Comedy isn’t just for fun. Comedy is an essential part of life in general and of democracy in particular. In the ancient courts of Europe, the jester was one of the few people who could safely poke fun at the king, say the unsayable and voice what everyone knows but hasn’t said out loud. Comedians challenge our taboos, speak the truth where the elite would like to silence us and mock the powerful. In our desire to protect victims, we’ve created protected groups who are beyond criticism and scrutiny. That is dangerous. A healthy democracy needs to be able to properly discuss and address all issues, especially those that are highly sensitive and explosive. We have so suppressed comedy about race, religion and immigration that we are obstructing healthy democracy and cultural evolution. Some religious people have become so bullying that comedians aren’t safe to laugh at them or their ideas. For the sake of democracy, freedom, peace and security it is vital that we make it safe for there to be comedy about religion. If we fail to do that, we are storing up even bigger trouble in the future.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Magna-Carta-Psychiatrists-Prescription/dp/1506191673