Lazy comedy

I recently watched recorded stand-up comedy. Two names surfaced: Ricky Gervais, a comedian whose acting I respect, and Kathy Griffin, whose jokes are guilty pleasures in times of need.

I find myself in dilemma in enjoying American comedy these days. I know myself to be controversial and bold at times, but other times it is convenient for me to be politically correct. Having a Christian faith apparently can also cause a dilemma. We Christians call laughing at dirty jokes “the flesh” and find hearing the names of God used in vain “offensive”.

Most commercials comedy materials now find comfort in mocking the idea of religiosity. Some brave comedians target certain religions, allegedly, when they have enough audience to make a living out of their jokes that they can risk the religious” audience. It is “fun” to laugh at certain beliefs that are taken for granted or embraced at face value because those who believe suffer consequences. These consequences make them do things out of the ordinary, or in some religious cultures those things become the norm. You can make endless jokes about people wearing religious clothing or believing in religious stories. Post-modernism, with its technological and scientific resources, is self-sufficient to explain all phenomena ever existed, after all.

Religiosity is such a vague term that people can use the words “agnostic” or “spiritual” to describe their worldview. In my experience, the term covers all who fear evil, death, or hell. One who does seems to find solace in activities related to religions conducted as redemptive measures, that are funny to some. For those who are raised religious, parental pressure may be as frightening as evil and all his vices. This probably explains why adulthood is when religiosity fades. A character on a TV show says, “I stopped observing religious holidays when I knew enough.” These exact people should probably penalized for not being able to stop using their god(s) name in vain. Religiosity is so diverse that we all may have the license to mock those who attempt to define their own or others’ religiosity, including those so ignorant of religions they create their own religion of atheism. It is one of those things that is funny in itself.

Comedians, I know you work hard. But you can be lazy! Picking all these easy materials is certainly not a crime, especially when people pay a fortune seeking them. One of the most famous and forever amusing topic is gender. Male comedians make fun of women and their intricate lives; female comedians do the same of male sloppiness and irrelevant habits. Both seem to find gays and lesbians easy targets, perhaps due to their religion of sexuality. Celebrities are certainly in the same picture in this easy materials family. Comedians know that their audience have the vote on whether or not a joke is good. If easy materials are what people are willing to pay for, that is what they shall get. Easy joke, easy laughter equals immediate satisfaction. A cheap thrill for dumb audience by lazy comedians.

American comedy materials ranging from The Simpsons and The Family Guy to stand-up comedy sell jokes on certain religions or religious groups. The Jews, Christianity and Jesus, as well as the new-age beliefs such as the Church of Scientology or Mormonism are the most popular targets. I should probably say that they are also the most harmless, although some of their members can be dangerous: those who use political threats or those who go hunting for leisure. Religions have tales to tell and these tales can be funny when comedians put spicy twists on them. Gervais’ recent extended joke on an HBO special was on the story of Noah’s Ark. He did not necessarily make fun of the story; he dwelt in a children’s storybook of Noah’s Ark by making fun of the drawings. I am very sure that I can do the same sitting down at a Barnes and Noble children’s section and have a comedy “session” with friends who are nice enough to be willing to listen to me. Lazy, I say! I also recently read a transcript of an interview between a Wall Street Journal journalist and Gervais. He is, as I found out with no surprise, a proactive evangelist of atheism who like Richard Dawkins upholds science as the upmost source of truth. To him, science knows what it knows and does not know, which is why it is more reliable than religions. Reading this before watching his stand-up on HBO gives me an idea where he is coming from. [And! Oh my … he has an essay on atheism.] Not forgetting Kathy Griffin, Jesus recently caused a controversy though her award acceptance speech “Suck it, Jesus”. Some churches went into rage, which made it even more fun for her to use as her stand-up materials. Her jokes, not surprisingly, are based on the religious followers of Jesus who use God’s name in vain unnecessarily and endlessly and are as hypocritical as corrupt politicians and criminals. She probably gained most of her fame now due to this one career-defining event; good for her!

Now, my question is why haven’t I heard of Islam or Moslem followers being used for comic materials in the United States? Is the subject too sensitive or dangers? Is it 9/11 that will criminalize them for making jokes on Islam? Or they actually respect Islam enough for 9/11 that they stay out of the topic? Their religion, I say, along with the rituals and theology can be as funny as those of other beliefs. But why do these comedians refuse to highlight certain religions? Is it because they are simply difficult in some ways? The attempted answers to these questions will be too controversial for public exposure, but I will leave it to the minds of comedians and their audience.

I, as an audience, demand less easy materials and more unthinkable jokes. I can use fresh ideas once in a while, especially when I have to pay in US dollars to witness them.

Letters from my lover (Week 2)

Not sure if you have really decided to burn the bridge altogether.

But I want to assure you that I am no longer committed to you or trying to get your commitment in any way.

I am explaining why it makes sense now.
I think it’s crazy to still tell you what I’m about to tell you. Partly because you’ve told me some of your story. Partly because I want to remember and tell you where I’ve been, so I remind myself that I don’t want to go back.

You’ve told me where you’ve been: your family, your past relationship, etc.
I love you for where you’ve been, things that you did not do, not for what you’ve done or what you have.
I thought it would be so easy to love you, coz I felt I’ve known you a long time from a distant past.
Your story sounds so familiar to me. So I gave it everything.

Where I’ve been will explain why I’m not interested in you who have chosen your pride over me. Stories I’ve never told you:
I’ve been through this all my life. Pride that rules the heart of a man is a same, old story: my old man.

Perhaps I am too much like her. We believe in hardwork, endurance, and commitment.
I knocked on your door you slammed shut, simply thinking I was committed.
Even when you said you were leaving.

In the end, I decided to leave you because I don’t want to go back. I may have waited. 26 years, maybe.

I was knocking. I was sleepless. I was hurting.
I wanted to wait and see.
She has always had faith in people. “Whatever he’s like, he’s your old man.”
Maybe I do have faith in people. I did and I do.

Young men like us choose pride. Just because of our youth that makes us seem so powerful.
It may be a defense mechanism for people like us, who have come a long way with intense, constant fight.
But eventually it will be given up. When we lose our job. When our wife and kids leave us behind. When we are on our deathbed.
I am not sure if I fully reject pride. But I’ve endured it. I grew up wanting to be the opposite of pride.

I am not looking for pity or sympathy. I am only looking for life lessons and ultimately love.
I don’t want to burn bridges because I believe I have to build them, although I have to swallow my pride deep.
There was not one bridge in my childhood, in my early adulthood.
I may be tired of building but I refuse to stop.

Someone can only make you feel inferior if you approve of it, a Roosevelt used to say and believe in.
I choose to see the best of you. Coz I love your life journey. Someone like me falls in love with orphans, the underprivileged, fighters, heroes because I see myself in them, abandoned by the happy-go-lucky world.
That’s all it took for me to fight for you. It was and will be so painfully easy.

I guess I didn’t know any better. Or I actually know better. Not really sure.
Not sure if I can consistently thank you for not burning this bridge.

I don’t know what we each will have in the end. But we’ve said goodbye.
Even though I wish you had heard my story that may make you feel that we will fill each other's void.
Even though I wish you knew me better.
Even though I thought we would understand each other so easily.
Not like them who constantly seek anything fun and platonic. Anything that has no meaning.

You’ve build such some walls from brick of pride. They’re getting higher now. High enough that you refuse to see many things, including the good in yourself and others. The bad is so much easier to see.
I’m stepping back now. Now and again.

I don't really know why my mom did not leave. But I now know why she stayed.

I am better.
I will be here sitting in the shade of an orange tree in the middle of a field.
You may wander around enjoying the withering dandellions out there with pride weighing you down.
When you decide to lay that burden down, come by, kiss me on the forehead, and we'll have a good conversation.
Let's laugh about the pieces we left behind.

Wish you well ...

Letters from my lover (Week 1)

... you’ve made a difference by spending a few minutes talking to me that day when I was in the parking lot. Although I was initially vengeful about it, now I have come to terms with my own demon that I am leading the way.

I admit that I was greedy of the good thing that you offered. I was so focused on what I did not have and not even looked around me to be thankful and caring for what I already had: my job, my dog, my apartment, my car, my friends, my plans, etc. I’ve forgotten about all the adventures that I had been planning all my life and was too focused on the mundane life I am living that's obviously killed that adventurous boy in me ang brought up void. I give that all up now and trade it in for facing life head-on.

I've gained control.
I sleep very well now. A little much to make up for losses.
I am more flexible and intentional with my time.
I have learnt how to fall in love with music and books again.
I smile at a bumper sticker, a Charlie Brown children book and animal pictures.
I got me a DVD/CD player so I can play my music all day long and possibly get Netflix to be a movie freak again.
I learned how to operate DVR, recording House and Grey's Anatomy. I cried.
I have decided to delay the test date for my LSAT to get a good balance.

I am no longer compulsive.
I cook pasta again.
I am starting to read books and watch some tennis & college football.

I am getting better. Though I've failed. Sorry.


Wish you well ...

Canyon

The fog has faded. I see a canyon. A grand canyon. A huge void above which I have been stacked bricks. Building a bridge to the other side. I am standing on the edge. Fear of falling away.

Grievance

O Lord yours sincerely weary and burdened
What’s done to thyself has shot dead all those who tried
A fortress one has built, brick by brick laid molten
Burning bridges with spite and numbness

O Lord, so weary and burdened
Them, them, all around them
So cheap and disillusioned, as myself
Bought by Mammon,
Hypnotized to fall unconsciously

Just so this weeping rhymes

O Lord, so weary and burdened
What is there to see to know that You are near?
Them, who say they embrace have left the Word in hostage
Them, who say they are saved have lost to the greatest foe,
Them

Your heavy yoke whispers obsolete
The seeds eaten by birds of prey

Your heavy yoke suggests fear
Principles sold for platonic love and decaying loneliness

Your heavy yoke argues boldness
The bold settles for nice words, unbearable

He says, discernment
She says, hold on to the Word
He says, God is God
She says, fear of the Lord is knowledge

This shall pass
All this deceit when one says “I shall”
Because she sees beauty in death
I need this and that, want this and that
Because he sees eternity in sorrow
I have this, and nothing else

O Lord I pray for ignorance
I request blindness
For at least in them I see you alone

O Lord I pray that them
Them see the reflection of rotting
Rotting in self-absorption, riches, security and damnation

O Lord I pray for changes
For stagnancy leaves me lonely

O so weary and burned
And this too shall pass

THE BOXER

Eyes met. Shook a hand. Talked so fluently.
We smiled to ourselves. I to myself.

Round and about I wondered.
Prepared for what was to come. A beautiful thing of two.
Some say it is reality, the only.

The daylight was offering.
As he was offering.
Slight warmth and distant closeness.

He was listening. Looking into the eyes, asking questions unanswered.
I was listening. Watching the lips mumble his interest.
A little bit of who he was and is.

Round and about I wondered.
Braced for more of such beauty.
Reality I longed for.

The dusk was waving goodbye.
And there was a thought of fear and uncertainty.
Maybe all this was nothing, he was convinced.
He weighed the verdict, options that he decided to relinquish.

Too much certainty and security in hand. Why let go?

Goodbye and good luck.
Climbing down the height of slumber.
Sighted him with his choice.
Long black hair waving. Gazing at me, flirting with victory.
Goodbye.

With this, I have what they have.
I see what they see.
Tell me again that I need completeness.
A home, family, bloodline.

Goodbye and good life.
I wish you well with your bravery to abandon.
Leave that empty desire of a temporary.
Kiss that danger farewell for you made sure ahead.

Yes I wish you provide that irony.
Wish you were there to protect and console.
Wish that we both wish.
But goodbye for now.