Dem
51
GOP
49
While it is not too hard to find items that have a strong freudenfreude component, it's a fair bit harder to find ones that have a political dimension. This is a politics-centered site, after all.
Today's item clears the bar cleanly, we think, since it involves one of America's foremost political commentators, namely Jon Stewart. That said, the segment in question came when he very definitely took a break from politics to talk about something personal. At the end of last week's episode (remember, he does one Daily Show per week, on Mondays), he explained to the audience that several years ago, his kids decided they wanted to help the local pet shelter, and so they went there to make a donation. During that trip, they encountered a dog who had lost one of his legs. Naturally, the Stewarts ended up going home with the dog, naming him Dipper.
There is, sadly, only one reason that Dipper would be the subject of an end-of-show segment. As he struggled to maintain his composure, Stewart explained that Dipper was a very good dog, and that he (Stewart) wished that everyone, at least once in their life, could have a very good dog like Dipper. However, the day that every pet owner dreads had come the day before, and Dipper was, in Stewart's words, "very tired" and "ready." You really should consider watching the clip, if you haven't seen it already:
Please recall that we always link to videos, if there is a problem with the embedded version. Since we have THREE videos today, there may well be. So, you can click on "the clip" above, if need be.
So, why is this freudenfreude? Well, it's an absolutely incredible tribute to Dipper, and to dogs everywhere. It's also a testament to the kind of man that Stewart is. And, as an added bonus, the shelter where the family first met Dipper has received $50,000 in donations since the segment ran. So it is both a sad, and happy, ending.
Have a good weekend, all. (Z)