Go check it out. It’s really just wonderful! (H/T)
Honestly, I find this heartening. As I wrote a while back, when thinking about American Culture:
American culture has always been – up until pretty recently – a culture that could laugh at itself, even as it took on heavy responsibilities. From the earliest revolutionaries – from Ben Franklin on – we’ve been able to look at the world and ourselves and dream big but with a wink to keep egos in check. Thus, the man who wrote: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes,” was also the man who wrote: “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” without fear of losing his face.
There is a kind of American genius on display here (and in the original, as well). Unstoppable.
Related:
Ben Franklin, we need you!
NOTE: The “What is American Culture” piece I link to and quote here is several years old, and I mistakenly believed the misattribution to Ben Franklin on the beer quote. Having just finished Walter Isaacson’s excellent bio on Franklin, I now know better, and commenter NYC Esq. has it right when he notes: “What he did say was less pithy and quotable, but perhaps more inspiring: “We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine—a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”
The video I link to is a parody of this huge pop-culture phenom that “wow’ed” everyone but left me a little “meh.” Perhaps the reason why I so much appreciated the quick aping.
Thanks to Glenn Reynolds for the Instalanch! Much appreciated!
I don’t get it. Reference link please?
He said that about wine, not beer.
One of my personal rules of thumb is to never trust anyone who can’t laugh at themselves.
Wonderful bit of Franklin stuff
I don’t think Ben Franklin said that beer thing. It doesn’t sound like him. Can you cite a source?
Haw. It’s a winner.
eh. the dancers are better than in the wedding entrance video. but american genius? that is a bit much for a spoof that anyone could see coming.
for too long, american art has been a matter of finding a formula and repeating it until it is no longer profitable. thus we have movie sequels ad nauseaum, and endless song remakes that add nothing to the original. this is more of the same. find an original idea and piggyback off of it. which is “american culture” in a nutshell.
[The genius is the laughing at ourselves part, I think - admin]
Clearly… God wants us to be happy. Americans are able to lift the veil of tears better than most. We stumble, get up, brush off our knees and laugh. Well, that’s what I try to do most of the time.
Not to pour cold water on this sentiment, but Ben Franklin never actually uttered the beer quote, although it’s often attributed to him. What he did say was less pithy and quotable, but perhaps more inspiring: “We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine—a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”
Apparently I’m out of the pop culture loop. (Maybe the umpteen hours a week I devote to watching soccer and other sports needs a little more diversity…).
So what is this parodying, exactly?
The American sense of humor – it is truly delightful. Thanks for posting this Anchoress – a country that is full of people who can laugh at themselves cannot be too bad, huh ? The wedding dance has some 13 million hits on YT as of today. I am sure the divorce parody is going to go viral as well.
Btw, the lady delivers a perfect strike down the middle with her flowers ! She got game
Gosh, I just love that video. I needed a good laugh…lol
The original wedding one, I did not think was cute or sweet or all the other descriptions I read out there. I thought it was tacky and cheap and rather sad for what it says about an attitude to the institution of marriage.
But yes, the fact that we can laugh at ourselves is always hopeful.
If it was not so early, I would toast that with a beer.
Yes, true. But…
I’m still waiting on teh funny about Obama.
So far the only Obama joke has been on many of those who voted for him.
Whew.
I have to admit relief. When Gerard at American Digest posted that you liked this video, I initially thought it was the wedding video that I felt was an unfortunate example of the self-centered exhibitionism that infuses so much of youth culture.
Well. This video is a hoot. Your quotes from Ben Franklin are perfect.
i guess because i experienced 2 divorces as a child, i don’t find this even remotely humorous, and i feel sorry for anyone (especially another catholic) who would. this is why i have little to no respect for the average american catholic.
So what will this couple do when it comes time for the real divorce, stage a mock wedding-trial in a church?
Having experienced multiple “family breakings” as a child, and then as an adult, my sentiments run along the lines of Carl’s. Yet, I suppose if Mel Brooks can do Hitler on Ice, I can see some humour in this, especially given that it is a parody of a wedding. Perhaps if the video existed solely as a parody, it would be much funnier. But in a society that now has “divorce parties”, billboards for shysters advertising divorce services, web-based businesses with the explicit purpose of hooking up adulterers with one another, etc, it’s hard.
Well I found it funny