Lemmings

Scene: Last Saturday evening following a bbq, with a house full of people shirt tail relatives.  One of my boys from my Colorado days turned to me and started this conversation:

"Hey Kris, what is a lemming?"

"A small brown fuzzy thing that likes to jump off cliffs every year."

"They really do that?"

"Oh yeah, it is amazing to watch the little guys up in Canada as they run to the cliffs.  Must have something to do with the politics up there."

Mild laughter fills the room.

"But why cliffs?  Like, won't they not kill themselves if the cliffs weren't there?"

"I seem to remember a trial where a bunch of animal rights types got the idea of taking some of them to an area where there were no cliffs so that they would live happy and free."

"So the eagles got them?"

"No, at the same time of year as before the rascals all ran down to the shore and drowned."

"Well, is there anything like that pack mentality elsewhere in the animal world?"

"Yeah, Democrats."

Utter silence. 

"Oh, sorry, I meant Republicans...."

Gay laughter filled the room. 

Nothing like playing for the crowd.