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Squeeze

Squeeze

I’m reading Carl Hiaasen’s new book, Squeeze, which is, like all his books, funny as hell. This one takes shots at the façade of Palm Beach society, people with more money than they know what to do with, and politicians, including the not-so-disguised fictional president in the story. It’s rated 4.5 stars on Amazon and, out of curiosity, I checked out four one-star reviews, which were absolutely unthinkable about so good a book.

All four gave one-star reviews because the president was being treated satirically! The reviewers’ feelings were hurt, their political views were offended. Is that much different from creating a jihad when someone speaks poorly of Mohammed?! I believe people with no sense of humor, no ability to make fun of themselves, to be intellectually weak, without any perspective.

When your politics or issue are so sacrosanct that you can’t see humor, you can’t make fun of yourself, you can’t put things in perspective, you are no longer passionate.

You’re a zealot. The definition of “zealot” is “fanatical and uncompromising.”

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 2

  • Duke Merhavy

    September 6, 2020

    I agree with your idea and concept (as I often do), but I had to comment about *how* you expressed it, Alan.

    Yes we should be allowed to laugh at ourselves and the people we hold in high regard (though it is harder and harder to do with any politician). In contrast, we also have the right to find it ‘not funny’ or even in bad taste. But I found the comparison (“what much different”) to “Jihad”, to be completely off mark. It might be ignorance on your part on the meaning of the term, and that is why you made the statement.

    Jihad is holy war… it is taking action to kill the infidels who do not believe in what one believes in. Plain and simple (unfortunately). Jihad is very different than saying “I don’t like the book because it offends me or what I believe in”. Expressing an opinion or feelings is very different than taking an action that substantially cause damage, especially a violent one. Kind of like the difference between a peaceful protest, and looting-rioting-hurting people.

    The distinction is very important nowadays and I had to point it out.

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