26 Aug, 2009
Comedian Gets Sued By Mother-In-Law
LOS ANGELES – "Take my mother-in-law — please," isn't a joke you're likely to hear often these days from Sunda Croonquist. The veteran comic is being sued by her mother-in-law after making her the punchline of too many jokes.
The mother-in-law is accusing Croonquist of spreading false, defamatory and racist lies with in-law jokes that have become a staple of her routine in nightclubs and on television channels like Comedy Central.
To Croonquist, the in-law jokes seemed like a natural routine after living through one comical culture-clash moment after another: She is half-black, half-Swedish, grew up Roman Catholic and married into a Jewish family.
And she's not shy about making the in-laws the butt of her jokes.
Take the one about her mother-in-law's reaction to news she was pregnant with her first child: "OK, now that we know you're having a little girl I want to know what you're naming that little tchotchke. Now we don't want a name that's difficult to pronounce like Shaniqua. We're thinking a name short but delicious. Like Hadassah or Goldie."
Or her first visit to her mother-in-law's house: "I walk in, I say, 'Thank you so much for having me here, Ruthie.' She says,
'The pleasure's all mine, have a seat.'" Then, in a loud aside, 'Harriet, put my pocketbook away.'"
Croonquist said there was a time when her in-laws would laugh with everyone else at the black-member-of-a-Jewish-family jokes. "They played my tape at Passover one year, and they loved it!" she said.
But things changed after Croonquist, promoting upcoming gigs in New Jersey, posted information on her Web site that, according to her in-laws, allowed pretty much anyone to figure out the identities of her in-laws.
They sued in April in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, where they live. The action seeks unspecified damages and demands that Croonquist remove any offensive statements from her Web site, routines and recordings.
Croonquist says she would drop any language her family finds offensive, but refuses to pay any settlement. Her lawyer has filed a motion to have the suit dismissed, and a judge is scheduled to hear it on Sept. 8.
Story and photo taken from: http://news.yahoo.com
Ephesians 5:4 (NIV)
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Psalm 126:2 (NIV)
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
What Does God Say About Joking?
Today's story has a dual meaning for us today. It is sort of comical that someone who is paid to make people laugh is being sued by her own family,
At first glance it appears a little ridiculous to me. I mean come on lady, toughen up! She's just trying to make people laugh.
But then I think about our own relationships (especially those that are close to us) and how fragile they can be if we are always the brunt of their jokes. There is a fine line to joyful poking fun and constant belittling.
And that is our lesson today. I believe God wants us to laugh at ourselves and others but not at their expense. We should be on guard of what we say and how it effects others. Granted, some people can be overly sensitive, but we should monitor our words and actions.
While the mother-in-law's actions in the story are a bit extreme, our friends and families response may be similar. We may not get sued but our relationships suffer because we have not taken the time to monitor our words and actions.
Especially as school starts and with it the constant joking, may we be wise enough to make sure we honor others instead of bring them down.
- Consider your conversation with friends and family lately. Have you noticed anyone becoming overly irritated and/or sensitive to your joking?
- Ask forgiveness of others that you might have offended by joking around too much.
- Look for ways to encourage others and build them. When joking with others make sure that it's not too negative but that others are refreshed and not frustrated.
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