photo #9478853

A JOKE TOO FAR? Chappelle & Kirk If you haven't heard, there is a lot of unhappiness just now about a reference veteran funnyman Dave Chappelle made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Given the specal place comedy has in Kekistani culture, the Consulate feels entitled, even obligated, to weigh in. History The core of the argument seems to be this: "Murder isn't funny/not a suitable subject for humor". Oh Really? "Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" That's an old joke. Probably not composed close to the event, but old. Given that counter-example, any claim of blanket unsuitability would have to turn on special pleading. In other words 'Charlie Kirk is special/sacred'. He wasn't. Charlie Kirk was an ideologue. A peaceful one, as they go - much like Mrtin Luther King Jr. - but an ideologue nontheless: He had a point of view that he wanted to promote, and he spent a lot of energy in public doing so. And it was a point of view that was controversial to many, and upsetting to some. To expect those unsettled by his popularity to not be relieved by his departure, and to celebrate it less with humor than the nation did the death of a man who is literally on its money, displays an ignorance of human nature. If you were a fan, by all means, mourn. But do so stoicly, to the extent you may. You do your 'team' no favors by performative outrage (which your opponents will enjoy), and it betrays a weakness they will remember.