Rules of Ridicule

The American spectator ^ | 10/24/06 | Ivan Ososio

[Valin]

"Ridicule is man's most potent weapon," says the fifth rule of Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals, Saul Alinsky's classic 1971 activist handbook. That's because, "It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule," as Michael "tank moment" Dukakis so painfully knows.

Since the publication of Alinsky's Rules, activists across the political spectrum have tried to adapt those rules to their own purposes, with varying degrees of success. Now a recent paper from the Institute of World Politics argues for ridicule as a weapon to fight terrorists. The author, J. Michael Waller, makes a compelling argument for the effectiveness of ridicule, citing historical examples, including from America's Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, and World War II.

[Rutles4Ever]

This is the dumbest thread, ever.

[Uncle Ike]

"This is the dumbest thread, ever."

It just now became so.......

[SoCal_Republican]

This thread will never amount to anything!

[Arkinsaw]

This is ridiculous!

[From many - one.]

Valid.

We need so catchy, short phrases to mock the so-called terrorists. I said so on 9-12 (they're not terrorists because most folk I know are not terrified) and am still saying so.

I'm not creative enough to think them up. but the Danish Mohammed-with-a-bomb-turban cartoon is just great as an image. We need some verbal equivalents

[From many - one.]

so=some

I will now go caffeine-ize

[tkathy]

Muslims can't tolerate ridicule because it exposes their vile false belief system.

[Matchett-PI]

[Just mythoughts]

I can't read the name Saul Alinsky without thinking Hillry Clinton. His rule book is a road map of her mind.

[Matchett-PI]

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[Condor51]

Now a recent paper from the Institute of World Politics argues for ridicule as a weapon to fight terrorists.

Hey, I think this is a WINNER!

• Hey Ahkmed, yo momma is so fat she can't fit into a suicide vest!
• Hey Kahleed, yo momma is soooo ugly - oops wait a sec, we don't how ugly she is - she's hidden by her Burkha!
• Hey Mohamed, yo momma is sooooo ugly she sleeps with goats. Oops sorry, that's your father.
• Yo, Kareem, your sister sleeps with infidels!
• Hey, Abdul we hear that since you left your village to become a terrorist - all the sheep are now smiling.

Yep, a sure fire strategy.

[Valin]

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
Do you know just how painful it is to spew hot coffee out of your nose?

[Mad Dawg]

Hey, Abdul we hear that since you left your village to become a terrorist - all the sheep are now smiling.

YES! Excellent!

Right here at FR we have some great ridiculous talent. Let's turn this loose on the little sheet-heads.

[Matchett-PI]

:) bttt

[LachlanMinnesota]

I thought it was interesting to see all the press talk of Kim Jong Mentally Ill's predilection for porn and young girls and American movies after he lit off his nuke...they repeatedly referred to his "short stature" implying that he had short guy syndrome...always trying to overcompensate. They should have just come out and said that he has a small penis.

I'll bet Mr. Kim was sheltered from the American Press reports by his aides.

[Valin]

They should have just come out and said that he has a small penis.


Now like most Freeepers I'm a real news junkie...BUT there are somethings I really really REALLY don't need or want to know.

[Steve_Seattle]

I've been advocating this for several years. Islamic terrorists cultivate a macho image, and that appeals to young men who see themselves as powerless. So I've thought that that macho image must be counteracted with ridicule, but the ridicule must be carefully calibrated to strike at Muslim sensibilities. It must make terrorism seem both unmanly and un-Islamic.

[wolfpat]

Instead of terrorists, we could call them angerists. All they've done is make me mad.

[wolfpat]

Me: Hey Mohamed. Doesn't it bother you that your momma sleeps with goats?

Mohamed: Na-a-a-a-a-a-a