I will disclose that, in the closet, I am a tyrannicidal maniac. That's one way of saying that my fantasy self holds (back) urges to assassinate tyrants. Certain people, IMO, urgently need killing. At the top of the list are few of those -- usually men -- whose continued lives have a devastatingly deleterious impact on the lives of millions. Obvious examples are "President" Bashar al-Assad of Syria and "President" Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. These two scumbags have arrogant self images of themselves; objectively speaking they are corks who keep the lives and welfare of millions in the bottle of violence and squalor.
But now we come to the slaughter of Moammar Gadhafi. He was killed a few days ago, minutes after he was captured by disorganized revolutionary forces in Libya. My first reaction, was WTF? Why bother? My imagineary closet self would have happily killed him back in the spring when his removal from this side of the grass would have saved thousands of lives not to mention Libya's infrastructure. What's the point now? Of course, in these revolutionary circumstances of insurrection, logic is quite beyond the point. So, it's not for me to judge Mo's killers.
But, more to the point, is Mo Gadhafi's POV. Here was an archetype of a man who won't let go.
He spent his final weeks shuttling from hideout to hideout in his hometown of Sirte, alternating between rage and despair as his regime crumbled around him. He was cut off from the world while on the run, living in abandoned homes without TV, phones or electricity, using candles for light. According to sources,
Mo would spend all his time reading, jotting down nonsensical notes and brewing tea on a coal stove. He was not leading the battle. His sons did that. He did not plan anything or think about any plan .... I feel sorry for him because he underestimated the situation .... He could have left and gotten out of the country and lived a happy life .... He was stressed, he was really angry, he was mad sometimes. Mostly, he was just sad and angry.Gadhafi's aides repeatedly urged him to step aside and leave the country, but he refused, saying he wanted to die in the land of his ancestors.
How can Mo's example be instructive for ancient men of the sea? When does it become time to stay ashore? Tillerman instructs,
I've known a couple of sailors who expired during races. One went overboard and was recovered by his son. I'm not convinced that it is Corinthian to put crew at risk, especially in marginal conditions.Cheat the nursing home. Die on your LASER!
Myself? In my bones I feel I still have a lot of nautical miles ahead of me. But the time will come when I should trade in my 38' Laser for the original 13' 10" size. Then I can aspire to becoming a sailor forever. In the waters of my ancestors.