Obama? Bowling for Humor

Have you read the latest news? “President Obama has announced in Washington that in light of his “Special Olympics” comment, he will no longer be speaking in public as any sort of colloquial phrases are now being held up for intense public examination. In related news, the American Society of Mute Persons has come out saying that this remark is “insulting” and “demeaning” to those who are speech deficient and do not have the option “to not speak”. In response, President Obama reportedly shrugged his shoulders. This was followed up with an announcement from the Association of Nervous Tic Persons of America that President Obama has shown “ultimate” disregard for the millions of Americans who display some sort of nervous tic. Following that announcement President Obama has reportedly not moved or spoken since”.

Not really. But it does illustrate how much of a “Nanny State” the world has become. Every action and statement, comment or verbal gaffe is now being held up to other peoples reactions as if each and every phrase is specifically targeting them. I have just finished reading the new John Lennon biography “The Life” by Philip Norman in which Lennon is repeatedly pillared by the author as he has been by many other writers as being insensitive when in his younger years he would pretend to be a “cripple” or a “spassie” when he mugged for the camera or on stage. I am not saying that by today’s standards that might be regarded as being insensitive. But in those days that was an accepted portrayal of humor. If we want to hold yesterday’s examples up in today’s standards, shouldn’t we apply this same yardstick to Jerry Lewis’ various characters who mime mentally challenged people? What about Red Skeletons’ “Gertrude and Heathcliffe”? Those characters, although they were seaguls, definitely portrayed mentally challenged individuals. It has been shown over history that the basis for humor is almost invariably at the expense of someone (preferably someone else).

Over time certain groups have been exposed to over the top characterizations as an easy route for laughs. I don’t believe I need to mention examples, but a few of them are pollacks, jews, blondes, newfies or any specific group at any point in history. Many jokes that have made the rounds simply replaces one group with another making a pollack joke a newfie joke or a dumb republican joke into a dumb democrat joke.

The statement by President Obama that his low bowling score was akin to the “Special Olympics or something” when taken out of context of a late night talk show can certainly be seen by some to be demeaning. But Special Olympian Kolan McConiughey who has bowled 5 perfect games since 2005 and won six medals in the games certainly isn’t someone Obama shouldn’t be comparing his bowling score to. In fact, I am sure McConiughey could respond with a few Obama jokes of his own to level the playing field. But then the Association to Prohibit Jokes Against The President, might take offense at that.