Clowns

My nephew made an interesting comment as he was watching a popular fast food chain mascot doing the rounds of going from table to table, to the delight of the children who practically fell on each other just to embrace him. He said that it must be so sad for the person donning the costume, since he is only loved by the children because he is playing someone else. All those children ganging up on him. And yet if he took of his costume, those kids wouldn’t even give him the time of day. As I kept on thinking about what he said, it starts to sink in just how much these mascots, and clowns, play a big part of our lives.

We need these clowns in our lives, if only to make it more bearable. If only for a fleeting moment, we forget all our troubles and relish what it’s like to be a child again. We even hire these clowns, to make a social gathering even funnier than usual. I’ll be the first to admit that they are the true “life of the party” when it comes to entertaining and laughter. Some are talented, some are pitiful. Yet they still add that zest to any gathering, any occasion. “Send in the clowns”, as the popular song goes. Indeed, send them in.

What we don’t need are the clowns that make our lives miserable. The clowns that make the most outrageous of statements, such as the clown who told some people to complain to Jesus Christ. The same clown who offered a reward to those who could offer a sweep of the administration’s senatorial line-up, and the same clown who labeled as “crazy” a lawyer trying to do her duty. Another clown who thinks his photo can change the mindset of the city, and little by little, the nation. The clown who makes decisions regarding road rules on his own and thinks they’re brilliant, only to find out his system doesn’t work.

And then there are the scary clowns. These clowns have guns and unfortunately, authority. They saw fit to haul people gathered beside their relative’s deathbed and force them to be seen by a fiscal. The same clowns who manhandled househeld help, did not read them their rights because they were only “invited” for questioning. Forcefully invited would be more appropriate. Clowns who think they’re funny, but are actually not. With all these clowns in government and the police force, we certainly need the clowns and mascots that make our children happy. That make us happy. These are the true clowns that are true to their purpose, even when they remove the masks and the make-up. As for the other clowns? Thare are no more masks nor make-up to remove!