Pribek

Saddam Hussein is no more.

There is one thing that really sticks in my mind about Hussein. I saw a film clip that was from the late ’60s shortly after the Baath seized power and Hussein was in charge of internal security. In the clip, there was an auditorium filled with public officials. One at a time the officials names were called and they were taken into a corridor and executed. Originally this event was televised as a warning and show of power. The faces of these people, about to be killed, were horrifying. It was very much like seeing the photos of prisoners that the Khmer Rouge took before execution.

As I don’t have a T.V. I usually get my news from the net and, I also listen to the radio some. I must admit some surprise at the mixed reactions to Hussein’s demise that I am hearing. If someone is opposed to the death penalty, I respect their point of view and understand it. Most of the criticism from other nations seems to center around the idea that the execution of Hussein will not bring an end to violence in Iraq. I think that the true issues are should, and, how should this man be punished for his crimes. I think that hanging was fitting.

I listened to Radio Havana (normally quick to seize on anything U.S. policy related) last night for a couple of hours and they were strangely silent on the issue.

It’s a heavy topic for sure. Thankfully, I have the ability to separate this stuff from my day to day life. Time to shut up and sing. If you are in the area, come see us at Murphy’s, 218 South Campbell, Springfield, MO tonight. Show starts at 9:00.

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I just heard on the radio that Saddam Hussein will be executed in the next 48 hours. Here’s a Reuters article that contains this quote,

“He was in very high spirits and clearly readying himself.”
“He told them he was happy he would meet his death at the hands of his enemies and be a martyr, not just languish in jail.”

Well, I’m glad he feels good about it.

James Brown, Gerald Ford, and Saddam Hussein, that’s a hell of a week isn’t it? It’s grisly to think about but, I don’t recall that many potent historical figures going in such quick succession before.

Comedian Leo Gallagher (Leo, who knew?) is being sued for breach of contract concerning his recent Branson stint. Allegedly he used foul language and had a physical altercation with a staff member at the theatre.

I met him at a gig I did in Branson this summer. Seemed like a nice enough guy but, who knows. You wouldn’t expect a physical altercation at a Gallagher show but profanity seems like given. Branson didn’t dig Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson either.

Here is something interesting I read today.

“Know how to ask. There is nothing more difficult for some people, nor for others easier.”
Baltasar Grecian

Self-promotion wisdom from the 17th century. I wasn’t hip to Baltasar Grecian (isn’t about time that Baltasar became a popular name again?) before but, I’m going to seek him out. I can’t wait to whip out a Baltasar Grecian reference on one of my incredibly well read friends.

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Week 52.

That’s the first thing I saw as I was on my first cup of coffee this morning and I looked at my calendar.

Week 52, glaring, taunting, a source of uneasiness. A tribute to unfinished business. A signpost on a neurotic, eight lane highway where I’m constantly lagging behind, slower traffic keep to the right.

52, last card in the deck, time to re-shuffle.

I have a few thoughts on James Brown. You always hear “The hardest working man in show-business”, and the words “entertainer” or “showman” when you hear about James Brown. In my mind, he was a true artist. At the core of all of this showbiz and entertainment, the art part is the music. Even if you would have never seen him dance, never seen the cape act, never seen him sweat, the music would hold up on it’s own merit.

I hear the Reverend Al Sharpton talking about the night Martin Luther King died and how James Brown cooled down a possibly ugly situation and that is important. I appreciate the fact that he is a cultural icon.
I heard plenty of 15-30 second obituaries over the last two days and every single one mentioned “trouble with the law”. The media is a machine that reduces evrything to the lowest common denominator. The synopsis and the sound bites and video clips don’t begin to do justice.

Go listen to “The Big Payback” or “It’s A Man’s World”, “Cold Sweat”, “Please, Please, Please” or a hundred others. These records contain, joy, anger, fear, lust, sadness and swagger. They contain the stuff of life.

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