They give people an opportunity to laugh at themselves and at familiar situations.

I had no idea how to begin, except to laugh at myself.

You know you are a graduate student,goes one quip, when your office is better decorated than your home and you havea favourite flavour of instant noodle.

And we love self-deprecating humor like we saw from the First Lady," says Mr. Lichtman.

They can laugh at themselves and their country, and they can be very self-critical, while remaining always intensely patriotic.