Archive for humor
FFQF: The Humor of George Washington
Now I know what you’re thinking. George Washington could not have really been that funny. True, he was not disposed to laughter and joking, particularly after his grueling experiences in the War for Independence, which concluded, sadly, with the death of his adopted son, John Parke Custis. He did, however, possess the ability to be [...]
FFQF: The Real Humor of Alexander Hamilton
The last time we touched on Hamilton’s humor, he borrowed it from his friend James McHenry. Today, we will see what credit his own words do to his own wit. While it was not his regular habit to tell jokes, he never could resist poking fun when he could. While General Washington’s aide-de-camp, he was [...]
Commemorating the Inauguration of Barack Obama
Do you mind if I roll my rant for a minute? I will anyway. Please bear with me for just a moment…. America is priding itself right now that we have just elected our first African-American President. We are saying that the ballots of this country have proven that American voters are “colorblind.” Republicans and [...]
FFQF: The Humor of John Adams
John Adams had such a way of telling stories. In his letters, and in his Autobiography (today’s selection comes from the latter), his recounting of amusing incidents, or, incidents he made amusing with his retelling, are unforgettable. Today’s selection reveals the amusing side of his “yankee” nature. John Adams liked to dicker and argue by [...]
FFQF: The Humor of Alexander Hamilton (or, of James McHenry!)
Over the past several months, we have cracked open the dusty tomes of the Founding Fathers’ writings, and searched for their wise advice on such subjects as liberty, virtue, and the means of their support. These subjects have lead us to reflect, often with great heaviness, on our nation’s failings, and to the current situation [...]