*objectively accurate motto of
The International Confederation of Shabas Goys
12 April 2022
Gilbert Gottfried, “the comedians’ comedian,” comic genius, and one-time wise-cracking Aflac flack was lost to us today. I’d like to think that he might have appreciated my original joke (above), as he was fearless, and he was committed to humor. He wouldn’t care much if people thought that he or I were anti-Semites (we’re not) and he would never demur from what he thought was the joke of the moment. “Hero” is thrown around way too loosely these days, but Gottfried WAS heroic. Real heroism requires personal risk, and he was never loath to put his smart mouth where the big money was. It cost him dearly in shekels, but it earned him the respect of his peers and his fans.
I will miss his wit AND his courage. It is in shorter supply today.