Turning a Party into a Joke
Generations of children have told elephant jokes. My favorite was:
Why do elephants paint their toenails red?
So they can hide in cherry trees.
Have you ever seen an elephant in a cherry tree?
It works, doesn’t it? |
Being aware that the elephant is the symbol of the Republican party, makes the jokes take on new meaning.
How do you stop a charging elephant?
Take away its credit cards.
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It is foolish to believe that a huge deficit will not hurt the US. Bush continues to claim that our economy is booming. A boom based on credit can turn into a big bust!
The biggest jokes are those who claim that Bush is a good president and that the war in Iraq was a great idea. I’ve illustrated this one after the fold:
What’s huge, gray, and goes around in circles?
An elephant stuck in a revolving door.
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There are tons of elephant jokes, and many are told as a part of a series. The following series has several variations:
Question: How do you shoot a blue elephant?
Answer: With a blue elephant gun, of course.
Question: How do you shoot a white elephant?
Answer: Strangle it until it turns blue and then shoot it with the blue elephant gun.
Question: How do you shoot a yellow elephant?
Answer: Have you ever seen a yellow elephant? |
Well...yes! We have seen many yellow elephants. Chickenhawk Republicans who are all for the war, but don’t enlist to fight (or to have their loved ones fight), those people are cowardly
"Yellow Elephants."
Here is a variation of the previous series which gets very complex:
Question: Why do elephants have wrinkled skin?
Answer: Have you ever tried to iron an elephant?
Question: Why do elephants have gray skin?
Answer: To keep their insides together.
Question: What should you do to a green elephant?
Answer: Wait until it gets ripe.
Question: What should you do to a red elephant?
Answer: Quit telling it dirty jokes, so it will stop blushing.
Question: What should you do to a pink elephant?
Answer: Quit drinking, and it will go away.
Question: What should you do to a blue elephant?
Answer: Cheer it up.
Question: What should you do to a white elephant?
Answer: Hold its nose until it turns blue (see "What should you do to a blue elephant").
Question: What should you do to a yellow elephant?
Answer: Try to teach it to be brave. |
This is our task - to counteract the fear-mongering that dishonest Republicans have used to trick people into going along with their schemes.
Now that corrupt Republicans are losing their stranglehold on our government, we must teach those who believed their lies to be unafraid and to use some common sense! Everyone needs to be firmly grounded instead of flying around and losing control.
Question: Why do elephants walk on four feet?
Answer: Because if they flew, you could never keep your car clean!
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Why do elephants walk on four feet? There is
an image of an elephant that ties in with that joke. The unusual legs on that creature seem to indicate, that upon a closer look, the stance of the Republican party is not what it seems at first glance.
An Elephant Flying?
Most of my cartoons are based on childhood jokes. That fits in with my "coloring book" style and the fact there have often been lots of children around our house. The comic strip below was inspired by the previous elephant joke:
The strip was also inspired by a silly song we sang as children. The strip had to be reduced to fit on this page. If you can't read it well, the text is:
Little birdie in the sky,
Dropped some white stuff in my eye.
I won't holler; I won't cry...
I'm just glad elephants don't fly.
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The concept of an elephant flying caught the fancy of two famous storytellers -- Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss. One of Walt Disney's earliest animated movies was "Dumbo". The hero was a young elephant who used his huge ears to fly. There's an excellent analysis, by Alex Wainer, of the racial stereotypes used to depict the crow characters in "Dumbo".
Some have read the crows' characterization as a negative racial stereotype. Richard Schickel said, "There was one distasteful moment in the film. The crows who teach Dumbo to fly are too obviously Negro caricatures."
...There is no question the [crows'] dialogue is a black, colloquial dialect similar to that of Amos n' Andy, except it is faster and less extreme in character...Laughing among themselves, each in turn offers his bit to the "routine." "Did you ever see an elephant fly?" "Well, I seen a horsefly." "Ha! I seen a dragonfly!" "I seen a housefly!" (Laughter). This is the segue into the delightful "When I Seen an Elephant Fly."
It's been a long time since I've viewed the film, but I do remember loving the music. One of the great things about most Disney productions is the quality of the music. The song performed by the crows is no exception.
I saw a peanut stand,
Heard a rubber band,
I saw a needle that winked its eye.
But I think I will have seen everything
When I see an elephant fly.
I saw a front porch swing,
Heard a diamond ring,
I saw a polka-dot railroad tie.
But I think I will have seen everything
When I see an elephant fly.
I seen a clothes horse, he r'ar up and buck
And they tell me a man made a vegetable truck.
I didn't see that, I only heard
But just to be sociable, I'll take your word.
I heard a fireside chat,
I saw a baseball bat
And I just laughed till I thought I'd die.
But I'd been done seen about everything
When I see an elephant fly.
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Those are cute lyrics, and appropriate for youngsters who delight in puns and other silly jokes. Wainer's article is rather long. Here's just one more the small section:
The crows' racial identity is further implied when they perform their song in a jazz style complete with scat stylizations and one playing the jazz "trumpet" through his beak. Rather than a pejorative depiction, this is the bounciest, most rollicking sequence in the story. This joking, joyous demeanor is as much a part of the crows collective character as their ability to fly. Because they can fly, they are able to help Dumbo to take flight; he now shares in one of their abilities. This is an interesting and compelling picture of members of a traditionally downtrodden race helping another oppressed individual find a form of heretofore undreamt of freedom.
It is wonderful to think that those who were oppressed would be blessed with the freedom to fly. I love a happy ending!
Another creative genius who imagined an elephant flying is one of our family's favorite authors. The books of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as, "Dr. Seuss" have been treasured at our house. His loveable Horton, the elephant, was the hero of two books. In the delightful fantasy, Horton Hatches the Egg, the elephant is tricked into caring for the egg of a lazy mother bird. Here is an excerpt from a customer review, which offers a two-part moral for the story:
I love Horton. He is probably the cutest elephant in picture books (Babar is nowhere!) , and he is certainly the sweetest. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of reflective thought stays this plodder from the slow completion of his agreed-upon task. It makes no difference to him that the dirty, double-crossing bird just flat-out lied when she promised to return soon. He is determined to keep his word:
"I meant what I said
And I said what I meant....
An elephant's faithful
One hundred per cent!"
As an example for small children Horton is a bit of a paradox (would you want your child to be easily gulled? -- no pun intended! -- ), but as a reminder to us all of the need to choose our commitments wisely and follow through on them scrupulously, he serves as first a cautionary example and then an inspiration.
No matter what befalls him, Horton persists in his efforts to hatch the egg. He repeats several times throughout the book:
I meant what I said
And I said what I meant...
An elephant's faithful
One hundred per cent!
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Horton was probably mistaken to take on a task which should have been someone else’s responsibility, but he remained faithful. In the end, his dedication is rewarded. The long-awaited moment comes and the contents of the egg are revealed. The hatchling is not a bird, but an elephant with wings who instantly bonds with Horton. Horton's sacrifice has made him the true parent.
The obsessive behavior exhibited by the elephant might illustrate a not-so-great trait. Some carry their faith to extremes. In the book by Seuss, all turns out well, because Horton’s dedication is to a noble cause. Unfortunately, most Republicans in the present administration have blindly followed a leader whose cause is unjust. Extremists continue to support a president who is actively betraying them. They are just too stubborn to admit that fact, perhaps even to themselves.
Our country is being lead by a bunch of privileged white men who are treating our government like an exclusive club for themselves and their cronies. Going back the elephant joke again, maybe the whole point is that too many Republican leaders have flown high above the realm of those more solidly grounded in reality. While rich, powerful individuals are enjoying their flights of fantasy, the poorer people have been wading around in the cruddy fallout. It is my fond hope that someday those of us oppressed by these ultra-rich hypocrites will be able to regain our right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The past few years, too many of our freedoms have been stolen from us. Greedy hucksters like those who profited from the misery of Dumbo and Horton seem hell-bent to rob from the poor to give to the rich.
Republicans and "Deja Poo"
Deja poo = The feeling that you've heard this excrement before.
The "Yellow Elephant" chickenhawks are still at it. They continue to spread their foul blend of lies and corruption all around.
To go along with the theme of "little birdie in the sky," most have heard of the sparrow who swooped down on Dubya and deposited some birdie doo on his sleeve. Firedoglake had an article about the incident, entitled "If Only Bulls Could Fly".
Truthdig had an article about it entitled, "Bird Poop as Political Commentary" that discussed the incident as being a prophetic sign. The ancient Romans believed in auspices, which are signs brought to us by birds:
Disasters were seen by Romans as manifestations of divine disapproval, and unusual phenomena as portents of catastrophe.
...No official state business was ever really held without the taking of omens and/auspices (auspices: signs from birds). For this purpose an augur would be present...Even the army resorted to taking auspices. They carried with them cages with sacred chicken. When cake was crumbled onto the floor before them, would they eat or not? Depending on that, the omens were either good or bad.
At the sea battle of Drepanum in 249 BC, the consul Claudius Pulcher is said to have thrown the sacred chicken overboard, once they refused to eat their cake. He commented, that if they did not eat, they could at least drink. It was clear that his subsequent catastrophic defeat in battle by the Carthaginians was blamed on his having ignored the auspices.
Maybe the next time an omen hits that spoiled rich kid, he will get more than just a little stain on his sleeve. The huge stain on his soul is slowly being revealed to the public. Let's hope they are paying attention to the signs.
Elephants on Broadway
Julie Taymor is a genius. She helped adapt a cute little Disney cartoon movie into a spectacular musical that is not so much a show, as a celebration. It is a celebration of life, of love, and of talent. The show, "Lion King," won several Tony awards. Taymor herself won two, one for her brilliant direction of the musical and another for her stunning costume designs.
A video from the Tony awards gives a sample of what the audience sees when the actual show begins. A beautiful sunrise on the savanna is the backdrop for an incredible parade of animals. When viewing the video, the gasps and applause heard a little way into the song, is the reaction to the sight of the rest of the cast in their clever puppet/costumes. They come into view from all directions, down the aisles, in the balconies, and onto the stage. The camera cannot do justice to the show's opening scene. I’ve had the privilege of watching the show and there is no way to stop from straining your neck trying to take it all in. The mother elephant comes down one aisle with her baby. It is amazing how the ears and legs move. The dancing rhino comes down another aisle, and there are lots of other animals with them. They are so cute! I could happily watch it a hundred times, and surely be delighted each time.
One of my favorite songs in the "Lion King" musical is "Shadowland". The young lioness, Nala, sings it with great passion while the chorus chants out African words which mean, in part, "This land of our ancestors is holy." Part of the reason the song moves me so, is its portrayal of the complex emotions felt by anyone when they set out into the unknown.
Shadowland!
The leaves have fallen
This shadowed land
This was our home
The river's dry
The ground has broken
So I must go
Now, I must go
And where the journey may lead me
Let your prayers be my guide
I cannot stay here, my family
But I'll remember my pride
CHORUS (singing this while Nala sings her words, also)
And where the journey may lead you
Let this prayer be your guide
Though it may take you so far away
Always remember your pride
I have no choice
I will find my way
Lea halalela
Take this prayer
What lies out there
Lea halalela
The lyrics seen above are only part of the song, which is staged like a rite of passage. There is a video that shows Broadway's original Nala, Heather Headley, singing the entire song.
The baboon, Rafiki, is a goofy shaman in the cartoon version of the story. The character was redesigned into a wise (but still quirky) Earth mother figure. At the ending of the song, "Shadowland," Rafiki acts as a celebrant and blesses Nala's journey. The young lioness is leaving to escape from the evil ruler, Scar, who has nearly destroyed her home.
Not only is Julie Taymor a genius, she also might have had some prescience of what might happen to the United States or any other nation, if it continues under a bad administration. It seems that there is a shadow looming over our beloved homeland right now. It is due to the corruption all through our present administration.
An Elephant’s Shadow
In "Dumbo", the elephant's shadow is seen when the young elephant first learns to fly. A shadow is seen again, against the walls of the circus tent when Dumbo makes his triumphant flight away from almost certain death. The next cartoon is based on this elephant joke:
Question - What's as big as an elephant, but weighs nothing?
Answer - An elephant's shadow.
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A dark shadow has been cast over our government by a group of greedy, rich Republicans. They weigh nothing and think only of their own gain.
It is difficult to live in a nation overshadowed by wickedness. Each day, I try to remember my pride in our past, and the hope for a brighter future. However, here and now it is hard not to compare our country with a blighted shadowland. May our country find someone soon with the wisdom to guide it back from the shadow of evil and immoral acts.
Nala's quest lead her to Simba, the rightful leader of the pride. The circle of life continues after they traveled back together to reclaim their home. Another happy ending! This is not a surprising thing in a Disney movie, but in real life there are no guarantees. I hope and pray that there is a happy ending for those of us in the US.