It seems that in the last few years of presidents, the media and society waits with anticipation for a presidential gaffe.
Gaffe: 1: a social or diplomatic blunder; 2: a noticeable mistake1
On August 11, 1984, President Ronald Reagan made a doozie!
I’ve always liked President Reagan and have thought that he was one of the most articulate presidents of my time. He spoke with grace and poise while exuding confidence and national strength. However, an attempt at humor backfired. Let me set the stage for the story.
Prior to Reagan, we had Nixon, Ford, and Carter. Their attitude towards communistic Russia was more conciliatory. Swapping technology and integrating cultures was viewed as a way to “play nice” with a nation we wanted to court as an ally. Reagan took a different approach.
When speaking, President Reagan had no problem speaking bluntly about communism, denouncing it and embracing a U.S. military growth capable of combating the communistic threat. “In retrospect, many analysts view Reagan’s get-tough policies as responsible for scaring the Russians into spending more on their military just to keep pace with American military expenditures—a fact that likely led to the collapse of the Russian economy and, by extension, the country’s communist political system.”2
On August 11, 1984, the president was getting ready for a radio address, and the microphones had to be tested. Check, check, 1-2-3-4 is what we normally say. Without knowing the mic was still hot, Reagan began to practice his speech and thought he would allow his humorous side to come out. Off the cuff, he said, “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”3
Reagan’s “joke” wasn’t taken as funny by the Democrats who were already nervous about his hard stance against Russia. Others chalked it up to being in bad taste and beneath a man in his position to say such a thing. Russia never even responded to this gaffe.
Reagan’s “joke” supplies us with a great warning. We must be careful about what we say and guard ourselves carefully. Sometimes, our humor isn’t funny or it is offensive.
I have a sense of humor. I like to laugh and I enjoy good practical jokes. I shouldn’t have to say it but I will as my own disclaimer. This sense of humor wants nothing to do with that which is vulgar, sacrilegious, suggestive, crass, or full of inuendo. Practical jokes cannot cause harm whether it be physical, mental, or emotional. If those vile, hurtful things are necessary to make something funny, it wasn’t funny in the first place and it’s definitely not funny now.
That being said, consider the warning of Ephesians 5:3-4. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; (4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Some have taken this verse as a forbidding of humor. We should all walk around looking like we are sour, dour, and serious. Is that what this passage is teaching?
The Believer’s Bible Commentary writes: “Filthiness. This refers to dirty stories, suggestive jokes with a sexual coloring, and all forms of obscenity and indecency.
“Foolish talking. This means empty conversation that is worthy of a moron. Here it may include gutter language.
“Coarse jesting. This means jokes or talk with unsavory, hidden meanings. To talk about something, to joke about it, to make it a frequent subject of conversation is to introduce it into your mind, and to bring you closer to actually doing it.
“It is always dangerous to joke about sin. Instead of using his tongue for such unworthy and unbecoming talk, the Christian should deliberately cultivate the practice of expressing thanks to God for all the blessings and mercies of life. This is pleasing to the Lord, a good example to others, and beneficial to one’s own soul.”4
A Godly sense of humor must be governed by Biblical principles. We must be cautious when we deploy and remember that a sprinkling of humor is great but not a deluge!
In all of our speech, remember the words of Ephesians 4:29. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
1https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaffe
2https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-11/reagan-jokes-about-bombing-russia
3Ibid.
4Believer’s Bible Commentary, e-Sword.net module
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
