DAD was flipping through Facebook pictures the other day and came across pics. from an Olympic Opening Ceremonies party. Fun!
The guy who was throwing the party is a trust fund baby, he earned his money the old fashioned way, from his dad. That being said, he throws pretty good parties, so I decided to stop and take a look at the costumes. Buffy and Tad were dressed like skiers, Mandy was dressed like a dirty figure skater, Kipper was dressed like a dirty figure skater etc.
Then “it” hit me, one of the guests, let’s call him Millhouse was dressed like a terrorist, complete with a turbin on his head and dynamite strapped to his body.
I wanted to laugh it off, but it bothered me, a lot. Has terrorism become a joke? Have we become so desensitized that it’s now okay to dress up like a cheap caricature of the people who have taken the lives of thousands of Americans?
I understand, it’s Facebook, home of jokes, smart as$ comments and memes of just about everything, so why not make terrorism funny? I was told by one friend to relax and get a sense of humor. I am pretty sure I do have a sense of humor, I am a man who takes care of his kids all day, you have to have one. However, to me I can’t laugh at the idea of making terrorism “funny.”
I have friends and family who are serving in the armed forces right now; every day they face the very real possibility that today might be their last day on earth. Melissa Stockwell lost her leg in combat and countless others have lost so much more. Yet we are supposed to laugh if off as a “gaff.”
For people who have never served like Millhouse and his buddies, it’s easy to laugh at the people who are not in the silver spoon set. For the rest of the world who weren’t handed millions by their daddy, it’s just poor taste and disrespectful.
I make it a point to walk up to vets with my kids and say “thank you.” I know it may seem hokey, but they have helped insure the freedom I have to rant about rich a-holes, acting like a-holes. I want my kids to understand the sacrifice they made and respect that sacrifice. I am not pro-war, but I do respect the men and women who make the life choice to protect my family and me.
Maybe I am way off base, it has happened before. What do you think? Is it okay to dress up like a terrorist at a costume party or Halloween, or is it just wrong?
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You are not off-base at all. I grew up in the military under constant threat of kidnapping and bombing and personal attacks in the street. We were drilled with protocols for how to behave and how to be aware of potential danger. (None of the terrorists we were concerned about wore turbans.) There is nothing funny about violent extremism and the people who experience and suffer from it deserve better than jokes.
Thank you for sharing that. The men and women who defend our country do deserve better.