To a recovering claustrophobic , the crowds that day at the national mall were intense, a sea of people so wide you couldn’t see an end to it. Estimates have it at 200,000, but in the middle of it all it could have been a million or a thousand, there was no way to tell. But unlike the crowds at the shopping mall on Black Friday, these people were jovial. No hurry to be anywhere but where they were, everyone chatted making friends of strangers, helping those who’d been separated from their groups and sharing jokes.
“I’m really happy you guys are here, even if none of us are quite sure why we are here,” comedian Jon Stewart said at his rally to restore sanity.
No more sure than Stewart about my underlying motives for the trip, I started examining what I was hoping for out of the rally. I’m a fan of Stewart and Colbert, but a pretty moderate fan, I watch a few times a week at best. I could be considered a fan of sanity and/or fear, but it seems a bit extreme to travel on behalf of either of those ideas. Going to D.C. came at high cost, not just in terms of money, but a trip without children — a precious commodity whose value cannot be named.
At the end of the day, I must have gone for the laughs. Laughing is one of my greatest pleasures. I have a loud, notorious laugh and I love to use it. When my children were blessed, I couldn’t help but smile when their dad sought divine assistance bestowing them with a sense of humor. It’s the most endearing quality I think a person can have – particularly when it is combined with wit, intelligence, and a bit of compassion.
I also love politics. Election Day is a high holy holiday in my home, and I have voted in every election since I was 18. Passionate debate and disagreement is a driving force behind the political system. But lately it seems we’ve moved past realizing our opponent likely wants the same thing (safe place to live, good schools, freedom to pursue their happiness, etc) to seeing them as a brutal enemy. Somewhere along the way “compromise” became a dirty word. For me, politics has lost its fun, or at least its funny.
So, I was thrilled when Saturday’s rally brought the funny back. Truly the best medicine, laughter gave me a fresh new perspective and renewed my hope in idealism, neighborliness, and compromise. Or at least it made me forget the bitterness.
After this experience, I’m left wondering if laughter is an underutilized tool – in politics, religion, parenting, and life. I went back to my hotel room and saw an ad on TV that cracked me up, I admired how clever it was and then realized later I was technically opposed to its message. But I was able, just for a minute, to see it without needing to push back.
Laughter is often seen as a sign of disrespect, as an indication that something isn’t being taken seriously. Yet I’ve experienced laughter at some of the saddest and some of the most meaningful moments of my life.
Some call it comic relief or necessary distraction, but for me, laughter is not only a release, but an important form of communication, a way to open myself up to an idea and a person. It’s one of the most effective ways to persuade someone, in my opinion. It’s serious business.
What would it be like if we spent more of our 3 hours at church laughing? I think one of the things we all loved about President Hinckley was his uncanny ability to make us laugh, and to join us himself.
So if Colbert and Stewart can give us humor during the week in an attempt to get their point across, can’t we have a little (or a lot) at church too? Wouldn’t we all be more persuaded to do x, y, or z a little more or a little better with a joke? Where has all the humor gone?
I beg to differ from the reports that the Colbert/Stewart rallies not being “about much” and not “changing anything.” And I’m pretty sure that one thing the world could use a little more of, as much on Sunday mornings as on election day, is a good laugh.
Do you think it’s possible to take something seriously and laugh about it? Where is the line for you on when a good laugh is not appropriate?
I love it that you were willing to go all the way to DC for a good laugh. One of my New Year’s resolutions a while back was to laugh out loud every day. Having never been a fan of what I call “the 3 stooges sense of humor”, I found myself lowering my standards and judgments of what was funny – I no longer required wit or intelligence in order to release a laugh. Not only did I become much, much happier, but I also became much less judgmental that year.
Do I think it’s possible to take something seriously and laugh about it – HELL YEA! The only time I think it’s not appropriate is when it’s going to hurt someone else – otherwise it’s fair game.
I love this so much. I was grumpy on Saturday (despite beautiful weather and a day of fun family activities) because I wanted to be in Washington D.C. I looked at plane tickets–more than once–but just couldn’t swing it. Sigh. And I resented–for a day or two–that my life right now is such that I couldn’t drop everything and go to DC. I’m glad you were able to go and report back. ;)
Re: laughter. Oh, boy, I’m a laugher (is that a word)? I laugh hard and out loud and often. Every day. I’m with Laurie–as long as someone else won’t be hurt, it’s all good.
I read this post this morning and I’ve been trying to think of something more profound than “I’m so jealous!” all day, but there it is. I would have loved to go and I’m so glad you were able to go.
To answer your questions — Yes! Humor is an essential survival skill, sometimes it is the only thing keeping my marriage together or keeping me from killing my kids. It is the pause we need so we don’t take it ALL SO SERIOUSLY. And, that pause gives us space and that space gives us room for a little light or compassion.
I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone in loving a good laugh.
@Laurie, Heather: I struggle with the need to protect others’ feelings. Of course I don’t think it’s okay to intentionally hurt someone, but I’ve had many times where I was able to laugh at something someone else couldn’t yet, and other times when someone else did the same to me. It’s been good for me to have a little lightness added by someone else even if I didn’t think I was ready for it. How do you manage this balance?
@Heidi: I like this idea of the pause. The pause is really the place where we act rather than react
Re: finding the balance. I think I miss it sometimes when I’m the one laughing. :( I’m quick to laugh and so maybe Heidi’s pause is a good reminder for me.
When others are laughing, however, and my feelings/ego are on the line, I think it all comes down to intent and trust. If you trust the person that’s laughing at you–even if you aren’t quite ready for it–then I think it’s okay. I’m thinking of a time when I shut my own head in the closet door (yes, I did this once) and I was crying and I looked up to see that Brent was laughing. My first reaction was to lash out, but when I saw him laughing–a person I loved and trusted–I reconsidered and started laughing as well. I mean, really–if you see someone shut her own head in a door, you HAVE to laugh–even if she’s hurt . . .don’t you?