Saving Kerry’s Life?
By Mickey Z.
06 May, 2014
World News Trust
There's a disturbing dynamic that occurs on every Manhattan street corner, every minute of every day. By simply watching the typical New York City pedestrian as they reach the corner at a red light, you get a pretty good idea of what it's like to deal with an overcrowded, rancorous metropolitan area on a daily basis: No one waits on the sidewalk.
Even if a thousand cars are racing by, practically every single New Yorker insists on stepping a few steps out into the street while waiting for the light to change. They'll even go as far as squeezing themselves past other impatient street-crossers just to get to the front of the pack.
We are so hyped up, so overstressed, so programmed to do everything quickly that we can't even endure waiting 30 seconds for a damn traffic light. We'll risk death by stepping off the curb in order to get a head start when the light turns green.
With this in mind, here's a little thought experiment: Let's say I'm on such a corner as a pedestrian pushes past me -- too harried to realize that he is stepping directly into the path of an oncoming SUV. I reach out, grab hold of his jacket, and yank his back to safety… only to realize it was none other than U.S. Secretary of State, John F. Kerry.
I wonder: How might that make me feel?
Initially, I'd likely be relieved and gratified to have saved a fellow earthling’s life -- even if that earthling is responsible, in part, for innumerable deaths (with no end in sight). Given a few minutes to digest the scenario, I might begin to feel conflicted. What if I would've known in advance it was Kerry whose life was in danger? Would I have risked bodily harm to save him?
John Kerry, in my estimation, has been a terrible, destructive force for decades: part of the much larger culture of relentless destruction. I oppose the death penalty and thus do not wish Kerry and his ilk to be removed via state sponsored murder, yet saving his life (or the life of any other major political/corporate player) is, by definition, dooming countless others to more misery and death.
If I didn't react swiftly to pull Kerry to safety, surely his passing would cause sadness. Friends and family would mourn. People close to him would understandably be devastated, heartbroken. However, Kerry’s efforts over the decades have spread global sorrow and mourning on a far greater scale. Has he, I wonder, ever considered the myriad family and friends whose lives have been shattered thanks to his handiwork?
It's not fantasy to assume that -- across the planet -- more folks would be celebrating than weeping if a high-ranking member of the U.S. military-industrial complex passed on.
Still, of course, we can’t forget: he's replaceable. There's always another commissar ready to step in and keep the murderous machine running… with or without Kerry. Thus, even those most victimized American imperialism and interventionism would theoretically not even notice the change.
So, I return to the earlier question: If I knew in advance it was John F. Kerry whose life was in danger on that NYC street corner, would I have risked potential bodily harm to save him? On purely reflexive, earthling-to-earthling terms, I think I might.
What would you do?
#shifthappens
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Mickey Z. is the author of 11 books, most recently the novel Darker Shade of Green. Until the laws are changed or the power runs out, he can be found on a couple of obscure websites called Facebook and Twitter. Anyone wishing to support his activist efforts can do so by making a donation here
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