John Cleese's War on Wokeism

The Monty Python legend says political correctness is ruining creativity in all aspects of human activity.

Nick Gillespie | 8.1.2022 9:19 AM

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From shows and movies ranging from Monty Python's Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers to Life of Brian and A Fish Called Wanda, the comedian John Cleese has uproariously and relentlessly satirized politics and religion while stretching the boundaries of decorum and good taste like so many silly walks.

Now 82, Cleese—who studied law at Cambridge—has recently set his sights on political correctness and wokeism, which he says are the enemy not only of humor but of creative thinking in all areas of human activity.

He appeared at FreedomFest, the annual July gathering of libertarians in Las Vegas, to discuss creativity, the subject of his 2020 "short and cheerful guide." After giving a talk on the attitudes and habits he believes are necessary for creativity to 2,500 attendees, Reason's Nick Gillespie interviewed Cleese about the importance of freedom of thought and expression for a flourishing society.

Photos: Mirrorpix / MEGA / Newscom/ASLON2/Newscom; PYTHON PICTURES/EMI / Album/Newscom; Original Memorabilia Company / Pacific Coast News/Newscom; Everett Collection/Newscom; D Soto imageSPACE / Splash News/Newscom; Andrew Matthews/ZUMA Press/Newscom; UNIVERSAL STUDIOS / Album/Newscom; Hosie, Andy/Mirrorpix/Newscom; Staff/Mirrorpix/Newscom; NCJ/Mirrorpix/Newscom; Splash News/Newscom; Mirrorpix/Newscom; Music: "The Liberty Bell" by the United States Marine Band

Produced by Nick Gillespie; Footage: Courtesy of FreedomFest; Edited by Adam Czarnecki and Meredith Bragg

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Earth-based Human Skeptic 3 years ago

Good to see Reason has gone green, especially recycling.

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1. WorkStar24 3 years ago
  
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Dillinger 3 years ago

now there's the violence inherent in the system.

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SRG 3 years ago

FWIW in about 1989 I was at Blackpool for the Social and Liberal Democrats (or whatever they were called that year) annual conference and John Cleese gave one of the best political speeches I have ever heard. It wasn't a speech so much as a talk on politics. Sadly, with the passage of time, I forget most of what he said.

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1. Chuck P. (The Artist formerly known as CTSP) 3 years ago
  
  Orwell was one of socialism's most perceptive and ardent critics. Probably because he wanted it to work as much as he realized it never could. I suspect Cleese is much the same.
  
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Chuck P. (The Artist formerly known as CTSP) 3 years ago

Cleese had his microphone taken away from him at the John Cleese in Conversation panel at SXSW in March of this year. He was cut off during his own panel! Even the MSN take on the story shows how ridiculous it was. If anything, the MSN take exacerbates the ridiculousness.

A quick search shows that Reason has never mentioned it.

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Anastasia Beaverhausen 3 years ago

John Cleese stopped being funny about 20 years ago when he turned into a bitter old man.

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1. Its_Not_Inevitable 3 years ago
  
  Much like David Letterman.
  
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  1. VULGAR MADMAN 3 years ago
    
    Damn, he used to be funny.
    
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2. Public Citizen 3 years ago
  
  You children are interpreting no longer putting up with your stupidity and insistence on playing Silly Buggers as a lack of humorousness.
  Those of us who have been around long enough to begin to have an understanding of how things actually work, which isn't necessarily the way you have been led to believe things work, don't always have the patience to deal with youthful lack of understanding.
  John Cleese has been increasingly intemperate in this area for more than 30 years now.
  
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  1. VULGAR MADMAN 3 years ago
    
    So many words to say nothing at all.
    
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3. John C. Randolph 3 years ago
  
  Cleese is hilarious, and you're an idiot. Have a nice day.
  
  -jcr
  
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0ad6d94 3 years ago

Can you use an app to transcribe these so we can read them? I can read 3-5x faster than they can talk. Love his accent and mannerisms tho...

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John Cleese's War on Wokeism

The Monty Python legend says political correctness is ruining creativity in all aspects of human activity.

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