Last week I wrote a post proposing a MilSpouse version of the reality show Stars Earn Stripes. While most readers expressed their understanding of the humorous nature of it, one reader did not find it amusing. She believes that “Making light of any version of military life is not funny.”
A few days later, Jacey wrote a post about why we love naked soldiers, a response to the hilarious photos people are posting on the “Support Prince Harry With a Naked Salute!” Facebook page. Again, a post infused with humor and levity. Yet this too was met with some lack of appreciation for the author’s comedic intentions.
I have to say that I’m a bit confused. I love joking around. I find solace in the fact that life doesn’t always have to be so serious. I think that laughter IS the best medicine. And I truly believe the world is a better place with Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler in it. What’s wrong with a good chuckle every now and then? What’s wrong with finding the humor in our military lives that are typically filled with less than humorous situations?
Whether we’re laughing at a blog post that conjures up the image of Kim Kardashian PCS’ing to Japan with four kids, books like Mollie Gross’ Confessions of a Military Wife, or a video of deployed troops dancing to “Call Me Maybe,” it all boils down to finding some comic relief from the more stressful aspects of our military lives.
We’re not making light of our responsibilities or minimizing the hardships we face as military families. We’re just blowing off steam. We’re escaping, taking a mini mental vacation, even if that vacation is only as long as it takes to read a blog post or watch a video.
Or to put it more simply, as Amy explained to one of those readers who was offended by the naked soldier post, “Military life is full of un-funny. We happily embrace the funny where and when we can.”
What do you think? Should we laugh at military life every now and then? Or should we take ourselves more seriously?
