Humour in Politics

I just heard this in today's news. In Maharashtra, one of the Thackeray clans called a political rival a 'rat' and the other retorted 'you are a snake', it was reported. It seems the Chief Minister called one of the Thackeray clans as 'frog' meaning `shouts only during election time.'

In good old days, rivalry and political humor had a different class. They were gentle yet very powerful. I can recall a couple of examples.

In the UK, SUN and POST were two popular tabloids in those days. For some unknown provocation, POST in its column called SUN as a dog. This was repeated many times and readers of SUN wanted suitable reply from the management of SUN. Finally SUN in its first page assuaged the readers, by the following statement.

"It does not really matter whatever the name others attribute to SUN but the attitude of SUN remains like any DOG towards any POST."

In the British Parliament, Winston Churchill and Lady Astor never got along. Their insults at each other are well-known.

Once Lady Astor told Churchill: "If you were my husband, i would give you poison." Churchill retorted: "If you were my wife, madam, I would gladly drink it!"

At a dinner party, Churchill had too much to drink. Looking at him, Lady Astor said: "Mr. Prime Minister, I believe you are quite drunk!"

Churchill replied: "I am, Madam. But you are very ugly and tomorrow morning I shall be indisputably sober. But you will still be ugly."

Another instance of humor is an exchange between Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw.

Shaw had written a new play, and sent Churchill two tickets to the opening night performance, along with a note reading, "Here are two tickets to my new play. Bring a friend, if you have one." Churchill, ever the wag, replied immediately with the following missive: " I'm sorry, but I can't make it to the opening night performance. Please send me tickets to the second performance, if there is one."

Present day political humor is something like fighting between two teenagers.