If there’s one way to irk the terrorists on this tragic anniversary, it’s to tell an inappropriate joke. Not necessarily regarding the events of 9/11, but any inappropriate joke at all. It kills multiple birds with one stone. Even the classic “priest and a rabbi” hits a terrorist’s hatred of the United States hard. It showcases our freedom of speech and freedom of religion (in that we can mock religious figures).
Obviously everyone mourns in their own way. Those who were touched closely by the attacks will most likely not be in any sort of joking mood. But those of us who are connected to the events as fellow Americans and citizens supportive of what our founding documents stand for (at least the bits and pieces folks can largely agree on), we can support mourning families who lost loved ones of September 11, 2001 by making each other laugh. Because if YouTube videos of al Qaeda and their leaders running around glorified jungle gyms have taught me anything, it’s that they most certainly don’t laugh. And they definitely don’t laugh at priest and rabbi jokes, or jokes with sexual in-your-end-o.
So for all those who were lost in Pennsylvania, New York City and at the Pentagon – showcase our values by making a joke that would make al Qaeda and its allies cringe.