, he nudged Henry “Ox” Knox (his 280 pound artillery officer and eventual Secretary of War) with the toe of his boot and said: “Shift that fat ass, Harry, but slowly, or you’ll swamp the damn boat.” I’d call that humor in a crisis—wouldn’t you?

Want some free advice? Never reject any idea, person, or society due to imperfection. However, an ideology, personality, or society that can’t be joshed about is an idea, individual, or society you should do without.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY