white, and black and blue? a mullah and a rabbi falling down the stairs.

is generally the laughter that heals and connects people. Putdowns under the guise of humour aren't funny if they aren't funny for BOTH; i.e. the butt of the joke should think it's funyy too. ALL involved should be laughing together. And while we should learn to laugh at our foibles, there are abusive people who use what they call "humour" to ridicule and discredit others. I like the idea of "laughter yoga" and laughter groups which get together to LAUGH. It is when we are able to engage in child-like (NOT childish) playfulness that creativity and innovative problem solving flourish. Actually, I bet children could do a better job of leading the way than adults who are often too rigid in their mindsets. In a NASA project, children were brought in to ask questions and make suggestions. Because of the interactions with the children, the scientists were able to discover new ways of thinking about what they wanted to do. I suggest that feuding groups meet in a beautiful natural setting where they can eat and laugh together in the company of children!

The chemistry of laughter - the release of endorphins from the hypothalamus as Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met that hits us when we laugh is a strong opiate -enkephalin. We have no choice but to be happy. But since production is gene-driven, some are predisposed not to experience this effect. Chemistry aside - it would be good for feuding parties to find a common ground in an up-beat context and share some joys. Even in the darkest night there is always at least some light. Laughter heals... So there was this duck who went into a bar....

B"H Thanks for the somewhat cheerful article. I appreciate the more up-beat writing style.

Ray, I think you are hopefull, but ahead of the curve. Trust must come first and that will take a long time. I recently read about a Palistinian who converted to Judaism, but was recently caught helping his terrorist brother. I remember a Israeli Muslim supreme court justice or high justice caught getting arms to terrorists. The list goes on and on. Recent state department documents show that Arafat was behind most of the terrorist groups in the last 30 years or more even the ones fighting each other in Gaza today. And this guy conned the world into giving him the Nobel peace prize. Still got Carter fooled. I wonder if you and I have had such trusting relations with our own carefully picked Arab and Jewish friends that that is why we found laughter so healing between all of us. We keep hoping, but it is going to take the world a long time to catch up. In the mean time, we must clearly realize and face the ongoing reality. Life's a struggle, eh? Maybe we are some of the lucky ones. P.S. GO BEARS! But don't tell my Louisiana friends I told you this.

way down south dat ol sadr is loose on the way to tighten the noose

Amen to that

ya I'm go'in on tour with mr a from iran. we're taking our tour to syria, lebanon, egypt, parts of israel. The goal is to make our enemies die laughing.