You can make fun with Saddam Hussein jokes ... but you can't make fun of, say, the concentration camps. I think my target was not so much evil, but benign stupidity people doing stupid things without realising or, instead, thinking they were doing good.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the difference between making light of serious issues and poking fun at benign ignorance.
Tom Lehrer expresses that while humor can be directed at figures like Saddam Hussein, some topics, such as concentration camps, are too grave for jokes. His intent was to criticize the foolishness of individuals who act without awareness of the true consequences of their actions, even if they believe they are doing good.
In practice
In a comedy club, a comedian might use this quote to highlight the absurdity of certain political situations.
All books can be indecent books, though recent books are bolder._x000D_ _x000D_ For filth, I'm glad to say, is in the mind of the beholder._x000D_ _x000D_ When correctly viewed, everything is lewd._x000D_ _x000D_ I could tell you things about Peter Pan_x000D_ _x000D_ and the Wizard of OZ, there's a dirty old man!
Political satire became obsolete when they awarded Henry Kissinger the Nobel Peace Prize.
But in the new (math) approach, the important thing is to understand what you're doing, rather than to get the right answer.
You can't be satirical and not be offensive to somebody.
In my youth there were words you couldn't say in front of a girl; now you can't say 'girl.'
Now don't say you can't swear off drinking; it's easy. I've done it a thousand times.
What is this demilitarized zone? Whatever it is, I like it! Gets you on your toes better than a strong cup of cappuccino.
I have never developed indigestion from eating my words.
there was an assumption that I was personally attacking Sarah Palin by impersonating her on TV. No one ever said it was 'mean' when Chevy Chase played Gerald Ford falling down all the time. No one ever accused Dana Carvey or Darrell Hammond or Dan Aykroyd of 'going too far' in their political impressions. You see what I'm getting at here. I am not mean and Mrs. Palin is not fragile. To imply otherwise is a disservice to us both.
There sure are a lot of these 'instant' products on the market. Instant coffee, instant tea, instant pudding, instant cereal... instant dislike.
But then acting is all about faking. We're all very good at faking things that we have no competence with.
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