Pork and a Kiss Airlines

I am often stymied by the brilliance of Penn Jillette, absorbed from podcasts of this daily radio show. Last week he proposed "Pork and a Kiss" airlines. The concept was rather brilliant.

At a security checkpoint all travelers would have to kiss, on the lips, a security agent of the same sex, followed by consumption of a small shred of pork. Completion of these two acts would gain one access to the airline.

This would ensure against acts of Islamic terrorism. Terrorists are allegedly working to gain favor with Allah by attacking the infidels, gaining them a permanent place in a cushy afterlife. HOWEVER, consumption of pork or homosexual acts are so condemned that they would make the terrorist the infidel, erasing the justification for the terrorist act itself! Brilliant.

It is fighting silly ideology with silly ideology. Something so convoluted as killing innocent people to please your god is just as convoluted as fearing everlasting reprisal for eating a speck of pig and pecking someone of the same sex on the lips.

Of course, if there really was an almighty Islamic (or Christian for that matter) god that wanted to readjust human behavior wouldn't he/she/it just do it? Heck, it can make a universe in a few days, why not just cleanse the infidels and give your followers free run?

That would be too easy. If believers really believed in an almighty that could invoke powers beyond our comprehension then they'd see that it really is all up to us-- and we're doing a shitty job of taking care of each other.