"Should Humor have limits?"

Over the centuries, humor has gained increasing importance in people's lives. After all, nobody can imagine living without having a good laugh from time to time. But how is it possible that such a simple subject as humor brings so much controversy?

Well, over time, humor has become a highly debatable topic that prompts us to debate, whether among friends or in courts. This is because it carries many reflections that question basic human principles. In other words, when we want to establish limits for humor, we must first ask ourselves if, by doing so, we are not directly depriving a fundamental right of democratic societies: freedom of expression.

And in fact, if there are indeed limits to humor, what are they, and who defines them?

Ricardo Araújo Pereira, the current leading comedian in the country, hosts one of the most-watched programs in Portugal, with over a million shares per episode. In this famous comedian's show, he freely uses his space to criticize Portuguese society and, especially, its government through comedy.

However, despite his success in his profession, he has been accused many times of "crossing the humor boundaries" with jokes considered in poor taste. In response to this, he gave an interview with a statement that generated controversial opinions: "Freedom of expression must imply that people can say offensive things, or else it's a concept devoid of meaning."

In other words, he follows the letter, much like Gil Vicente, the "father" of Portuguese theater and satire, and the well-known Latin phrase, "Castigat ridendo mores" Both believe that there is no better way to change things than to point out their absurdity and laugh at them; laughter corrects, laughter educates.

In the end, limiting humor means limiting criticism, creativity, and thought. Comedy is not just entertainment these days but also a way to learn and express feelings or art. Thus, erecting barriers to humor could inhibit creativity and artistic innovation.

Furthermore, allowing a wide range of humorous expressions values cultural diversity and promotes its understanding. In other words, when people openly laugh together, a sense of camaraderie is created, breaking the ice and humanizing different cultures, allowing everyone to see the funny side of life, thus contributing to the reduction of stereotypes and prejudices.

As the French philosopher Voltaire said, "I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." This means we may not agree with some jokes, but we do not have the right to limit the freedom of expression of any individual, as it would lead to censorship.

A significant example that we can use happened in 2015 when an attack on the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, a globally renowned satirical newspaper, occurred in Paris. The attack was carried out by a terrorist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda after the publication of a satire about Muhammad, which provoked a major outcry in the Muslim population. The attack began at 11:30 in the morning, killing about twelve men, including two police officers, and injuring eleven.

This event caused a global outcry, leading to the widespread use of the phrase "Je suis Charlie" (in french "I am Charlie"), which later became an important symbol worldwide to show solidarity against the attacks and to reinforce freedom of expression.

And although it is crucial to understand that humor is not an excuse to perpetuate stereotypes, prejudices, or discrimination, jokes that humiliate our distinguishing factors such as physical characteristics, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability can be considered deeply offensive.

It's also important to highlight, as the noted American economist Walter Williams states, that "It's easy to defend freedom of speech when people say something we agree with and find sensible. But our commitment to freedom of speech is truly tested when faced with people who say things we find absolutely repulsive."

In conclusion, humor is one of the greatest forms of communication in the 21st century, and although it is not an excuse to perpetuate stereotypes, it is impossible to inhibit it because "freedom of expression is the foundation of all other freedoms."

From a special 16 years Old Student! ??