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Jim Griffith Columnist

Published Thursday, August 07, 2008

Truth also funnier than fiction

From my early boyhood days, I can recall a short subject preceding the main feature at the local theater narrated by a man with a commanding voice declaring: "Truth is stranger than fiction."

I have discovered for myself that truth is also funnier than fiction. You have only to look at last week's news and other related events to be inclined to agree.

U.S. government economic stimulus checks sent to most all taxpayers attracted much attention, but in one instance was very upsetting to one Metro Atlanta taxpayer.

Annoyed and irritated, he said there is a $9 trillion national debt and the government sent a stimulus check to a friend of his who had been dead since 2007. He did have a point. Certainly the economy needs a stimulus, but one doubts if there could be any noticeable stimulating in this particular case.

All who have done any amount of public speaking have messed up, misspoke and said the wrong thing. Campaign-weary politicians do the same. Two weeks ago, both presidential candidates ended up with "foot in the mouth disease. Sen. Barack Obama told Israelis, "Israel is a strong friend of Israel." No great surprise there.

Sen. John McCain shared his "concern for the Iraq-Pakistan border." Chalk up misspeaking to fatigue. It happens to everyone, but it's not widely publicized as with those running for president of the United States.

New study shows girls measure up in every way to boys in math. Husbands knew that. A wife can add up a husband's allowance with two calculators tied behind her.