#85. Satire or Sarcasm?

Both satire and sarcasm are usually expressed through words that mean the opposite of what is being said or meant. However, they are expressed from a different energy or spirit. Sarcasm usually conveys a level of irritation causing one to be insulting to another. On the other hand, satire is often expressed humorously and hopes to bring about an awareness that leads to change. 

The difference between satire and sarcasm is the difference between surgery and butchery. — Edward Nichols

The purpose of both satire and sarcasm is to point out mistakes or absurdities; while satire is intended to be constructive and helpful (surgery), sarcasm is usually intended to be destructive and hurtful (butchery).

In the following set of statements, I ask you to determine if and when I am using satire verses sarcasm. Ready – Read!

On that fateful night of September 11, 2012, in Benghazi, Libya, our U.S. embassy was under attack for 13 hours by a well-known militant group. Our ambassador and three others were killed and we don’t know why military support was being removed from Benghazi over the past several months and why military support on that night was never sent by the administration to save them.

When drilled about the famous Benghazi video exhibit, Hillary Clinton revealed her exasperation in a derogatory statement: “What difference at this point does it make?” Since then, her statement has been quoted at least 837 billion times, so why would the Obama administration let such a grandiose comment go to waste. After all, it was only used on one occasion! It sure would come in handy from time to time, don’t you think? 

Consider this as an illustration of my point. In a new, recently published book by three CIA security contractors, they tell their story of being ordered to ‘stand down’ on three separate occasions rather than respond to the call for help. Eventually, they disobeyed orders – as did the two navy seals – and went to give their support to those attacked at the embassy. But I would like to say this about that, “What difference at this point does it make?”

Here’s another example: fifteen Libyan witnesses had been cooperating with the FBI investigators of the Benghazi attack, but now all 15 of them have been killed in the last two years. But I would like to say this about that, “What difference at this point does it make?”

Many other eye-witnesses have, for some unknown reason, ‘chosen’ not to tell their stories of what happened at Benghazi; maybe they just wanted to … stay alive. But I would like to say this about that, “What difference at this point does it make?”

What do you think? Was it all an illustration of the satire genre of literature? Or was it a total sarcastic attempt to ridicule and hurt? Or was it a combination of both? You decide. And regardless of your vote, I promise not to hurt you!

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