paradoxical
02-20-2012, 12:05 AM
I
Honest is awake. First CNN, then all the stations cut to the live shot: masked gunmen standing next to someone strapped to a chair, a timer counting down at the bottom of the screen. One of the men holds a copy of today’s newspaper and begins pointing. “I don't want to watch this”, you say, reaching for the remote. “No, leave it on. This is good. I like this; the whole terrorism angle; this really kind of works for me.”
The video will be streamed live 24 hours a day on every channel, reaching across borders, into maximum security prisons -- even Guantanamo Bay -- traveling through fiber optic cables buried beneath dying oceans and beamed by satellite from space. Tomorrow the Chairman of the Republican Party will release a statement and the President will denounce these men as traitors.
Truth has been detained at the border, they will say; is facing extradition charges and being held in solitary confinement. Truth was making iPhones for $2 a day but is now making pipe bombs. Was last seen working at Starbucks -- at Best Buy. Has a master’s degree in Anthropology; a Greyhound ticket to D.C. and a daughter that he'll never see again. His hands now worn and bent, truth awakens in every country -- in every city.
He should have made better decisions, the President will say on a phone call to world leaders, unable to stand it any longer. He could have gone somewhere, done something. Now we have this situation on our hands and it's just so goddamned hard.
II
A patrol car drives by, shining a spotlight while police helicopters circle overhead. Riots have begun in every major city -- a mass of protestors now marching toward Washington. On the television, there's that counter again -- tick, tick. A man from the Army is explaining that this is not a drill, that this appears to be real. We don't know who these people are, he says. Nobody knows their motive but it does appear that the person being held for ransom is a high ranking intelligence officer.
A question from the Twitter live feed: Could this be revenge? “Revenge?” he asks, incredulous. “Who would want to take revenge on us?” “Now look,” he says, adjusting his tie. “These people are domestic terrorists.” “Let me repeat, these people have no ties to any foreign power.” “You give people too much freedom, this is what you get.”
* * *
“It's just bull**** propaganda,” you say, getting up and walking to the bedroom, “Probably the CIA.” Outside, people are shouting and setting off car alarms -- the counter at the bottom of the screen keeps ticking down...20 minutes...19 minutes. Outside, something has been set on fire. Something is burning and a loud cry goes up from the crowd -- the glow of flames reflecting on the window. ”Yea, well; its better then watching a movie.”
Honest is awake. First CNN, then all the stations cut to the live shot: masked gunmen standing next to someone strapped to a chair, a timer counting down at the bottom of the screen. One of the men holds a copy of today’s newspaper and begins pointing. “I don't want to watch this”, you say, reaching for the remote. “No, leave it on. This is good. I like this; the whole terrorism angle; this really kind of works for me.”
The video will be streamed live 24 hours a day on every channel, reaching across borders, into maximum security prisons -- even Guantanamo Bay -- traveling through fiber optic cables buried beneath dying oceans and beamed by satellite from space. Tomorrow the Chairman of the Republican Party will release a statement and the President will denounce these men as traitors.
Truth has been detained at the border, they will say; is facing extradition charges and being held in solitary confinement. Truth was making iPhones for $2 a day but is now making pipe bombs. Was last seen working at Starbucks -- at Best Buy. Has a master’s degree in Anthropology; a Greyhound ticket to D.C. and a daughter that he'll never see again. His hands now worn and bent, truth awakens in every country -- in every city.
He should have made better decisions, the President will say on a phone call to world leaders, unable to stand it any longer. He could have gone somewhere, done something. Now we have this situation on our hands and it's just so goddamned hard.
II
A patrol car drives by, shining a spotlight while police helicopters circle overhead. Riots have begun in every major city -- a mass of protestors now marching toward Washington. On the television, there's that counter again -- tick, tick. A man from the Army is explaining that this is not a drill, that this appears to be real. We don't know who these people are, he says. Nobody knows their motive but it does appear that the person being held for ransom is a high ranking intelligence officer.
A question from the Twitter live feed: Could this be revenge? “Revenge?” he asks, incredulous. “Who would want to take revenge on us?” “Now look,” he says, adjusting his tie. “These people are domestic terrorists.” “Let me repeat, these people have no ties to any foreign power.” “You give people too much freedom, this is what you get.”
* * *
“It's just bull**** propaganda,” you say, getting up and walking to the bedroom, “Probably the CIA.” Outside, people are shouting and setting off car alarms -- the counter at the bottom of the screen keeps ticking down...20 minutes...19 minutes. Outside, something has been set on fire. Something is burning and a loud cry goes up from the crowd -- the glow of flames reflecting on the window. ”Yea, well; its better then watching a movie.”