Humor always makes a difference and it would also in international relations with great care.

Beware, humor' means different things to different people in different countries and at different times.

For example, humor in the US is nearer to slapstick than in any other country while Britain thrives on dry humor. A joke told in a speech by a US President would go over as a lead balloon in London.

For example, picture a man with a cream pie raised in his hand facing an adversary. American humor would have him throw the cream pie straight in the other guy's face, while in British humor the cream pie would not be thrown that is simply too obvious.

Time changes humor the US is now going through a humorless period of political correctness. No longer can any group be the butt of humor. Do you remember all those jokes about the people of Poland, usually starting with "How many Poles does it take to screw in a lamp bulb?" We can't tell jokes at the expense of the inhabitants of Georgia either although Russians can (of a different Georgia).

We are limited now to jokes involving a Rabbi, a Bishop and a lawyer.

Let me not dwell on jokes they are really not humor even though they might be funny for a moment. True humor involves a true surprise or an offhand comment in a speech.

John Cleese was humorous. The British Government's Department of Silly Walks was a classic in which Cleese as the interviewer demonstrated to an applicant what a silly walk was. Since Cleese is very tall and seems to be double jointed his silly walk was something no one could emulate. There was no joke; the walk was simply enormously funny.

The Brits of course do not have the handicap of being politically correct. If a group cannot stand humor at their expense then it's their problem. The French could not air the British television comedy "Allo! Allo!" because the series makes mock of the French language and certain French stereotypes.

A classic humorous statement by an American politician in Europe is credited to J. F. Kennedy. Unfortunately, it was an inadvertent flub. He announced to a crowd in Berlin as a statement of support, "Ich bin ein Berliner," thereby announcing that he was a hot dog.

Take care with humor it can help but not if preplanned by a politician.

Learn more about this author, John Graham.
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