Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Friday, January 20, 2006
To be or not to be (plus: William Blum's 15 minutes)
Disclaimer: This post is not, in any way, making light of a very serious topic.
Anton Chekhov sez: “Any idiot can face a crisis; it’s the day to day living that wears you out.”
One of the many characters in one of my many unpublished novels explains: “I’ve been writing a long time and I’m pretty much positive I’m gonna make it and millions of people will read my words. But even though I’m 99.9% certain I’ll become a famous writer one day, I’m afraid something’s gonna happen to me before I do. So, just in case I get killed in some ambiguous manner, I carry a suicide note. This way, my premature death can become a grand gesture: The unrecognized genius kills himself rather than exist in obscurity and I will at least secure a posthumous fame.”
The character’s note reads:
Dear Whoever, I’ve had enough. I am a creative artist. My work has gained marginal notoriety, but I have essentially suffered the usual plight of the free thinking American artist: obscurity and poverty. I no longer have the strength to continue my creative pursuits. My vision was true and my heart was sincere, but these attributes do not insure survival in twenty-first century America. You see, the bullshit is over for me. The time has come to accept the reality that I can never fit into this commodity culture. Perhaps, through my death, I can provoke others to discover the subversive pleasure of thinking for themselves.
Question: What would your suicide note say...and why?
Tell us in the comments section.
In the meantime, a poem called “Resume,” by Mrs. Dorothy Parker:
Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
Here’s to everyone in need of a little support…
+++
As you all know by now, Osama bin Laden has (allegedly) released a new tape (full text here:: http://tinyurl.com/b6fya). On the tape, he quotes none other than William Blum (http://www.killinghope.org), one of America’s top dissident and someone I consider a friend.
(As seen on CNN and Good Morning America)
Those unfamiliar with Bill’s work can check out an interview I did with him in late 2004: http://tinyurl.com/d73h3. If you haven’t read Blum, I’d strongly suggest you start now...before it’s too late
CNN Transcript: http://urlsnip.com/505820
Rosebud…
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
