Wampum

Avner the Eccentric

Avner the Eccentric was being interviewed on local radio a few days ago. I was listening with interest, not because I had a clue as to who Avner might be, or why he was Eccentric, or any particular interest in performance art, mime, juggling, or stand-up comedy. No, I was listening because he was talking about working in Europe, and working up to the politiclally intimate. That point when your friend takes a deep breath and puts his chin in his hand or tilts her head over slightly and asks about you and George Bush [or you and Ronald Reagen]. Avner's reply was this:

We're going to have an election in November, and when we do, I expect I'll vote for Ariel Sharon. [pause] The funny thing is, when you have your next election I expect you'll vote for Ariel Sharon too.

Avner makes his home in Maine, where Ariel Sharon's name never appears on the ballot, and his generic friend makes his or her home in Europe, where Ariel Sharon's also never appears on the ballot.

Both Tom Allen (1st CD) and Michael Michaud (2nd CD) voted in favor of H. Res. 713. Both are Democrats. Both endorse the legislative restatement of the outcome of the legal process at the International Court of Justice as misuse of that Court by a plurality of the United Nations General Assembly for a narrow political purpose. Neither presumably endorse a similar characterization of the Biodiversity Convention, or the Kyoto Convention, or for that matter, the Fourth Geneva Convention, or the Treaty Organization that each rely upon.

Earlier this month I wrote a piece on the actual physical threat to the life of Ariel Sharon. It upset a friend, which was not my intention. I was trying to point out, with so much less humor and clarity, what Avner the Eccentric got across on the radio in the space of two minutes.

Tanks to N in Seattle for the korrection.

Posted by at July 20, 2004 09:29 AM | TrackBack