Humor in the News

A trio of news items struck me as funny for a variety of reasons.

First, via Matt Drudge is this news story that somehow reminds me of the title of a blog entry.

Second, via RealClear Politics, is a column by Gerard Baker that evokes the spirit of Monty Python to make a point about current events in the Middle East and a certain widely-despised "occupying power".

ONE OF MY favourite cinematic moments is the scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian when Reg, aka John Cleese, the leader of the People’s Front of Judea, is trying to whip up anti-Roman sentiment among his team of slightly hesitant commandos.

“What have the Romans ever done for us?” he asks.

“Well, there’s the aqueduct,” somebody says, thoughtfully. “The sanitation,” says another. “Public order,” offers a third. Reg reluctantly acknowledges that there may have been a couple of benefits. But then steadily, and with increasing enthusiasm, his men reel off a litany of the good things the Romans have wrought with their occupation of the Holy Land.

By the time they’re finished they’re not so sure about the whole insurgency idea after all and an exasperated Reg tries to rally them: “All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?”

Third, for its self-contradictory headline, is this story: China boosts military spending, allays fears over Taiwan. Sorry, but the doesn't the former justify fears over Taiwan?

-- CAV