Douglas Whaley

Since I created prior posts about my favorite cartoons ["Some Cartoons I've Saved," October 20, 2010] and my favorite books ["The Best of My Library," August 27, 2010], I thought I'd tell you my very favorite jokes. The ones below start as the vanilla-flavored variety and then progress to more exotic experiences. I'll warn the reader as the jokes start to become risqué. 1. The Doctor/Lawyer Joke A doctor and a lawyer are talking at a cocktail when a woman approaches them and says, "Pardon me, doctor, but my husband has some disturbing symptoms and I wonder if you have any advice for me." She then proceeds to describe her spouse’s medical problem, the doctor does offer his opinion on appropriate treatment, and, thanking him profusely, she walks away, happy. The doctor says to the lawyer, "I never know what to do in these situations—should I charge her for that advice?" "Of course you should," the lawyer replies. ...

In December of 2009, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, citizens of the African country of Malawi, became engaged to be married and when they celebrated this decision, the men were promptly arrested, charged with gross indecency and unnatural acts, and sentenced to fourteen years in prison. International outrage followed, and after a visit from Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, last May, Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika unwillingly pardoned the pair, commenting as he did so, "In all aspects of reasoning, in all aspects of human understanding, these two gay boys were wrong—totally wrong.” This is all of a piece with the rampant homophobia currently sweeping Africa, outrageously fanned and financed by American religious fanatics, who, having lost this battle back home, have found a new outlet for their hatred. With the applause and support of these American groups, Uganda is about to institute the death penalty for homosexuality. Sodomy ...