What Would It Take To Tickle a Terrorist?

What Would Tickle a Terrorist?

By that, I mean how would you make an evil-intentioned person chuckle, at something other than torturing their enemies? Surely these stern, self-righteous people were born with a sense of humor. What did they laugh at before they were infected with the extreme hatred they display later in their lives? I have the impression that the interpretation they give their Islamic religion must have drained them of much of their humanity. To be able to kill, kill, kill, and feel they are doing something positive isn't sane. They are human beings, and must have the normal human love for their families, and want a better life for them. They need to be convinced that bombing those they disagree with isn’t going to create a better life for anyone. 

If we could find some common ground, where individuals just happen to sit down together; I guess an alcoholic drink is out, but they could drink tea, coffee or coke, and smoke a cigarette together, or anything that would recreate for a few minutes the spirit that the soldiers of the Allies and the Germans found for a few minutes in the two World Wars found at Christmas time. Maybe they could tell each other a few jokes.  This is probably a very naïve thought, but stranger things have happened. I’m not suggesting we have a tea party and invite everybody, and I’m probably not giving enough consideration to the validity there is in the causes for their hatred for us. I’m just thinking that every friendly encounter our troops might happen to have with them, or that they might have with other Iraqis whom they hate, would cool things off a bit

There are many stories of incidences during WWI and WWII, when, especially on Christmas, something would happen, like singing Christmas carols, that would bring individual men from both sides together to sing or share a cigarette. I guess it was more likely there because they came from similar Christian cultures. I can’t imagine that happening in Iraq, but, since both sides start out by being born human, I guess it is possible. They seem to hate each other just as much as they do us, and are willing to have a civil war over the fact that some are Sunni and others Shi’a. When you examine the differences in the sects, hatred over those issues seems ridiculous to me. It comes down to plain vengeance for past evil deeds against each other.

What would it take to change the attitudes of a multitude of murderers? The saying goes “ Music soothes the savage breast.” After being inspired by beautiful music of the sort used by PBS in its fundraisers, I have wondered if that sort of music would have any good effect on these difficult people. I suppose they have a different kind of music, so they probably wouldn’t like ours. How about all those umpteen varieties of rock music the whole world of younger people seems so crazy about? Most of the inflamed Iraqis are young men and might like it. Our young soldiers must be playing music over there. I wonder what the young Iraqis think of it. Maybe it could create a little common ground.

If music won’t change our adversary's attitudes, how about trying jokes? What kind of joke would amuse Iraqi Muslims? Joking together is such a human thing to do. Once you have laughed at the same jokes together, I would think it would be harder for one combatant to feel quite as murderous toward the other. Once you get these volatile people to hesitate, and enjoy music, a cigarette, or a joke with their enemies, they might be willing to sit down and talk about resolving their differences. Eventually, there will have to be talk, unless everyone is dead.

We should be able to do something to lessen the hostile feelings in Iraq. We could try. At least we might give our guys over there a laugh or two. Does anyone out in Gatherland know of any international type of jokes that might lighten up the enemy’s angry intentions, or that might tickle a terrorist? All I'm asking is for a few good comedians to save the world!