Ouch! Relieving the Pain
By Reg Green
We all know political differences have become more unpleasant. Divisions of opinion in the past were often deep and bitter but as a rule each side recognized a common humanity with the other, rather than as now narrow-minded ideologies making discussion fruitless.
In the past there was generally a shared sense of humor too to ease the tension.
Reading a book on the 1960s this week I came across a classic that was new to me
from Barry Goldwater’s bid for the presidency. His campaign slogan, ” In your heart you know he’s right,” summed up his ‘peace through strength’ views. It soon morphed in Democratic hands into “In your guts, you know he’s nuts.” But it took Scott Fitzgerald’s daughter, Scottie, to take the decisive step with this gem, “In your ass you know it’s just gas.”
from Barry Goldwater’s bid for the presidency. His campaign slogan, ” In your heart you know he’s right,” summed up his ‘peace through strength’ views. It soon morphed in Democratic hands into “In your guts, you know he’s nuts.” But it took Scott Fitzgerald’s daughter, Scottie, to take the decisive step with this gem, “In your ass you know it’s just gas.” I like to think that even Goldwater, who loved earthy jokes, couldn’t suppress a wry smile.