Yes, all good humor has a critical function; critical in the sense of offering analysis and calling for reflection.
In sermons all the time, I use humor to allow people to breathe between discussion of ‘eternal verities’. And I use humor to make sharp commentary on the human condition, indiscriminately.
I hold dear these two statements:
1. “I open wide their mouths with a laugh and then… ram down the truth as soon as possible.”
2. “After the mirth-quake comes the still small voice.”
Lord, have mercy on any relationship that hovers around making incisive commentary less sensitivity breeds complacency.
And NOTE WELL (forgive the upper case) the comment about those who cannot control themselves will always ache to control others!
Thank you John Cleese for these reasonable thoughts about the perils of swallowing whole ‘political correctness’.