July 12, 2005

I've Been Picked for a Meme!

meme: n A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

Two Dogs over at Mean OlÕ Meany has tagged me ÒitÓ (along with Kelly and Joe-six-pack) in the following meme: What ten events would you care to witness if you could travel in time and observe them?

Notice this says ÒobserveÓ, not Òchange.Ó Darn. ThereÕs a lot of history IÕd love to change (some of it personal history). But since I can only be an observer in this imaginary journey, here are the events I came up with (in chronological order):

1. IÕd love to have been one of Queen Elizabeth IÕs inner circle. The woman was a fascinating genius and brilliant ruler. Sure she had her personal idiosyncrasies, but who doesnÕt?

2. Witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Was it a solemn occasion or did they toss their hats in the air and go out for a cold one afterward? In either case, IÕd love to have been there.

3. IÕve always considered the great Westward migration during the 1840s to be fascinating. IÕd love to have traveled in a covered wagon across the plains and over the mountains to either Oregon or California. (With my luck, however, I would probably have been a part of the doomed Donner Party.)

4. IÕd like to have heard Abraham Lincoln give his Gettysburg Address. Eloquence and brilliance in a small package.

5. Another time when it would have been great to be around (from todayÕs standpoint) would be when the United States went to war with Japan (and Germany) after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Why? Because the leftwing press, Democratic leaders and Hollywooders werenÕt whining that we shouldnÕt be in the war, we should be more understanding of our enemies, that our troops were the equivalent of the Nazis, etc., and our citizens were willing to give up certain luxuries in order that our soldiers should get the best of everything available. In short, while war is terrible, there is a right way to support it and a wrong way. Our involvement in World War II was definitely supported in the right way.

6. IÕd love to have been a witness to Ted KennedyÕs (allegedly) drunken driving fiasco in Chappaquiddick, for which he got off scot free in the death of his ill-fated passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. The cache of the Kennedy name, along with his status as a senator, got Teddy ÒI CanÕt Hold My LiquorÓ Kennedy off. If only someone other than Kennedy himself had been around as a witness, things might have turned out differently.

7. HereÕs a great moment in modern history IÕd love to have been a part of: the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

8. Rather than hear of how she was Òcrying and couldnÕt breatheÓ because she was so ÒshockedÓ at the news that Bill really had been getting it on with Monica in the Oval Office, IÕd like to know what Hillary really said. I imagine it might have been something more like, ÒOh Bill, why canÕt you pick the ones who donÕt blab?Ó

9. Ah, if I could only have been a fly on the wall at KerryÕs campaign headquarters when he decided to concede to that ÒidiotÓ George W. Bush.

10. Likewise, IÕd love to have been with my leftwing stepbrother and his fiancŽe (she worked on the Dean campaign) when Kerry conceded. Would I have said or done anything, or just stood by with a big smile on my face? Who knows? Either way, it sure would have been a lot of fun.

OK, IÕm done. I now tap Kitty, Wyatt Earp and Third Wave Dave to carry the torch (heh heh).

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