There are two ways of dealing with terror.
You can either give the terrorists exactly what they desire, and cower in fear and panic, or you can remain resolute and undeterred. They want you to worry; they hope to fuck up your plans. What they don’t want under any circumstances is to be ridiculed.
If there is one thing that this country excels in, it is pisstaking. We are truly world class when it comes to pricking egos with juvenile humour. And absolutely no one is beyond mockery – least of all brainwashed psychopaths who are fuelled by hatred.
That doesn’t mean being flippant about national security. Of course we must take every precaution to stay safe and protected. But with that comes a stubbornness to maintain a healthy disrespect for anyone who deserves to be made into a joke.
On Friday evening, Reuters ran a story about the danger that Islamic State pose to the European Championships in France.
Islamic State has Euro 2016 in its sights, German spy chief says https://t.co/ZpZ2J78aYv pic.twitter.com/pX3KImimvU
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 27, 2016
They quoted Hans-Georg Maassen, Head of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, warning us that “we know that IS has the European Championship in its sights.” Tell us something we don’t know.
Of course any major international event is a potential target for terrorism – it was ever thus. Security will be suitably high and measures will be in place to minimise risk. Somewhat hearteningly, the overwhelming response was to take the mickey.
Here are just a few of those whose first reaction was to point and laugh rather than allow the terrorists any scaremongering satisfaction…
I didn't know they had a team. https://t.co/E3FjfVD4OE
— Trickygbh 🏴🇮🇪🇩🇪 (@Trickygbh) May 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/Cxbaye/status/736260110637531140
I'd be surprised if they even got out of their group. https://t.co/9HLPigOajE
— Nick Goff (@nickgoff79) May 27, 2016
Fancy Germany myself https://t.co/gReEdvu2aw
— Shane (@Blame_Suarez) May 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/StadiumUWE/status/736266998326431744
FFS. Australia let into Eurovision and now this. https://t.co/xIdCUsxFWG
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) May 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/PeleWasAFraud/status/736263452109459456
https://twitter.com/GarethBale22/status/736259104663035904
What price are they? https://t.co/e32NTz4v0A
— Darren Webb (@United_Webby) May 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/Midnight_Ranter/status/736261462172176387
