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cc&d v181

this writing is in the collection book
Charred Remnants
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Charred Remnants, the 2008 Down in the Dirt collection book
JUNKIE

Mel Waldman

    In the end, he was a junkie. Always a junkie. He felt safe in his self-destruction. But how much destruction and pain in others did he cause? How many suffered because of him?
    Addicted to power, fame, and glory, and other more concrete things, like the other power-freaks before him, he was a mystery to most. His persona fooled the masses.

    Was he a dreamer with great visions or a pragmatist? Was he Don Quixote or Machiavelli? Was he one man-or many men-or just a few power elite?
    Each man who took the oath was fueled with a sense of destiny and purpose-each man with the potential to move mountains and change the course of history. And so, each man was sworn in as President of the U.S.A.
    Each time, it was a glorious ceremony. And he promised the American people great things.

    But this was the beginning... And of course, buried in the labyrinth of his psyche was a character flaw.
    Perhaps, he was clean...at the sacred moment of inauguration. Maybe he was a potential junkie unaware of his weakness... Or a closet junkie secretly hiding his addiction.
    In any case, even if he were one of the great idealistic men who took the Office, ready to fight the many faces of temptation, his character flaw made him vulnerable. Inevitably, he would become a power junkie like others before him.
    To this day, it is unknown how many-if any-have resisted such overwhelming temptation. We suspect that in the end, more than one man became a junkie.
    But who? What secrets have never been revealed? What evil deeds have been committed while holding this sacred office?

    I am a patriot and a dreamer. I pray that the American presidents were and will always be good men and that this disturbing hypothesis, that at least one was a junkie, is erroneous. Yet if it’s true... How honorable are junkies? Even the majestic ones here in the U.S.A. and world leaders around the globe? Beneath their masks, who are they? And who are we for blindly following them on the road to destruction? G-d help us, who are we?

POSTSCRIPT I

    A sharp woman once said: “They say appearance does not matter. It’s a lie! Appearance is everything! And for sure, to succeed, one must have pearly-white teeth!”

POSTSCRIPT II

    I often say: “We’re attracted to charismatic people. But if we don’t look past the surface, we’re going to end up in a lot of trouble-adrift in deep waters. And personally, I can’t swim!”

POSTSCRIPT III

    I’ve been known to say: “Don’t listen to what a man says. Study his behavior! Scrutinize the SOB! If he makes a promise, does he keep it? And if he says-‘Trust me!’-you know for sure you’d be a damn fool to trust him.”

POSTSCRIPT IV

    In the end, he was a junkie. Always a junkie. But was he one man-or many men-or just a few power elite? Did he exist in the past or will he first exist in the future-becoming...in a dark metamorphosis...our beloved leader...hiding his dark side from us with a charming smile or lofty words as sweet as chocolate melting in our lost souls?
    Yet if he was-is-or will inevitably be-a junkie, and we are his blind followers who worship him, what are we-but his victim-junkies rushing slowly to the cliff...?

POSTSCRIPT V

    What are we if we choose blind faith over reason?

POSTSCRIPT VI

    What are we if reason is unenlightened by faith?

POSTSCRIPT VII

    What are we if we choose the Group Mind over individuality?

POSTSCRIPT VIII

    What are we if we are suicide bombers obliterating the holy landscape of our souls?

POSTSCRIPT IX

    Who am I if I toss a grenade across the Waste Land of My Soul, blowing up my universe, destroying any possibility of redemption?

POSTSCRIPT X

    Who am I? Creator of my universe! Who am I? A man who contemplates the Mystery of the Junkie, the Secret of the U.S. Presidents, and the Eternal Puzzle: WHO AM I?

POSTSCRIPT XI

    WHO AM I?

POSTSCRIPT XII

    A JUNKIE!

POSTSCRIPT XIII

    WHO AM I? A JUNKIE BLINDLY FOLLOWING THE POWER-JUNKIE WHOSE CHARISMA AND GLIB TONGUE TRANSFORM ME INTO A VICTIM-JUNKIE RUSHING SLOWLY TO THE CLIFF...

POSTSCRIPT XIV

    WHO AM I?

POSTSCRIPT XV

    A JUNKIE!

POSTSCRIPT XVI

    A LOST SOUL!

POSTSCRIPT XVII

    A PRISONER IN THE ADDICTIVE LABYRINTH OF SELF-DESTRUCTION!

POSTSCRIPT XVIII

    A JUNKIE WHO CHOOSES TO LET GO OF HIS ADDICTION, TRAVEL THROUGH THE WASTE LAND OF A VANISHING SOUL, AND DIE IN ORDER TO BE REBORN!

    WHO AM I? WHO AM I? WHO AM I?

    I am on a journey through the Waste Land of My Soul. I choose to let go of my addiction to suffering! I choose free will! I choose to struggle on this endless night... I penetrate the Darkness... And perhaps...there is salvation on the other side of Reality! On the other side of Darkness!



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