The Quip: My colleague, Samantha Siegel, was recently talking about a friend of hers who is highly allergic to certain foods. She noted that just touching these foods triggers a severe reaction. My response was that the same thing happens to me when I rub up against Republicans.
The Analysis: To the extent this is funny at all is really a function of the use of the word "Republicans" versus, say, substituting the word "conservatives" or "right-wingers." I don't know why exactly, but I do know that the specificity of the word Republicans and even the historic image of Republicans (think Nixon, Spiro Agnew, George W. Bush) makes this quip marginally funnier.
The Apology: Let me add that this is a completely inappropriate joke for this particular blog. I therefore apologize for sharing it. Part of the point is to model openness to many different points of view, and putting down all Republicans in this preemptory way is, well, entirely unjustifiable. In fact, it would have been somewhat more appropriate and accurate to substitute the word conservatives or right-wingers, for this is the group that actually triggers the negative reaction in me. But, as I have already established, it's also not quite as funny. And sometimes you've just got to be willing to sacrifice all your principles to go for the slightly better joke.
Or are you sacrificing your principles by apologizing?
ReplyDeleteOne way or another, my principles have been sacrificed with this post.
DeleteI just can't tell what this post is all about. Perhaps it's because of the 'bubble' software patch I use to replace all mention of (puppies) with the word puppies?
ReplyDeleteThat makes us even. Because I can't tell what you response is about.
Delete