Repression and stupidity, fertile grounds for Moscow’s and Washington’s jokes

It’s not belly-busting, I-can’tstop-laughing type of humour. Sometimes it’s nasty and the punch line assumes the listener is totally familiar with the subject matter alluded.

• Putin calls the White House. “Hello Donald, I want to discuss Ukraine with you.” “What’s Ukraine.?” “Thanks Donald.” (Trump’s ignorance when Crimea was annexed in 2014? Putin’s reliance on Trump’s friendship no matter what the former’s transgression? The joke may be groundless, but does reflect the understanding and mood of at least some observers – in the Kremlin leaderships’ case, most people, over generations.)

• Trump has two parts of his brain, the right part and the left part. The right part has nothing left. The left part has nothing right.

• How does every Putin joke get started? By looking over your shoulder.

• Stalin appears to Putin in a dream: “Kill of all your opponents and paint the Kremlin blue. Any questions?” Putin: “Why blue?”

• What is Trump’s approach to world leadership? “A complex world demands complex hair.”

• Little boy: “Daddy, I want to be like president Trump when I grow up”. Dad: “Pick one of them son, you can’t do both.”

• Putin arrives at the Narva border crossing. Estonian Border Guard inquires: “Citizenship?” Putin: “Russian.” Border Guard: “Occupation?” Putin: “No, only visiting.”

• On a White House visit a young boy meets Trump in a hallway and says to him, “I want to be president one day.” Trump says, “Are you stupid? Are you an idiot? Are you retarded?” The boy replies, “You know what, I’ve changed my mind. Those are too many requirements.”

• Five suggestions to intelligentsia in Russia. 1. Don’t think. 2. If you think, don’t talk about it. 3. If you think and talk about it, don’t write it down. 4. If you think, talk about it, write it down, don’t sign it. 5. If you think, talk about it, write it down and sign it, don’t be surprised about what happens.

• It’s ludicrous for people to compare Trump to Hitler. Hitler wrote his own book.

• Why does Putin have so many bodyguards? For personal safety, nobody wants to be left alone with him.

• Putin opens the refrigerator door and sees a bowl of quivering sült (jellied meat). “Stop shaking,” he says, “I’m only getting the milk”.

• Breaking news: Trump’s personal library burnt down. The fire destroyed both books and in a tragic twist, he hadn’t even finished colouring the second one yet.

• Russia has been kicked out of the G8. Putin creates the G1 group of industrial, economically advanced nations. Russia is THE member. The G1 summit will convene in Septem ber in Sochi and Russia will be invited to participate. It’s anticipated that all member countries will attend.

• Trump says to Pence, “The less immigrants we let in, the better”. Pence corrects him, “The fewer”. Trump says, “I told you not to call me that yet”.

• Putin’s used shirts are sent to factories that produce armour for tanks. Putin’s used socks are used to bombard Chechen rebels.

• Trump: “Vlad, how do you know the people around you are smart and trustworthy?” Putin: “I ask them a question. If they get it wrong – Siberia.” Trump: “What’s the question?” Putin: “I ask them, who is your mother’s son, but isn’t your brother?” Trump: “Ooh, that’s good, what’s the answer?” Putin: “Well for me it’s me, Vladimir Putin. I’m the son of my mother, but not my brother.” Trump: “Wow, of course. I’ll try it on Pence.” Trump calls Pence: “Listen, who’s the son of your mother but not your brother?” Pence: “That’s easy. It’s me, Mike Pence:” Trump: “No you moron! It’s Vladimir Putin!”

Both jokes about Trump and Putin have some common aspects – they provide a glimpse of how some Russians and Americans judge their l eader, they’re both cruelly cynical, they mirror the public mood, at least a substantial part of the public. In the USA, jokes about Trump cover his vanity, bragging, womanizing, lying, hunger for power and other character traits, with a large portion targeting his perceived low intellect.

But for Russians, where the media are state controlled, they’re a form of personal liberation from intentional misinformation. They offer a sense of cathartic rebellion. They offer the freedom for Russians to express what they see with their own eyes. They point to Putin’s hypocrisy, his failure to cope with rampant poverty, his avowed fight against corruption while personally becoming grossly wealthy. The one trait that seems to dominate the list is Putin’s repressive leadership.

How effective are jokes in helping to drive change? Before and after studies on political humour are most likely impossible to conduct. No scholarly conclusions have been drawn. One can at the moment say that there is no persuasive and consistent evidence of its persuasive capacity. While no societal attitude change can be affirmed, this type of cutting, disparaging, sometimes outrageous humour may act as a social balm and still increases the salience of certain serious issues. They can take tyrants and their wannabes down a notch.

LAAS LEIVAT