The Holiday That Americans Have Overlooked

Have you seen this season's "Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg" yet? If you haven't, there's still plenty of time. Through March 28^th, the show presents informal weekly interviews with stand-up comedians filmed before a studio audience. An interview with Jerry Seinfeld kicked off the second season. Witty, amusing, entertaining and droll as ever, he quipped halfway through the interview: "I don't need this."

What? Had he turned his back on his fans, the very ones that spent countless hours watching him and his zany friends doing "nothing" for almost a decade? The "show about nothing" was anything but. It was an account of life in the 90's...our lives. Granted, it was a bit more bizarre; but, who of us haven't driven several hundred miles to cash in on refundable bottles? I'm talking BEFORE gas was so expensive.

"I don't need this" was merely a tongue-in-cheek remark in which the guest suggested that the only reason he was on the show was to repay Steinberg for his early influence on many aspiring comedians including himself. In reality, entertainers need an audience as much as we need them. Or, maybe WE need them even more.

Comedians on Strike

Can you imagine if all comics, including comedians and writers, decided to go on strike? People would be in danger of losing their sense of humor without their favorite funny person lighting the way through the dark, mundane existence of daily life. Without their influence, knock- knock jokes would end badly with nobody knowing who's there; and, if somebody slipped on a banana peel, would anyone really laugh? It would be something akin to the sound of a falling tree in the woods should nobody be there to hear it.

You may scoff that such a seemingly jovial group of people would organize and strike; but, everybody wants recognition. Money, laughter, and admiration from their fans may not always be enough to sustain them. They may demand, still, a national holiday set aside just for them.

After all, they deserve more respect than a Groundhog named Phil

Before we are in danger of a possible strike, let us show our appreciation by creating a new holiday honoring all the great comics...past and present. If you're already thinking that we have April Fool's Day, a holiday for funny people, then you're right. However, there are only so many times that a person is going to fall for the line that his shoe laces are untied, unless, of course, you're Linus from "Peanuts".

I say that we upgrade our humor while showing appreciation to these wonderful jesters by declaring a new holiday. Funny Bone Day has a nice ring to it. Everybody from presidents to groundhogs already have a holiday named after them. Surely a comic deserves more respect than a groundhog. Although, one may argue that at least a groundhog can predict the arrival of Spring.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Besides the unbridled joy that comedians bring to our lives, their humor affects us on many levels. Humor has been proven to have a positive effect on every part of our life: physically, mentally and socially.

According to "Humor and Laughter: Health Benefits and Online Sources" published by HELPGUIDE.org, laughter has been shown to: lower high blood pressure, boost the immune system, protect the heart, improve brain function and even burn calories. "It is estimated that hearty laughter can burn calories equivalent to several minutes on the rowing machine or the exercise bike." A good laugh can lower anxiety and reduce feelings of anger and frustration. Socially "laughter is the shortest distance between two people." Combine that with the internet and you can laugh all day, with your friends while at work, providing you still have a job at the end of the day.

Write your Congressman Today

Now is the time to take action. Please write your congressman requesting that Funny Bone Day be declared a national holiday. Neglecting to do so may have dire consequences. If we have comedians on strike, they may look elsewhere for jobs. This could prove disastrous as nobody wants to see a former funny person cooking at the local, neighborhood eatery. Who wants burnt food just because he hasn't perfected his timing yet?

Funny Bone Day would be a wonderful holiday to honor all who have contributed so greatly to our lives. Joyfulness would fill our land, if only for a day. So, I beseech each and every one of you to write, and while you're at it don't forget who started it all.

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Source: www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm