Sunday, July 26, 2009

Laughing It Off?

Mark Lawson penned a Guardian Comment is Free piece on Friday about the efforts made by Pakistan's President Zardari to ban jokes made about him in the national media & online (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/24/pakistan-humour-ban-jokes ).
The parallels with Ben Chapman are striking. Indeed, the MP for Wirral South would do well to consider Lawson's concluding thoughts:
"By taking offence at jests, President Zardari has made himself a laughing stock. A man who tried to weaken political humour has demonstrated its strength. As the touchy John Major said, in a different context, if it's hurting, it's working. Skilled politicians know that the smart move is to join in the jokes, no matter how much they sting."
Perhaps the producers of "Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels" still have a spare ticket for him?

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