Comedy is society's great disinfectant.
It always has been. Comedy affords society a kind of clarity that can't be achieved in any other way. You can analyze, point out flaws, or highlight mistakes about something all day, but a single joke about it can get people realizing how ridiculous a situation is.
There's a reason the left has always been at war with comedy. If your entire shtick is redefining the world around you to your preferences, comedy is a huge thorn in your side, because comedy is often based on the brutal truth.
Not that the left hasn't tried to redefine comedy on many an occasion.
Remember when it tried to tell us Amy Schumer was funny?
One of those re-defining moments continues to occur with the use of the phrase "punching down," a phrase I think is being absolutely abused.
To "punch down" usually means that a joke is being made at the expense of a group that is disadvantaged, oppressed, or is otherwise lesser than the person making the joke. Only "punching up" is allowed, and anyone who belongs to a protected group is allowed to make any jokes they want, no matter how awful and mean-spirited.
This is why it's always sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or any other social sin whenever someone makes a joke outside those protected groups, even if the joke is benign.
That's starting to turn around now, thankfully. As my colleague Katie Jerkovich noted in an article, Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam credited Donald Trump with the return of the ability to actually laugh at jokes:
"There have been woke activists with a very narrow, self-righteous point of view," he added. "That's frightened so many people, and so many people have been very timid about telling jokes, making fun of things because if you tell a joke, these people say you're punching down at somebody. No, you're finding humor in humanity!"
"So, irony, satire were basically dead," the comedian continued. "And humor, to me, is probably one of the most essential things in life. You've got six senses, and the seventh sense is humor, and if you don't have that, life is going to be miserable."
Notice he used the term "punching down" as well, but then added some very wise words with "finding humor in humanity."
I can't emphasize how important that is enough, because finding humor in humanity is ultimately very healthy for it, especially if that humor is pointing out the absurd things about it.
The thing to understand is that "punching down" in the way that the left describes it isn't actually punching down unless the humor in question is actually a mean-spirited and bad-faith attack on an innocent person for doing innocent things.
But I sincerely think it's not punching down if what you're punching at is a real issue or problem the subject is exhibiting. In fact, it's healthy for that group, because not doing so because of their identity makes them a sacred cow, or something that can't be criticized or even analyzed.
For instance, the transgender person has a very real issue with exerting control over society and forcing itself on everyone, including children. Raging against them only gives them fuel to continue, because they can turn that into "your anger is just proof we need more acceptance." It's very difficult to strike that same tone when the issue is being ridiculed with laughter, as it removes the weight of their position.
It's seen as absurd, which it is, and it gives greater society a reason not to take their demands and complaints seriously. It's far easier to say "no" to them, because now it's easier to notice the emperor wears no clothes.
Sacred cows are a poison to society, and from time to time, we need to destroy them. Not the group in question, mind you, but the idea that the group is somehow untouchable because of their social status. No matter what the group is, or where they are on the social hierarchy, if they begin to step out of line, become corrupt, or do something damaging to themselves or society, then the jokes should flow.
Comedy isn't just a good time, it's a cleanser. Apply liberally.
