NO LAUGHING MATTER

Press, 26 July 1986, Page 20

NO LAUGHING MATTER

By

WHIM WHAM

“Christians are the ones who should be laughing. Instead, some of them are retreating into Pharisaism. Apart from Billy T. James — who should be canonised — we have lost the ability to laugh.” — the Rev. Canon Bob Lowe, retiring Vicar of Fendalton.

Seriously, Sir, I put it to you — You don’t laugh much, or often — do you? Haven’t we heard it AU before? — Some reverend (or irreverent) Bore Who scolds Us for not laughing More? — Perhaps Appearances deceive, I may be laughing in my Sleeve, He’s teaching Me to laugh! Is That a Serious — or a Laughing Matter? He’s right, of course — he’s wrong as well, The Nation laughs, but sad to tell, Mostly when It should cry! Straight Faces It keeps for all the funniest Places — The Point of History’s little Joke’s Too sharp for Ordinary Blokes — All the World over — isn’t It? Do Sporting Writers waste their Wit At Sport’s Expense? It isn’t funny To Bankers, when we laugh at Money — Or Feminists whose Toes are tender When Fools rush in with Jokes on Gender — If we laugh Less, is it because There’s Less to laugh at than there was? w