All I want to know, is why didn’t I hear about this before Christmas?

Everyone starts with the best intentions. Then things start to get cramped. Then you notice your neighbour has more oil than you. Before long, war is waged, nukes are dropped, revolutions are fought and terrorists are doing your dirty work, before turning on you…

This is the War on Terror, the boardgame: A quality boardgame for 2 – 6 players, lovingly illustrated and politically correct (in a very literal sense). Playing it will bring out the nastiest, greediest, darkest, most paranoid aspects of your character. It’s all great family fun.

Speaking of the actual War on Terror, it came to an anti-conclusion last week with hanging of Saddam. Regardless of whether you agreed with the death sentence or not, the hanging was an ugly affair.

Far from being a quiet and dignified business, the new video shows that several of the witnesses taunted Saddam during the last seconds of his life, chanted the name of one of his many enemies, and told him he was going to hell.

Almost by accident, a few days ago I stumbled across the cell phone footage on youTube. At first I didn’t realize what it was, until I saw the grainy footage of Saddam standing on the gallows.

A curious fascination gripped me (much like the reason we crane our necks as we drive by the wreckage of a car accident).

Should I continue watching the footage? After all, what purpose would it serve? Would I feel satisfaction? Disgust? Mere emptiness? I closed the window and with it the paused face of Saddam.

This morning I received an email from a friend:

I’m pretty much begging all of you not to watch the video of Saddam circulating around on the internet. I didn’t realize it was different than what is on CNN and thinking now I witnessed his last moments is beyond disturbing.

It’s after 4 and I’ve been trying to sleep for hours so I’ve decided to email all of you to beg.

If you haven’t seen it don’t. Even if you’re curious to watch it, why take the chance how it could affect you. I’d gladly cut out that memory from my cerebrum if I could, that’s how strongly I don’t want you to see it.

Welcome to the civilized world.

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