The jollity that greeted his application for Palestinian membership of the UN only three weeks ago has faded.

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Zimbabwe's former president, the Reverend Canaan Banana, grew so angry at the jollity inspired by his name that he banned all jokes about himself.

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There is, however, a darker side to all this jollity.

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But I do know what happens by way of compulsory jollity in the hospitals and clinics and waiting rooms, and it's a grueling test of any citizen's capacity to be used for so long as a captive audience.

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