September 24, 2006

Humor under the Nazis.
posted by HawthorneWingo 17 years ago
  • From the article: Hitler and Göring are standing on top of Berlin's radio tower. Hitler says he wants to do something to cheer up the people of Berlin. "Why don't you just jump?" suggests Göring. (Marianne Elise K., was convicted of undermining the war effort "through spiteful remarks" and executed in 1944 for telling this one) From Google: Dick Cheney, President Bush and his father are flying on Air Force One. Dick looks at Dubya, chuckles and says, "You know, I could throw a $100.00 bill out the window right now and make one person very happy." Dubya shrugs his shoulders and says, "Well, I could throw ten $10.00 bills out the window and make 10 people very happy." George Bush Senior says, "Of course then, I could throw one-hundred $1.00 bills out the window and make a hundred people very happy." The pilot rolls her eyes, looks at all of them and says, "I could throw all of you out the window and make the whole country happy.
  • A Moral Dilemma Here's a dilemma for you... With all your honor and dignity what would you do? This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. Please don't answer it without giving it some serious thought. By giving an honest answer you will be able to test where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation, where you will have to make a decision one way or the other. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly and consider each line - this is important for the test to work accurately. You're in Florida...In Miami, to be exact. There is great chaos going on around you, caused by a hurricane and severe floods. There are huge masses of water all over you. You are a CNN photographer and you are in the middle of this great disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot very impressive photos. There are houses and people floating around you, disappearing into the water. Nature is showing all its destructive power and is ripping everything away with it. Suddenly you see a man in the water, he is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken away by the masses of water and mud. You move closer. Somehow the man looks familiar. Suddenly you know who it is -- it's George W. Bush! At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him away, forever. You have two options. You can save him or you can take the best photo of your life. So you can save the life of George W. Bush, or you can shoot a Pulitzer prize winning photo, a unique photo displaying the death of one of the world's most powerful men. And here's the question (please give an honest answer): Would you select color film, or rather go with the simplicity of classic black and white?
  • black & white. I like my art classic.
  • None of the above. The proper answer is to cluck, shake one's head, and remark about how he didn't take responsibility for his own welfare.
  • "If you laugh about Hitler, you rob him of the metaphysical, demonic capabilities that the post-war apologists attributed to him," If only there were a comedian, perhaps even Jewish, who was aware of this concept.
  • Actually, I read an article a few years ago about a young, Jewish comedian who specializes in Holocaust humor for precisely that reason. I can't recall his name, unfortunately.
  • I think Smedleyman may be thinking of someone a little older.
  • I'll bite. Who would that be?
  • stewart konigsberg?
  • or maybe melvin kaminsky.
  • A Julius Henry Marrix perhaps (with Leonard and Adolph). A Melvin Kaminsky certainly. (et.al Charlie Chaplin, of course)
  • The Producers, anyone?
  • that'd be melvin, wouldn't it?
  • Zu Hitler faellt mir nichts ein. Nothing occurs to me about Hitler. That was what Karl Kraus, the premier Viennese satirist of the early 20th century said - in 1932. He had run out of funny. For you yanks, imagine that things got so bad in your country that John Stewart gave up. I might read this book, but I can't imagine any laughter but the most hollow snicker.
  • that'd be melvin, wouldn't it? Yep.
  • What about Sarah Silverman? Anyways, I'm really excited that His son has finally written a book that we can mould our lives by.