The Marshals have moved in. The posses are out in force. The lynch mobs are around every piece of tumbleweed, ambush alley or Acme shed. And by the way, Martial Law is different from Marshal Law. But in this case, is there much difference these days?
No one is safe from the hanging tree if you are white, heterosexual, conservative and can still have a laugh. Hell, even the black conservatives are in the firing line.
In a world where political correctness tiptoes on eggshells, navigating the fine line between being offended and being offensive has become an art form.
All I can say is no wonder the chicken crossed the road. She hoped it would be safer on the other side. Only it isn't. Because to get to the other side means you have to cross a highway of laws, hate speech accusations and lawsuits. The poor chicken rarely makes it. And, if she does, she is roasted for giving a cluck.
Every joke these days is reported to a moderator on social media because someone was offended. It seems to me that to laugh these days, is offensive.
We just weren't precious back in the day, were we? We were allowed to laugh at the absurdities. Now? Hell, Nothing is allowed to be funny anymore.
Let's face it: Mel Brooks was a champion when it came to the art of humour. It relieves stress. And, as they say, laughter is the best medicine.
Just look at the court jester - In times of hardship or political instability, the court jesters played a crucial role in maintaining the morale of the court. Their ability to inject humour into difficult situations provided a welcome respite from the challenges of court life. But beware the fool who fell foul of the ruler of the day.
Much like modern times, really................
To shed some light on this delicate dance we used to have, let's turn to the masters of British comedy - Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and Absolutely Fabulous.
If there's one group that knew how to push boundaries it was the legendary Monty Python troupe. From the Spanish Inquisition to the Ministry of Silly Walks, these blokes built their empire on the absurd and the unexpected. But that was over 55 years ago. Think about it. They wouldn't have a hope in hell today.
In the realm of being offensive, Monty Python takes the gold medal in the Offence Olympics. But here's the catch - it was all in good fun. The key to their success lay in the fact that they were an equal opportunity offender. Nobody is safe, and that's precisely why we still love them. They remind us not to take life too seriously, even if it means getting slapped with a fish. And boy oh boy, we are being slapped on a daily basis.
Yes, we are being slapped in the face these days. Every day. By our media, our governments and we are supposed to stand there and take it.
All you have to do is look at the grand final of the International Philosophy Challenge. Is this not accurate? China the referee and ....well, what can I say?
Enter Fawlty Towers, the hotel where service is shoddy, tempers are short, and political correctness is but a distant dream. Basil Fawlty, the irritable and perpetually flustered owner, doesn't discriminate when it comes to offending guests.
From Germans to Spaniards, everyone gets a taste of his special brand of hospitality. I have a family friend who we always said looked a bit like John Cleese and he was a renowned hotelier. Fortunately his management style was more welcoming..... but I would not mind betting there were moments when he wished he could have been a bit more like Basil. But he was too professional for that. But back to old mate Basil.
Basil Fawlty's ability to insult is an art form. Can you imagine an episode of Fawlty Towers that was politically correct? If that was the criteria, it would never have made it past one episode.
There was nothing wrong with it., It was what we used to call " funny. " Before humour was banned.
And our government wants to ban misinformation. Funny that. No doubt that means banning Fawlty Towers.
That is about it in a nutshell. Fawlty Towers is Misinformation.
Now, let's shift gears to Absolutely Fabulous. Edina and Patsy, the dynamic duo of dysfunction, redefine the term 'offensive' with their unabashed disregard for social norms. They navigate the world of fashion and PR ( sorry about that ) with all the grace of a bull in a china shop.
In Absolutely Fabulous, offense is a fashion statement. Political correctness is so last season, darling. Edina and Patsy offended everyone in their path, and yet I can't help but love them for it. Their antics serve as a reminder that sometimes, laughter is the best accessory. They drank. They smoked. They were promiscuous.
Oh how dreadful.
In the end, the distinction between being offended and being offensive can be as blurry as Mr. Magoo's vision. Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and Absolutely Fabulous invite us to just have a bloody laugh.
I think we need to embrace the silliness, wear our humour like a badge of honour, and remember that sometimes, the best way to diffuse tension is with a well-timed punchline – preferably one involving a parrot, a faulty tower, or a bottle of Bolly.
My late Dad got given a magnum of Moet and it has sat for 10 years or more. We ( Redhead and I ) gave it to my daughter.I hope it bit the bullet on New Years Eve. If not? perhaps it will live on and be uncorked when sanity comes back to the world.Though it might be a long wait...
Cheers to the laughter that transcends offence. Or is that offense?
But sadly, Humour is becoming extinct. Much like the koalas.
Killed - nay - murdered by climate change activists and left wing weirdos who have forgotten how to laugh.
Remember the laughs we had from people like Lloyd Bridges?
How did they know that we would have had a president who was worse than President Benson or Admiral Benson ? It really is the greatest tragedy that could be imagined.
Comedy is now the stuff of reality and it was all told to us through comedic movies that today would be banned. For being offensive.
From years ago when everything is now coming true. The incompetent president is now a reality. Roll on 20th January....... maybe America will stop being a laughing stock.
What a tragedy that we ignored the warnings.
But, hey, nothing to see here. The media and government told me so.
Which brings me to my conclusion for today's article.
When did you last see a truly funny film or TV series that was made in recent years? When did you last read a book written recently that made you chuckle, laugh or have a " gladwrapper "moment?
If you have one, shove it up in the comments. Because I would love to read it or watch it.
After all, as Billy Graham said, " A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable."
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