on to something

As I read another headline about the fifteen captives held by Iran and the predicament we're in (we, being the civilized world), it dawned on me: We need a panel of moms to advise the government on how to handle these situations because dealing with terrorists is a lot like dealing with two-year-olds.

Here is my logic on toddlers and terrorists (T/T's):

1. You can't reason with them. There's no point. It makes you look foolish and gives them power they shouldn't have. You just have to tell them like it is. Any of these "lawmakers" I hear spouting rhetoric about how we should sit down at the table to "talk" to Iran and North Korea has never had a child (or if they did, it was raised by a nanny). Because of their lack of experience with toddlers, they live in a theorhetical la-la land where all people are reasonable and just.

2. If you do foolishly cave to the demands of T/T's, you'll end up paying more in the end. Give and inch and they'll demand a mile.

3. When you don't give T/T's what they want, they will make lots of noise: screaming, jumping up and down, destroying things. For this there is no solution. But giving in after they throw a fit will just make them feel powerful and guarantee more tantrums.

4. T/T's don't understand logic but they do understand a firm tone and consequences for their actions. And they can sense weakness a mile away.


Of course it goes without saying that there are many differences between toddlers and terrorists, as well. But basically, toddlers will someday grow into reasonable, compassionate human beings while terrorists will continue to be a thorn in the side of humanity. Too bad we can't just put them in a big time-out at the bottom of the ocean (just the terrorists, of course!).