Nobody enjoys news about hatred and genocide and anti-Semitism and swastikas and violence more than me, but I thought some of you might enjoy a laugh - about the importance of laughter at the darkest of times. Which these aren’t, but still. A story I told at The Moth in NYC.
Oh my Gawd! That was absolutely brilliant on so many levels. I love the humour, first of all. And I just wrote a story that has Sachsenhausen in it; my mother-in-law had dementia, which we learned to accept through humour -- and no I'm not German, but Dutch, and my mother wasn't particularly fond of the Germans either. But you're so at ease in front of the mike. I didn't think I was going to sit through this, but you kept me laughing, which is the ONLY way to approach this subject. Two thumbs up from this guy!
Bravo. Grim territory deftly and hilariously navigated. One of my most distinct images of Auschwitz was tourists posing for the camera and smiling in that moronic camera-ready way because, well, I guess because that’s what they were used to doing and they couldn’t pivot for the circumstance…
Uncontrolled laughter at the death camp, I get that, but a frozen smile for the camera, I’ll pass, thanks
There was some internet outrage a while back of tourists taking selfies at a Holocaust memorial. How dare they! WHat has become of people! Anti-Semites! Ultimately they asked a few why they did it, and because it's a work of modern art, they had no idea it was art, let alone about the Holocaust. Hilarious.
"...the darkest of times. Which these aren’t, but still."
But still. I often lean into humor when it's least likely, but I've never considered laughter as a victory. I'm holding on to that one, Shalom. Thank you!
When I was 11 (@1972) my family went to Germany (over my mother's objections) because we had friends there. My father insisted that we have lunch at what had been Hitler's favorite restaurant. My mother was first aghast, but came around to his "this is a big FU to the man" thinking. (The Producers is an entire movie devoted to this, and my father and Mel Brooks surely were not unique in having this kind of self-preserving humor.) I only hope that Hitler's wienershnitzel was as overcooked as mine.
My mother rarely laughed out loud, but often said "if you don't laugh, you cry".
😂 I can't verify that, but it was definitely thin, flat, tasteless and rigid.
And thanks, so much, for sharing your talent. Stumbling upon you on Substack was one of those happy moments of serendipity. When I googled to find out what else you've done and saw you were the genius behind Happyish I thought "of course".
Oh my Gawd! That was absolutely brilliant on so many levels. I love the humour, first of all. And I just wrote a story that has Sachsenhausen in it; my mother-in-law had dementia, which we learned to accept through humour -- and no I'm not German, but Dutch, and my mother wasn't particularly fond of the Germans either. But you're so at ease in front of the mike. I didn't think I was going to sit through this, but you kept me laughing, which is the ONLY way to approach this subject. Two thumbs up from this guy!
Bravo. Grim territory deftly and hilariously navigated. One of my most distinct images of Auschwitz was tourists posing for the camera and smiling in that moronic camera-ready way because, well, I guess because that’s what they were used to doing and they couldn’t pivot for the circumstance…
Uncontrolled laughter at the death camp, I get that, but a frozen smile for the camera, I’ll pass, thanks
There was some internet outrage a while back of tourists taking selfies at a Holocaust memorial. How dare they! WHat has become of people! Anti-Semites! Ultimately they asked a few why they did it, and because it's a work of modern art, they had no idea it was art, let alone about the Holocaust. Hilarious.
A telling parable on the human condition in the time of social media…
"...the darkest of times. Which these aren’t, but still."
But still. I often lean into humor when it's least likely, but I've never considered laughter as a victory. I'm holding on to that one, Shalom. Thank you!
The best kind of victory, too.
Wow. You managed to take a horrific subject and make it hilarious. Brilliant. What can they possibly sell at a concentration camp gift shop?
Thank God they didn't have a cafe. Anne Franks with soda and a large fries.
😂😂
I laugh, so I don’t cry - absolutely beautiful!
Thanx and greetings from Berlin:)
Laughter will set you free……thank you for this. So true and we need to do it daily, ideally hourly!
When I was 11 (@1972) my family went to Germany (over my mother's objections) because we had friends there. My father insisted that we have lunch at what had been Hitler's favorite restaurant. My mother was first aghast, but came around to his "this is a big FU to the man" thinking. (The Producers is an entire movie devoted to this, and my father and Mel Brooks surely were not unique in having this kind of self-preserving humor.) I only hope that Hitler's wienershnitzel was as overcooked as mine.
My mother rarely laughed out loud, but often said "if you don't laugh, you cry".
I understand his wienershnitzel only came with one testicle.
😂 I can't verify that, but it was definitely thin, flat, tasteless and rigid.
And thanks, so much, for sharing your talent. Stumbling upon you on Substack was one of those happy moments of serendipity. When I googled to find out what else you've done and saw you were the genius behind Happyish I thought "of course".
You are brilliant.
The guard at Sachsenhausen didn't think so...
I am not surprised. Imagine working there day in day out. Sort of dumbs down one's brilliance receptors I would guess.
Brilliance say hello to hilarity!
Loved this. Have you read Sonia Pilcer’s The Holocaust Kid? Similar glorious irreverence.
The description of your mother! OMG, it's my mother too! I love the black sense of humour. Maybe our mothers have something to do with it. 😂
Well told!
Stories like this will set me free. Thanks.
This is wonderful, thanks for the laughter. Needed it today.
You are wonderful
Well, now i love you.