Have We Forgotten How to Laugh?

Hey, thanks, Taco Bell. Your “Liberty Bell Acquisition” ad caught me up short for a second, then made me giggle--it was April Fools’ Day!

I cannot believe the furor this ad has caused (“Taco Bell’s Ad Was a Burrito Short of a Combination Plate,” April 2). With rigid political correctness on one side and sanctimonious patriotism on the other, we seem to have lost our national sense of humor.

Too bad.

PATTI LAURSEN

Los Angeles

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I thought the Taco Liberty Bell ad (April 1) was great! How refreshing for a big company to have a sense of humor and a willingness to indulge in the longtime fun of April Fools’ harmless ploys.

Oh, I guess Taco Bell Corp. could have placated the sour-grapes folks with a boldfaced “April 1st” included in the ad--but that might have blunted the effect.

By the way, the staid nightly news media missed the joke too.

LOUISE HAUTER

La Canada Flintridge