Humor Promoting Courage

Finally getting into the swing of John Morreall’s Comic Relief, I have actually been able to discover some entertaining nuggets of information within a large heap of redundant words. The first of those nuggets being that humor promotes courage. Upon initially reading this statement on page 199, I begged to differ. There was no way that laughing at a potentially dangerous situation could actually lead to courage, but on second thought, I have found it true. Humor does promote courage by reducing fear. Today is 9/11: A day that Americans will always lace with stories of tragedy, bravery, courage, and freedom. Earlier today, I read a particularly vivid account of a 9/11 survivor who used humor in the crowded stairwell of World Trade Building 1 to calm people’s nerves, giving courage and hope to those around him. Although he admitted that his comedic timing amidst a situation as grave and life-threatening as the terrorist attacks may not have been the most discretionary, he understood that all he could do in that moment was crack a joke and pray that he would live. I fully recommend reading the article to discover that a dash of humor really can be the best medicine. (http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/ESQ0102-JAN_WTC_rev) Morreal used the example of the Holocaust to prove that in certain situations, humor could promote courage. His examples of these jokes were both sharp and effective. (See pages 119-124). I think this would be a really great topic of conversation to bring up in class as we discuss chapter three. Are racist jokes okay if they are poking fun at a group who is harming another group? Should people take racist jokes seriously? How far is too far? Where can the line be drawn? Although there may not be a black and white answer for each of these questions, they are each important to consider. In this day and age, I think people tend to take offense very easily. No longer is a simple quip okay in the workplace. That simple quip could get you fired or hated by your coworkers. Now is a time when filters are of paramount importance, and the lines between humor and offense are becoming thicker and thicker.