You've probably heard rumors that "The Bloggers" were being considered for Time's "Person of the Year" award. While Drudge is now reporting that Bush [and Rove?] are all "but a lock," it's a fun idea, we have to admit, even if the award itself is little more than a quaint relic of an innocent era when mainstream media pronouncements were more or less taken seriously by thoughtful readers. Nowadays, like the Nobel Peace Prize, Time's editorial board's "momentous" annual anointing of some person or group chosen to further their political agenda is just one more bit of fluff for endless cogitation in the 24/7 news cycle. Can't live with it, can't live without it.
Far more interesting to us was the Media Research Center's "Best of Notable Quotables 2004" [via Pajama Pundits], particularly their choice as runner up in the "Bring Back Saddam Award" category, someone called Kimberly Dozier in a December 16, 2003 CBS Evening News story about Iraqi reaction to Saddam’s capture:
“The tyrant has fallen. But for some, he’s a fallen hero . . . Iraqis are much like abused children: scarred by the man who was both father figure and enforcer. His rules were simple. Obey, and he would provide jobs, food rations, electricity and security. Rebel, and punishment was merciless. But Saddam Hussein also gave Iraqis dignity and pride. He became a symbol of defiance across the Arab world, never backing down from a fight . . . Those who loved him and those who hated him still can’t separate the man from the country in their minds. For many, his humiliation is their own.”
Her cluelessness about the human condition is breathtaking. While she was spot on re Saddam's likeness to an abusive father, her conclusion that the Butcher of Baghdad "also gave Iraqis dignity and pride" misses the whole point about abusive parents. They rob the child of dignity and pride. It's Natan Sharansky's "Fear Society" -- blogged here yesterday -- writ large, a go-along-to-get-along dynamic that crushes the human spirit. Dignity and pride need not apply.
Saddam actually was an abused child. His father was a petty criminal who would beat his children with a bat of some sort coated in asphalt, according to Kenneth Pollack. This rubbed off on Saddam. As a kid, he would heat a metal rod until it was white hot, and then prod unfortunate passing animals (dogs, cats, etc.).
Profilers have shown that serial killers virtually all manifest at least two out of three hideous traits as children -- a fascination with fire, systematic cruelty to animals, and bedwetting beyond the normal age. I've always wondered if Saddam was a bedwetter.
Posted by: Jack | December 18, 2004 at 07:31 AM
It's an old tale. I imagine if you scratch any bloody tyrant you'll find at least two out of three.
Posted by: Sissy Willis | December 18, 2004 at 08:24 AM
"For many, his humiliation is their own.”
That is quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I've been humiliated plenty of times, and I've never thrown a huge party to celebrate it. But that's what Baghdad was the day he was caught: city-wide euphoria, complete with people shooting their ak's into the air all night long and drunken celebrations. Stick Saddam in a cage on Market Street in Baghdad and see how much empathy the Iraqi people feel for him.
Posted by: francisthegreat | December 27, 2004 at 09:25 PM