On one episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart points out the ludicrous idea that someone should be able to deny a form of healthcare to their employee based on religion by bringing out a writer “with a flu,” and insisting that, since he believed laughter was the best medicine, a good dose of clown-style spritzer water would do the trick. Barbra Boxer then hilariously recounted the event on the senate floor in an aggressively un-funny summary…much like I’m doing now.

But here’s the thing, I’ve been sick for over three years now. And Jon Stewart, the laughter you gave me… well, it may not have been my best medicine, but it certainly has been my favorite.

Ever since Jon Stewart announced his departure from the Daily Show, there have been countless think-pieces about his effect on political discourse (my textbook in high school actually referred to him and Stephen Colbert as “the watchdog’s watchdog”) and how we digest the news. But I feel the need to share the effect he and the also recently departed-but-soon-to-be-reincarnated Stephen Colbert had on me as a chronically ill person. [Read more…]