When Satire Meets Prayer
Sometimes, laughter is the loudest protest. A friend in Portugal recently shared a satirical version of The Lord’s Prayer inspired by modern politics. It went like this:
Our Father who Art in Chaos
Hallowed be thy tweets
Thy circus come, thy BS spun
On Earth as it is on Fox News.
Give us our daily cringe,
And forgive us our sanity,
As we forgive those who keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
Lead us not into rational thought,
But deliver us from all reason.
For thine is the tantrum, the con, and the circus,
Forever and ever. Amen.
It’s scathing, hilarious, and painfully insightful, holding a mirror to the absurdity of politics and the chaos surrounding figures like Trump. Yet beneath the laughter lies a deeper commentary on the systems that enable such figures and the divisions they foster.
This prayer reminded me of how satire has long been used to provoke thought and inspire resistance. It took me back to my childhood, when films like Animal Farm, Neighbours, and The Big Snit taught me that humour could be just as powerful as outrage.
Satire Then and Now: Lessons from the Past
- Animal Farm (1954)
George Orwell’s tale of revolution and betrayal has been adapted into many forms, but the 1954 animated version stands out. Watching it in Grade 10, I remember feeling the weight of its satire—how ideals of equality can be corrupted into tyranny. The imagery of the pigs, drunk on power, feels eerily relevant today.
Just as the satirical prayer turns religious reverence on its head, Animal Farm turns utopian dreams into a warning about unchecked power. It’s an essential watch for anyone seeking to understand how art critiques authority.
- Neighbours (1952, National Film Board of Canada)
In Grade 5, I watched this brilliant short film by Norman McLaren. Two neighbours descend into violence over a single flower, destroying everything in the process. It disturbed me then, and it still does now. Its message—that greed and division lead to destruction—resonates deeply in today’s polarized world.
The satirical prayer’s mockery of division within religious and political factions mirrors the lesson of Neighbours: that our inability to coexist peacefully can tear us apart.
- The Big Snit (1985, NFB)
This animated gem by Richard Condie is both hilarious and heart-wrenching. While a couple argues over a Scrabble game, the world faces nuclear annihilation. It’s absurd, yet it cuts to the core of human pettiness in the face of larger crises.
Similarly, the satirical prayer mocks the trivialities of modern leadership—tantrums, tweets, and circus-like distractions—while the world burns. It’s a reminder that humour can help us process the chaos around us, even as it calls us to action.
The Modern Circus: Trump, Musk, and the Absurdity of Power
The satirical prayer resonates because it’s rooted in truth. Trump’s reign has often felt like a surreal mix of comedy and tragedy, amplified by tweets that veer from absurd to dangerous.
And then there’s Elon Musk—banning words like neighbour for Canadian spelling, joking about Nazis, and embodying a kind of unchecked narcissism that feels almost scripted. His actions sometimes blur the line between satire and reality. Like Trump, he’s a figure who inspires equal parts awe and outrage, often by his own design.
But satire like this prayer reminds us that no one is above scrutiny. It takes the sacred and the powerful, strips them of their armour, and exposes their flaws for all to see.
A Poetic Response:
Our Father who spins the globe in jest,
From barnyards to boardrooms, none are blessed.
In the flower’s bloom, the neighbour’s rage,
On Scrabble boards, we write the stage.
Through laughter’s spark, the truth unfolds,
The pigs grow fat; the power molds.
And as we pray, the circus turns,
Satire’s blade—the truth it burns.
How to Watch the Films That Inspire Resistance:
Animal Farm (1954):
- Available on platforms like YouTube, Amazon, or through your local library.
Neighbours (1952) and The Big Snit (1985):
- Stream them for free on the National Film Board of Canada’s website (nfb.ca). These films are a testament to Canada’s rich tradition of storytelling and satire.
Conclusion: Art as Resistance
From satirical prayers to animated masterpieces, art has always been a form of resistance. It makes us laugh, think, and question the world around us. And in a time when chaos seems to reign, it reminds us that humour can be a weapon, truth can be a shield, and hope can still shine through the absurdity.
So let’s keep creating, sharing, and questioning—whether through films, prayers, or Scrabble games. After all, the circus may go on, but we don’t have to buy a ticket.
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