A little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way.
Whether planned or not, humor takes our mind off of our troubles.
When times get tough, at some point, people instinctively know they need to lighten up in order to get through it.
When we are dealing with death we are constantly being dragged down by the event: Humor diverts our attention and lifts our sagging spirits.
Any attempts at humor immediately after September 11th were deemed tasteless.
There are no language barriers when you are smiling.