December 19, 2007 at 09:11:25

George's Christmas Carol

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By Bernard Weiner, The Crisis Papers (about the author) Page 2 of 4 page(s)

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And with that they flew through the air (and the constraints of time) and landed in a living room of George's parents. A younger George was stretched out on the couch.

His mother said: "George, why can't you be like your brother? He works hard, he's curious about the world, he's going to make something of himself. He might even be a governor some day. But you! You're lazy, shiftless, wasted on booze and drugs."

"Your mother is right," said his father. "You should be out on your own, making money and settling down, but instead you're still behaving like a bum. We're constantly having to clean up your messes, or get our friends to financially bail you out of your constant business and social failures. This is Christmastime, George, a time of renewal and hope, why not make a vow to change your attitude and help out others?"

George wanted to shout at his supposedly "compassionate" parents, reminding them of that awful day after the funeral of George's beloved little sister Robin, when they abandoned him for a golf date. But rather than bring that up, and start the meanness and nagging all over again, he just grunted and turned over on the couch.

"Yo, Ghost. I don't need to see this garbage. I know that scene too well. I get your message. Can't we move on to happier times?"

At which point, the first visitor disappeared, and a second floated next to George.

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present. Take my hand, as I have something to show you." In a few seconds, they were hovering near the ceiling in a hospital room in Baghdad.

"Do you see what I see, George?"

"I see a brave American soldier being worked on so that he can return to the battle for freedom. He doesn't seem to be doing very well."

"That's all you see in that hospital room?"

"There's a little Iraqi kid in the corner. Nobody's with him; he's probably another unfortunate collateral-damage statistic."

"That child's abdomen and leg were blasted apart by contracted mercenary forces hired by your government. If he survives, he will be maimed for life. His name is Tamir al-Kratchet."

"Like Tiny Tim back in the States!"

"That's right, George. There are tens of thousands of Iraqi Tiny Tims dead or maimed as a result of this war you unleashed in their homeland. Many of them were orphaned when their parents died, or were found in the rubble abandoned."

"I sure know what that feels like. Are you trying to lean on me to do something to help this unlucky kid?"

"You have the opportunity to help these children and their parents by ending this war quickly."

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Bernard Weiner, Ph.D. in government & international relations, has taught at universities in California and Washington, worked for two decades as a writer-editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, and currently serves as co-editor of The Crisis Papers (more...)

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