Clearly, I am not here to tell you that The Onion will save us or that one instance of justice done makes up for the thousands of injustices committed every day. But, if anything, The Onion’s purchase of InfoWars is a symbolic and needed reminder that the tables can sometimes turn, unexpected alliances can form, and hilarity, even if tinged with heartbreak, can ensue.

 

By Claire Parsons

When I saw that The Onion had purchased Infowars last week, it literally brought tears to my eyes.

Sure, the purchase was hilarious. It was a masterclass in trolling that a website known and loved for its comedic fake news would purchase Infowars, one loathed and destroyed for spreading slanderous, dangerous, and destructive conspiracy theories and misinformation.

It was not merely the humor or my desperate need for it the week after a devastating election result that made me tear up.

As I read on, I learned that the families of several Sandy Hook victims supported The Onion’s purchase. These are the people who sued Alex Jones successfully after he slandered their murdered children’s memories with lies and false theories, which prompted Infowars to be sold at auction. As a final coup de grace, though, Everytown for Gun Safety announced soon after that it would be the sole advertiser on the web project to be installed on the grave of the Infowars site.

Trickster Energy at Work

I’m not sure exactly what it was that made me cry. Perhaps it was the artistry behind this deal. Perhaps it was my awe at the great-souled capacity of the Sandy Hook families to trust a joker like The Onion with a project like this.

Maybe it was a need to see a bully like Jones get at least a fraction of his just deserts.

In truth, I think it was a combination of all these things. It took me a few days to put my finger on it, but this situation touched me so much because it is a clear example of trickster energy at work. Right now, most of us could use some trickster energy.

I don’t hear Buddhists talk about trickster gods all that much. Of course, there’s Mara, the god/force/power that tempted/harassed/messed with the Buddha in his quest for enlightenment. Mara, though, is quite a bit heavier than trickster gods from other traditions, such as Anansi, so this didn’t seem quite right. So I wondered if there was a place for trickster energy in Buddhism?

Trickster Energy in Buddhism

Then it hit me. The Buddha is a trickster of sorts, or at least he encompasses a healthy amount of trickster energy. Let’s consider the tale of the Buddha’s enlightenment first. From start to finish, the Buddha did what any trickster god might do: flout expectations and turn tables all while maintaining a classic smile.

Born as Siddartha, the Buddha was a pampered prince destined to be a mighty king, but one day he confounded his father by just walking away from that in search of a spiritual life.

Once started on that path, though, Siddhartha perfected asceticism by enduring years of intense physical deprivation only to horrify his fellow seekers when he renounced that too. And finally, when Mara would not get out of his face on the eve of his enlightenment, the Buddha tried a move that few heroes at that point had attempted: employing peace, humility and acceptance.

Like any trickster god, the Buddha on the path to enlightenment did exactly the opposite of what was expected of him but somehow—he made it work.

He attained enlightenment, he found peace after leaving an Edenic existence, and he shaped the lives of countless people in the centuries since. And, of course, when he started teaching, he kept smiling, reminded us to cultivate joy, and he often used stories or simple silence to trick his students into getting clear—really clear—about their lives and actions.

The Symbolic Power of a Trick Well-Played

So, what does any of this have to do with The Onion, Infowars, and most importantly all of us? I don’t know about you, but I’m guessing many people reading this might be feeling pretty concerned about the state of the world right now.

We may be questioning the meaning of our efforts, our values, and even the institutions and people in whom we had placed trust. And considering the election some of us may fear a loss of rights, safety and programs that affect our lives in fundamental ways.

Clearly, I am not here to tell you that The Onion will save us or that one instance of justice done makes up for the thousands of injustices committed every day. But, if anything, The Onion’s purchase of InfoWars is a symbolic and needed reminder that the tables can sometimes turn, unexpected alliances can form, and hilarity, even if tinged with heartbreak, can ensue.

It’s a reminder of what creativity, trust, a sense of humor, or, at a minimum, a strategic middle finger thrown defiantly in the air can do.

Tricksters Laugh but Make the Impossible Happen

If we are to make it through these coming years, all these things will come in handy. As the Buddha tried to trick us into seeing, we must sometimes ignore expectations and turn the tables to find peace. We must find ways to marry deep wisdom with humor, tradition with innovation, and kindness with strength even when the world tries to convince us it’s not worth it to try.

This is a ridiculously tall order for most of us regular folk who have jobs and families and don’t hobnob with the billionaires who control everything.

But if the idea that any of us could bring peace or goodness to the fractured world seems laughable, The Onion shows us that might be okay. History and myth, including the story of the Buddha himself, are replete with examples of tricksters laughing first and then making the impossible—or at least highly improbable—happen.

I truly have no earthly idea how democracy or all of us will make it through these next four years, but if we do I suspect we will have some trickster energy to thank for it.

 

Photo: Pixabay

Editor: Dana Gornall

 

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