Is laughter the best weapon? A Wiltshire builder has used it to get his own back on a local politician. He is far from the first to make fun of an important person.
X
Next
Meet the gargoyle who runs a town council
Is laughter the best weapon? A Wiltshire builder has used it to get his own back on a local politician. He is far from the first to make fun of an important person.
X
PreviousNext
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>
Michael Thomas could not stop laughing. The builder had been told by the town councilA group of people who meet regularly to help run a city, town or other area. to stop his building project. But he had taken his revengeHurting someone else in return for hurt they have caused. - by ordering a gargoyle (or more accurately, a grotesqueA figure or face carved out of stone and fixed to the roof or walls of a building. They are similar to gargoyles, but gargoyles include a spout for water to drain through. ) of the council's leader. It was the talk of the town!
Not many leaders are good at taking a joke. But that has not has stopped artists and writers making fun of them throughout history.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>
Powerful leaders often use fear to control the people they rule. But if the people are laughing at them, they are not afraid.
One example took place 10 years ago during huge protests in EgyptA country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East. . Protestors showed Egypt's leader Mohammed Morsi - as Super Mario.
X
Previous
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Is laughter the best weapon?</strong> </h5>
Yes! Funny things tend to stick in people's minds more than serious ones. It is very hard for leaders to complain - because they only look more silly!
No! Laughing at leaders can be very fun. But it does not really achieve much. Instead, if we are unhappy with our leaders we should make suggestions for how things can be better.
Council - A group of people who meet regularly to help run a city, town or other area.
Revenge - Hurting someone else in return for hurt they have caused.
Grotesque - A figure or face carved out of stone and fixed to the roof or walls of a building. They are similar to gargoyles, but gargoyles include a spout for water to drain through.
Egypt - A country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East.
Meet the gargoyle who runs a town council
Old joke: Gargoyles based on real people are a feature of many medieval buildings. Glossary
Council - A group of people who meet regularly to help run a city, town or other area.
Revenge - Hurting someone else in return for hurt they have caused.
Grotesque - A figure or face carved out of stone and fixed to the roof or walls of a building. They are similar to gargoyles, but gargoyles include a spout for water to drain through.
Egypt - A country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East.