|
Copyrights reserved by the author. If you are in doubt, please click on 'Copyrights' and read the details. Afraid to be Funny by J. G. Fabiano There used to be many things to laugh about before the 11th of September. All one had to do was to turn on any channel on television after the 11:00 news and one would be inundated with comical skits that made fun of anything from our President to the Pope. Today everyone is careful who to make fun of, or what topics to laugh at. It is almost as though a veil has been placed over the sense of humor of our society. The other day I took a walk down to Long Sands Beach to see if things really did change. Actually I took a walk in quest of again seeing some humor still brewing in York. Over the past few decades I had taken similar walks to observe many of the funny things of our town, including myself. There were always so many, in fact, there were too many to write about. Today, I am happy to report that many are still there. The first thing I noticed about walking through the neighborhoods of York was the many American flags being displayed around people's homes and cars. Most houses displayed a flag at their doorstep, showing the world that they are patriotic. But, there are some houses that have more flags displayed than windows. They have a flag on all of their doors, windows, mailboxes, fences, and even on a wire rope between two trees. I wonder if the number of flags displayed around one's home is equated to how patriotic one is? Walking down Long Sands Beach I also noticed that people were wearing clothes that represented the flag. In fact, I believe that many were wearing the flag as clothes. One had on a sweatshirt that looked as though it was produced from a flag. Not so long ago, a person would have been arrested for displaying the flag as an article of clothing but, like many things today, times have changed. I also noticed a couple who were both wearing a pair of sox that were fashioned to look like our flag. I wonder if they would wear these particular sox in the winter, because their boots would not allow them to be seen. I also wonder if they are wearing underwear that is proudly displaying our national colors; I guess I will have to wait for the summer to observe that! Walking down the beach I also noticed that some people had handkerchiefs in their back pockets that looked like American flags. The first thought I had was a concern of what would happen if these people had a cold, or an allergy. What would happen if they had to blow their nose? Would they feel patriotic if they blew their noses in the Stars and Stripes? Is this legal, or could they be arrested for defaming our national symbol? People are not the only ones displaying our flags during these difficult times. Many individuals have their pets wearing the red, white, and blue. Walking down the beach, I observed a couple walking their small dog, which had on a sweater that looked like a woolen American flag. The couple looked so proud, while the dog looked, and acted, totally aggravated. A little bit down the beach I also noticed a larger dog wearing a scarf that must have once been part of an American flag. The dog was a German Shepherd and the man walking it was twice the size of me. I almost saluted the owner, but then quickly realized that I could not afford a new set of teeth. Then again, maybe he would have saluted back! A little later in the day, I visited my niece who literally has a zoo inside her home; she has three dogs and the same number of birds. The dogs, like the dogs on the beach, were dressed in our patriotic colors. What surprised me most was that the birds were also wearing red, white, and blue ribbons around their necks. At first I thought of advising that she take them off, because there was a good possibility that the birds would end up strangling themselves but, then again, I never liked those birds! Many of the cars that passed me on my way to the beach were also displaying Old Glory. Most had small flags waving from their antennas. It was also quite obvious that these flags had been displayed for some time because most of them consisted of a couple of red stripes and some blue-colored rag, flowing in the breeze. Stars were rarely seen because there are few materials that can survive 60 to 70 miles per hour velocities. Many people opted to display larger flags on their vehicles; some were full-sized and waved from the backs of their pick-up trucks, or cars. Watching these vehicles drive down the road reminded me of old western movies, with the cavalry charging on horseback, to defeat the Indians, or some Southern Army during the civil war. Some vehicles not only show the large flag but also display smaller flags attached to both of their rear-view mirrors and extending from both front and rear bumpers. This brought back a memory of a few days earlier, when, as I was driving down Route 95, one of these small flags flew off a vehicle and was run over by most of the passing cars on the road. I wondered if there was anyone brave enough to stop his or her car and go out into the middle of the road to pick it up. After a few seconds of thought, I decided that this particular move would be far from smart and much closer to stupid. I also wondered what would happen if one of the larger flags dislodged itself from the back of a vehicle traveling at a high speed? Would it drape itself around the windshield of another vehicle making it impossible for the driver to see? I wonder how the newspapers would report on any accident that might, or probably would, have occurred. I also noticed something else about the cars or trucks that displayed the largest, or the highest number, of flags. They seemed to be all foreign imports! As to what that means I don't have the vaguest idea. Half-way through my walk, I started to realize that I was smiling, and even giggling a bit, as I thought of all the ways our people have attempted to show their patriotism through these difficult times. I also wondered if I was the only one who was beginning to enjoy a seemingly-lost sense of humor but, as a nation we have always laughed at ourselves. In fact, this has always made us strong in the fact that we could find comedy in all of our life's experience. The terrorists of September 11th tried to take away many of the things that we, as Americans, find important. They tried to take away our security, our freedom, and our faith in our government. I also believe that they tried to take away how we, as Americans, laugh at ourselves. In that, I hope and pray that they failed; with me and my mind, I know they did! The End
|
