As a humourist I have often asked myself if my lighter reflections were
appropriate in a time of such deep division and grief. As a columnist for over
10 years, there have been times when I have wondered if I should change tack,
focus on darker or more politically edgy work, addressing the catastrophes of
our times. It is surely fair to ask if one’s lightness, at a time of dark, is
fitting or even welcomed. Truth be told, I continue to be torn. Humour, I know,
has had a role to play in every context since the beginning of time, as a
mediating influence, a salve or as a weapon to address contentious topics.