Elbows Up, Musk Down

Ridicule is a powerful weapon.

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"Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. There is no defense. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage." -Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals.

“Fascism doesn’t like to be ridiculed; it likes to be feared. Satire is an important tool in the toolbox to say that this is not normal...” -Mike Myers, New York Times interview.

Mike Myers isn’t known for being a political comedian, but he’s currently impacting the politics of two countries. His native Canada, and America, where he lives, and is a naturalized citizen. In March, he appeared on Saturday Night Live, brutally portraying Elon Musk in the opening sketch. At the end of the night, Myers came out wearing a t-shirt declaring that “Canada is not for sale” and mouthing “elbows up” - a hockey phrase - to the camera.

In Canada Elbows up became a meme, and Myers followed it up by endorsing and filming a campaign ad for Canadian Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal party. I have no idea if Myers’ endorsement or the ad impacted this week’s election, where the Liberal party won enough seats to hold onto a minority government, (Donald Trump’s constant threats towards Canada were clearly a huge factor), but I personally liked the ad and how it built on the meme.