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Sunday, October 20 Son of Saddam
I remember the way news felt to me in the 70’s. I never read a paper…well, hey in the beginning of the 70’s I was 6 and in the end I was 16… At 6 I didn’t understand the notion of anything readable in that pile of gray mush except for the one colorful section.. “the funnies.” At 16, the only thing I cared about in the news was whether or not any of the kids I partied with had been busted. Lord knows I didn’t watch the news on television. As a matter of fact, that was the only way, my dad could get me to go to sleep. He’d turn on the news and I was outa there, pronto. The bits of news that managed to crack through that distant world of blurry headlines and monotone ramblings and permeate my life, became part of me. They flavored my day-to-day existence like the way the salt in the air seeps into your soul when you live near the beach, but not near enough to see the water. I knew very little about the “Son of Sam” except that he bore a frightening resemblance to a jerk I dated twice freshman year in high school. While, we’re on the subject. Hey David! If you’re reading this. You were a @#$^%* scumbag. Just thought you’d like to know. “Son of Sam” was a phrase that bounced through my bones so many times; it became as familiar to me as the nicknames for my best pals. I remember Idi Amin…the evil dictator and mass murderer (who I hear is living quite well in Saudi Arabia these days hmmmm). I remember my mother clasping at her heart in a big “Kvel” after the heroic “Raid on Entebbe” liberated the hostages. Idi Amin. How the hell do you spell that…Idi Amin…well in any case..he seeped right in there next to Son of Sam. Wasn't the Ayatollah (damn another thing I wish they had on spell check) right in there around then too. Do you remember all the "Fuck the Ayatollah" t-shirts? This last week I’ve been feeling this eerie deja vus that I couldn’t shake. I’ve only just now figured out why. It’s the endless news clips bouncing from “ The Sniper Strikes again!” to “Saddam Hussein." Somehow the combination of serial killer and evil dictator is bringing me back to my formative years. The only difference is…I’m awake now. I read the papers. I watch the news. I hear the bullets. Were these things just as real and terrifying in the 70’s when I was too young to let them in or is the world a colder more frightening place today?? I also have to say…I think it’s fairly odd that the serial killer/ evil dictator thing is making me feel home sick. But then so does listening to “Pink Floyd” chant..." We don't need no education.....We don't need no thought control...!" I drank way to much black-berry brandy in high-school.
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