In times like this laughter and humour serve as a psychological tool to distance one from the most terrible circumstances. “Laughter helps to overcome anxiety and to carry on. It is a tool to help us continue living.” , says Rafaat Alzakout, director of the award-winning movie Home.
In Syria’s current situation laughter is an opportunity to escape the daily horror and not last laughter gives us the resistance not to abandon oneself.
Syrian author Kahled Khalifa has remained despite Syria’s siege in Aleppo. Jokes via SMS and secret meetings serve him and his friends as a short break from the cruel everyday life in Syria.
His laugther meetings offer a rare escape from the daily terror!
“But our laughter has changed”, says Khalifa. “Now it fits the war. Sometimes we break out in hysterical laughter and suddenly one of us starts to cry”.
In difficult times laughter gives people the opportunity to escape from the cruel everyday life and gives them back a piece of their live, even if it’s just for a second. Laughter is a sign of resistance and of continuing to live. Laughter is a human right!
