Only those my age might remember that laugh-line. It’s from Molly (in her Wistful Vista home, via the popular radio’s Johnson Wax Program, “Fibber McGee and Molly”, from 1940-1959).
Molly would lament “t’aint funny, McGee” as her fumbling husband, “Fibber,” was overwhelmed by the contents tumbling out, as he unwittingly--for the umpteeth time--opened the door of their over-stuffed closet. Similar chaos seems to be tumbling around about us at this time.
It wasn’t funny then, at least not to Molly, after thousands of repetitions. It isn’t funny now. Humor is not working. The best SNL, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert (or other comedians, or even cartoons, memes) can do is to remind us--gratingly--of the ugly policies and politicians in power. Online or via podcasts, those who decide to use coarse language—especially the “F” word—to blast Musk, Patel, Kennedy, or “you-know-who” to try to ridicule the powerful, only succeed in giving him and his appointees more visibility. Neither do the attempts by the powerful themselves to be funny succeed.
Last night, at the magnificent, successful “Frida Fest,” Edinburg, Texas, friends I met were laughing AT, not WITH Hegseth, as he demanded withdrawal of the name of one of the planes carrying atomic bombs over Japan at the end of World War II, the “Enola Gay” (so named for the mother of the pilot, NOT any “DEI” or “woke” meaning). Are other events or policies funny?
How do you make fun of slashing aid to systems that alert the world to areas of famine (CNN, 9 March 25)? How can we still laugh at you-know-who, claiming, “as a star, they let you do anything; just grab ’em by the pussy.” The humor is gone; the joke’s on him. Or, at a more massive level, cute or funny: the “dangerous” cuts to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) the agency equipped to predict hurricanes; is that humorous? (Al Roker, Parade, 9 Mar 25).
Or (oh, so many “ors”) . . . suppose you are a Veteran, like me (Officer, US Army Intelligence) and you hear Republican Congressman Scott Perry claim massive cuts to Veterans Affairs “will not affect veterans” (“Scalpel, Not Hatchet,” 2Paragraphs, 9 Mar 25). Now you can wryly laugh, veteran or not.
Or, you are Hispanic, perhaps like Jesus Machado, in Virginia, citizen, Trump-voter, arrested and targeted for deportation (Jackie Becerra, Telemundo, 8 Mar 25). Not yet funny? You’re OK with that?
So, not a Vet? Not Hispanic? Just another human being, trying to stay alive? Try making jokes about the spread of measles, in many cases due to Kennedy’s long preaching against vaccinations Humor, even in very experienced, professional hands, amateur hands, or from whatever source, is inadequate to confront, to subdue this onslaught of gruesome news about irrational policies.
The only thing I can think of—granted not very funny—is something from my ancient past: “the fox is in the chicken house.” A little less than half the voters allowed him in. Will they have “buyer’s remorse?” Will it come soon enough? Will cozying up with Russia, cutting ourselves off from the WHO (World Health Organization), from NATO, from the United Nations (voting with North Korea!) lead to disaster? Many say it will. Many say, “already too late!”
I can’t believe that. I trust the good half of voting citizens, those more progressive, those who are anti-racist, anti-misogynist, those who believe in good government, in democracy, in US traditions, will—somehow--manage to resist and overcome. Sorry, I can’t say how or when. But I will tell you I am not laughing.
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by writer Dr. Gary Joe Mounce, a professor emeritus (political science) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He can be reached by email via: gjmounce@gmail.com.
