We were in a downcast mood, seemingly without any hope of hearing from an enlightened person in the Middle East, when suddenly there was the level-headed man from Jordan, King Abdullah, speaking, in a Time interview, about what needs to get done in his region so the nations over there can finally start to have some fun.
Early on, he admitted the infinitely understandable, "I'm one of the most optimistic people you'll come across. For the first time, I started becoming pessimistic towards the region."
Yet he went right to the central point. He thinks the Palestinian-Israeli problem has to be solved. “Are we going to resign our region for another decade of violence,” he said, “or are we going to put this to rest once and for all?"
He also stated the astonishing sentiment that he doesn’t think the Middle East can afford another war.
While his thoughts appear incredibly obvious to the privileged folks in the normally informed world, they’re a revelation when they come out of the disturbing confines of the increasingly dark and complexly troubled region itself.
So here’s to you, King Abby. Thanks for the encouraging words. May you reign without too much radical rain on your prized Harley. Just don't forget to wear your helmet. We need all the enlightened brain cells we can get over there.
Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing "delightfully funny," "witty," with "great humor and ebullience" and "good, genuine laughs." |
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