When is a joke not a joke?

When is a joke not a joke?

If it causes pain or discomfort to the listener it can't be funny, but if it doesn't and it causes pain to someone else, it could be.

Hear this one:

I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming and panicked like the passengers in his car.

Some people might be cracking up at that right now, others might be shaking their heads saying something like "No Phil, that's not funny," and funnily enough both of them would be absolutely right.

Which got me thinking about perspective.

In the old take on Confuscian quotes, one man's ceiling can in fact be another man's floor.

Or take the two current Political Leaders of the two major Political Parties, Kamla and Keithos.

Kamla:

- Kamla was a senior member of one of the most corrupt and destructive Administrations this country has ever had, and was witness to abuses the likes of which most people would not encounter in many lifetimes. She has been accused of ignoring her responsibility under the Parliamentary Code of Ethics and as an Officer of the Court by turning a blind eye and more some have alleged. 

- Her then Leader, a silver tongued, crafty fox capable of cutting with three sides of a double edged sword, led a band of dishonest bandits on a rampaging raid on this Nation's Treasury never before seen outside of the movies, many of whom now have matters pending before multiple jurisdictions, and who was himself proven to be corrupt and dishonest in a Court of Law and convicted and jailed for his crimes.

- Kamla Persad Bissessar practiced a still tongue, offered a wry smile, gathered her promotions in the ranks, was anointed heir apparent and challenged her Leader for his Office.

- Today she is the celebrated Leader of the same party, now in Government, and is the country's Prime Minister.

Keithos:

- Keithos,  also a senior member of a very corrupt Administration, struggled to hide his discomfort and his constant chaffing at toeing Party line eventually led to a falling out and a public dismissal from his Ministerial post and his banishment to the backbench for daring to question his Leader, another captain of a corrupt and cancerous enterprise.

- His then Leader was an arrogant, self glorifying and either extremely corrupt or very foolish man or both, had the ability to make you think he was too stupid to be dangerous, in a disarming way. Alleged to be part of much corruption, has not yet been (as of this writing) charged with anything and is yet to be called before a Court. Not to be outdone by the fox above, this clumsy, bungling idiot also led a group of bandits that had their way with the Treasury, and may have even facilitated one in fleeing the jurisdiction. His crimes, though not yet contested before the Courts, also included an assault on the separation of Church and State in the now infamous Church at Guanapo affair.

- Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley challenged the then Prime Minister for failing in to rein in rogue elements, was demoted and isolated, became heir by dint of default.

- Today he is the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament, and continues to struggle to shake off the stain of corruption committed by others and is under constant challenge for his position from within his own Party.

Politics may in fact have a morality of its own (as was so eloquently stated by the same Silver Fox) because nothing above makes sense despite how much of it is true. Reality has been turned in on itself and the spin-doctors, long skilled in the art of bending spoons, have produced illusions and magic shows that challenges our ability to discern truth from fiction.

Perhaps one day in this country something like honesty would prevail and decency and integrity might find their way back into the hearts of men. Perhaps.

Until then we remain spell bound and continue to listen with disbelief suspended, aware of truth but momentarily confounded by reality, left grasping at the illusion while the real McCoys exit stage left.

To end let me give you another one:

You can always count on politicians to do the right thing—but only after they’ve tried everything else.