Sunday evening, March 23, at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, Conan O'Brien received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. An annual ceremony honoring American humor first began in 1998 and has continued every year since, except during the pandemic years of 2020/21.
Here, sharing a direct quote from a story in this mornings Washington Post 3/24/2025, written by Travis M. Andrews, titled:
COMICS ROAST CONAN O'BRIEN, TORCH TRUMP AT KENNEDY CENTER'S TWAIN PRIZE
Twain was suspicious of "mindless American might," O'Brien said.
"He loved America but knew it was deeply flawed."
Quoting Twain, he said,
"Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and
your government when it deserves it."
Posting and commenting politically. It is often said that two things can be true at the same time. I believe this absolutely applies to the statement above, and so rewriting for this time and place to say: "now, in this time and this place, we can be patriotic, we can and must support our country in every way possible ~ yet, not be supportive of the government we have, for it does not deserve our support."
Whatever "label" you choose: Democrat, Republican, Independent, Liberal, Conservative, Progressive, Moderate choose: Fight, not flight. Every individual, every institution, everything that has made the "United" States united ~ united, strong, powerful, productive, and once a place of freedom for all ~ is being ripped apart every hour of every day. Silence is not golden.
I feel you are so very correct in this. I love my country, but I do not like what is happening to it. And that is directly related to our government in control at this time.
ReplyDeleteMum agrees with your comment. While we are Canadian, the same applies to us.
ReplyDeleteWe like some leaders better than others, but always support our country.
As a cat, I purr that humans will make the best choices and do what is best for their country...not for politicians.
Purrs Winnie
We've enjoyed both Twain (bonus that he loved cats!) and Conan O'Brian, and we're in agreement about our country. Politicians are supposed to be responsive to the people of their countries ...
ReplyDeleteIf the Supreme Court lets us down, then we are in the soup for sure.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mark Twain LURVed cats, so you know he was on the right track!
Mark Twain was so far ahead of his time.
ReplyDeleteHugs Cecilia
Amen
ReplyDeleteI have always admired Mark Twain. XO
ReplyDeleteWe concur 100%. It is a sad and scary time.
ReplyDeleteHere here! We saw some other quotes from that event and it sounded like it might as well have been a roast of the Orange Cheeto and his cronies. Can't wait to watch the full event when it comes out on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteI totally never cared for the Conan dude as I never found him funny. I like him a whole lot better now!
ReplyDeleteComedians always lead the way
ReplyDeleteMy concern for our world grows daily.
ReplyDeleteWe agree with this 100%.
ReplyDeleteJava Bean: "Ayyy, and it seems like it might be a while before the government gets back to deserving it ..."
ReplyDelete