Pam’s Corner: Politics is Serious but Don’t Forget to Laugh!

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There are a lot of serious issues that we need to address in our world today.  There is also an election coming up and I’m one of the first to say that voting is very important.  We are blessed to live in a free country where we can vote and we should exercise that freedom and not take it for granted.

With that being said, serious issues should not impact how we treat one another.  Everyone should be free to have an opinion without being belittled, called names, or treated discourteously.  We need to bring back good manners and courtesy while being a good example ourselves in our homes, schools, clubs, churches, and on social media.  Do you remember words like: please, thank you, you’re welcome, and I’m sorry?  They should be expressed all the time but lately they seem to have gone by the way side, right along with the kindness and courtesy.  Sometimes tempers can flare but there is also something called self-control.  I’m not sure anyone holds their breath and counts to ten anymore like we were taught to do as children in an attempt to take time to get control of our temper.

Something that seems to be missing from our culture today is a sense of humor and fun-loving banter between folks.  Many a conflict can be forgotten or resolved with a little humor.  Some of our greatest comedians were experts at using humor.  They didn’t use profanity or hateful speech but they used humor.  The humor was even sometimes pointed at themselves.  Yes, there was a time we could even laugh at ourselves!  Perhaps we have forgotten how to laugh. As someone humorously said, “Life is too short to be serious all the time so if you can’t laugh at yourself, call me, I’ll laugh at you.” 

Will Rogers was one of the best political humorists of his time.  As far as I know, he didn’t name individuals but often poked fun at groups and it was done in such a way that we knew he was helping us learn to laugh at ourselves and perhaps it was even meant to help us think about some of the problems that needed solving by using that humor.  You can see for yourself what I mean with these few quotes from Will Rogers: 

“This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session 

as when a baby gets hold of a hammer.” 

“Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously 

and the politicians as a joke.” 

“The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. 

It might be worth it except they keep coming back.” 

“The more you read and observe about the politics thing, 

you got to admit that each party is worse than the other.” 

“I don’t make jokes.  I just watch the government and report the facts.” 

Another comedian who often used political humor was Bob Hope.  He was a man who cared a lot for our country.  For years he gave up his own holiday time to entertain our troops wherever they happened to be serving and protecting our country.  Some of his great one liners were:

“No one party can fool all of the people all of the time, that’s why we have two parties.” 

“I don’t do a lot of political jokes. Too many are getting elected.”

 “It’s so cold here in Washington, D.C., that politicians have their hands in their own pockets.” 

“I love to go to Washington …if only to be near my money” 

“I’ve performed for twelve presidents and entertained six.” 

“I left England when I was four because I found out I could never be king.” 

If you do a little research, you will find that laughter is extremely healthy.  Laughter boosts the immune system, gives an energy boost, lowers blood pressure, burns calories, helps prevent cancer, and reduces stress.  If you can laugh at yourself and your mistakes, it builds character and confidence.  Laughter helps our memory, that’s why speakers often use jokes, funny stories, and cartoons in their presentations.  They want us to remember the information they present. Laughter is also exercise.  When is the last time you laughed until your tummy hurt?  

I hope our nation will get back to working together for the good of our country, striving to be people of honesty and integrity as we remember to be kind and courteous to everyone.  Politics is serious but don’t forget to laugh!

“Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away.” -Benjamin Franklin

“A merry heart does good, like medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22