Dark humour from The Conversation
(Extract of article by Prof. John Keane)
I remember this dollop of dark humour from the darkest moments of the first-term presidency of George W. Bush. Halted by a traffic snarl on a freeway leading into Washington D.C., a driver was startled by shouting.
She wound down her window, to be greeted by an excited citizen carrying a jerry can and bearing breaking news. “The president has just been kidnapped by terrorists! They’re demanding a huge ransom, otherwise they say they’ll set him on fire! The government says citizens should contribute, so the situation can be resolved fast.”
Replied the startled driver: “How much on average are citizens donating?” Said the messenger: “About a gallon apiece.”
RAJA ARASA RATNAM 