Conservatives on social media were left fuming after comedian Sarah Silverman tweeted a joke about Jesus Christ…. “MERRY CHRISTMAS! Jesus was gender fluid!” Silverman wrote on her Twitter and Facebook accounts on December 25. Conservative Christians were outraged by the suggestion that the son of God identified as both male and female — or somewhere in between. The website YoungCons.com raged that the tweet was a “desperate attempt to remain relevant,” while others on social media attacked the 45-year-old comedian for being impious on Christmas day…. “Jesus was not gender fluid! Says nowhere in the Bible or in any other teachings. Jesus was a man and you are Jewish and know nothing about my savior and shouldn’t be making jokes about Him on Christmas, the day of His birth. You just lost a fan,” one person wrote on Silverman’s Facebook page.
I’ve always been fascinated by what happens when one decides to start slaughtering sacred cows…especially when it turns out to involve a belief Conservatives cling to. That Conservatives are incensed that Sarah Silverman has dared to voice an opinion they find offensive is silly enough. Criticizing Silverman for not being funny is even more ridiculous; if there’s one thing they lack, it’s the humor gene. Don’t believe me? Try this test: name a funny Conservative comedian.
I know, right? There aren’t any, are there? Dennis Miller, once known for a reasonably funny and cerebral brand of humor, has devolved into a smug, arrogant drudge who may be many things- tiresome, dogmatic, pedantic- but funny is nowhere to be found on the list. I’m not going to hold forth about Silverman’s comedic chops, because I’ve never really enjoyed her humor, but I find it difficult not to admire someone willing to tweak those who take themselves and their beliefs WAY too seriously.
Regardless of the considerable bile and righteous rage directed at Silverman, I can’t help thinking that Conservatives didn’t pick up on her real purpose: exposing them as the self-righteous, humorless drudges they are. Some of the tweets directed at her say far more about the responders than they ever could about Silverman. Then again, self-awareness and moderation have never been Conservative strengths. This is what happens when you grant your beliefs and world view far more weight than reasonable.
Imagine the good things that might result if Conservatives decided to use the energy they devote to righteous outrage to things that matter. Then again, that would be socialism, something else that makes their blood boil. Truth is, if not for rage and righteous indignation, Conservatives would have little reason to live.
