They misunderestimated me
Created | Updated Apr 22, 2003
"They misunderestimated me."
George W. Bush Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000
There is nothing funny to write about at the moment, though cynicism and paradox are rife. Too many years ago I was on the Front Line: "What do we want? Disarmament! When do we want it? Now!"; "Meat is murder"; "Free Nelson Mandela" (with every purchase?); "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie! Out, out, out!". A collection of Anti-vivisection badges jostled for position with the CND logos and red stars which emblazoned my leather bomber jacket. Hours in front of the mirror with the Boots hair gel, getting the Mohican to stand up in all its glory, praying it wouldn't rain, perfecting the urban guerrilla look which announced my alternativism to the World at large and especially to the "Them" of the moment.
Today the Che Guevara lies folded alongside the "Gibt Nazis keine Chance" and "No to the Poll Tax" T-shirts. I sport a tie and a bland haircut. I teach in a bank. Maybe I haven't yet become "Them" but I'm happy to take "Their" money. I watch the No War demonstrations with a mixture of envy and nostalgia. They make me feel sad, not hopeful, just sad. I admire the simplicity, like the joy and purity found in naïve art.
Am I for or against the war in Iraq? The answer is a quite definite "Yes!". After all, "They" all have God on their side. "People shouldn't behave like animals, we should show humanity." I disagree, I've never seen a rabbit with an AK47 and as far as I know, murder is pretty much a human habit. This is the kind of "humanity" that is being shown at the moment. The unspeakable in search of the unfindable. As George W. said "I am a person who recognizes the fallacy of humans"*. There is nothing funny to write about at the moment.
I carry guilt for not watching it on the television, for no longer believing anything I hear and the worst guilt of all at being happy that me and mine aren't there. War happens to other people, as does Death. The future "belongs to the brave," said Reagan, I think it belongs to the living. "They" can keep my allocation of oil; I intend to live forever or at least die trying.
*George W. Bush printed in the New York City edition of the Daily News, September 20, 2000
(Chairman Mei would like to apologise for this pause in thoughts and hopes to resume normal cynicism as soon as possible.)
George W. Bush Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000
There is nothing funny to write about at the moment, though cynicism and paradox are rife. Too many years ago I was on the Front Line: "What do we want? Disarmament! When do we want it? Now!"; "Meat is murder"; "Free Nelson Mandela" (with every purchase?); "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie! Out, out, out!". A collection of Anti-vivisection badges jostled for position with the CND logos and red stars which emblazoned my leather bomber jacket. Hours in front of the mirror with the Boots hair gel, getting the Mohican to stand up in all its glory, praying it wouldn't rain, perfecting the urban guerrilla look which announced my alternativism to the World at large and especially to the "Them" of the moment.
Today the Che Guevara lies folded alongside the "Gibt Nazis keine Chance" and "No to the Poll Tax" T-shirts. I sport a tie and a bland haircut. I teach in a bank. Maybe I haven't yet become "Them" but I'm happy to take "Their" money. I watch the No War demonstrations with a mixture of envy and nostalgia. They make me feel sad, not hopeful, just sad. I admire the simplicity, like the joy and purity found in naïve art.
Am I for or against the war in Iraq? The answer is a quite definite "Yes!". After all, "They" all have God on their side. "People shouldn't behave like animals, we should show humanity." I disagree, I've never seen a rabbit with an AK47 and as far as I know, murder is pretty much a human habit. This is the kind of "humanity" that is being shown at the moment. The unspeakable in search of the unfindable. As George W. said "I am a person who recognizes the fallacy of humans"*. There is nothing funny to write about at the moment.
I carry guilt for not watching it on the television, for no longer believing anything I hear and the worst guilt of all at being happy that me and mine aren't there. War happens to other people, as does Death. The future "belongs to the brave," said Reagan, I think it belongs to the living. "They" can keep my allocation of oil; I intend to live forever or at least die trying.
*George W. Bush printed in the New York City edition of the Daily News, September 20, 2000
(Chairman Mei would like to apologise for this pause in thoughts and hopes to resume normal cynicism as soon as possible.)
