Gratitude 143

I love Mexican humour.  It is rather similar to Spanish humour but for one significant detail.  While the Spanish tend to laugh at everyone and everything, the Mexicans do that as well, but they, unlike the Spanish, also know how to laugh at themselves.  The self-deprecating element, whether present or missing is by its very nature telling.

I think this matters because it could indicate just who is going to find what funny depending on whether they have been historically oppressed or historical oppressors.  Bullies are incapable of laughing at themselves.  I have never met a Spaniard with self-deprecating humour.  Each of the many I have become acquainted with will laugh at everyone but their sweet precious selves.  I have hope for the younger Spaniards but time will tell.

Each in their context, the Spanish and the Mexica were both bully nations.  They were both warrior nations, and warrior nations, obsessed with their survival are not going to be much inclined to laugh at themselves and much less endure the laughter of others.  Spain, fresh from driving out the last Moors and unconverted Jews from their precious part of the Iberian Peninsula, decided to turn into their own version of the occupying Moors and continue their theme of military domination and brutality in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America.  Humourless Spaniard met humourless Aztec in battle and only their superior armaments and war savvy guaranteed certain victory.  I don't think anyone was laughing, except for the Spaniards at their victims of conquest.

A culture of institutional rape fostered the birth of half-indigenous children, the first Mestizaje, the progenitors of modern Latin America.  I'm sure none of them were laughing.  The Mestizos became increasingly isolated, distrusted by both their Spanish and indigenous relatives.  Loathing bred self-loathing.  Self-loathing is the cradle of self-deprecating humour and self-deprecating humour is indeed a powerful tonic for healing the injured soul as well as a formidable weapon against those who would oppress us.

Through humour, and especially the kind of self-deprecating humour that rises out of humiliation and marginalization, we rise above the misery of our oppressive circumstances.  This doesn't necessarily mean that we're going to thrive.  We just might.  Or, the trauma of humiliation will never be entirely integrated or overcome, but it can still become a tool, a weapon even, towards our growth, recovery and healing.

Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.