UN/KNOWN WORDS

by Andrew Williams

"I'm the one who's gonna die when it's time for me to die, so let me live

my life the way I want to."--Jimi Hendrix

There seem to be four working hypotheses as to the identity and modus

operandi of the East Coast Sniper. In no particular order:

1) "Satanic sniper"

2) Brain tumor or neurochemical imbalance causing lack of inhibition (the

Texas Tower or Twinkie Killer theory)

3) Terrorists (with foreign and/or domestic funding) to stir people up,

using threats to children as a wedge to get them ready for war and

constant police/National Guard presence in their communities

4) Colombian hit squad(s) who are pissed off by US drug policy

Each of these hypotheses has something going for it: the Tarot card; the

statement "Dear Policemen, I am God;" the timing of the shootings (around

the time of the vote on the war resolution); the number of shootings and

weapons involved.

But with so little data available, the true motive(s) are as unknown as

the words that might be written on the truck that the shooter(s) might

still be using. "Insufficient data for meaningful analysis," Mr. Spock

would say.

In the meantime, as Captain Picard said, "we will continue to act as if

this (sniper) never existed. If we're going to be damned, let's be damned

for what we really are"--a free people, born and bred in revolution and

independence. Or we can live as sheeple, in caves and catacombs, feeding

on moss, lichens and mushrooms.

I don't like caves and basements. I like the leaf-scented snap of autumn

air, mulled cider, my arms around my ladyfriend while sitting with other

friends sitting around a bonfire drinking mulled cider. Fall stuff.

I won't say my life hasn't been changed this month. I believe I've become

more observant, more watchful--hopefully not in a paranoid way (as long

as I watch my caffeine intake). I also believe I've become a bit kinder

to strangers, friends and family--which are, I submit, not separate

categories.

So some good has come out of these deaths. Sure, the hydra-headed Medusa

maedia will continue to do their damndest to scare us with their

hyperbolic headlines and soundbytes. (Memo to same: Your "Be afraid, be

very afraid" approach is as obnoxious as a fur coat on a PETA volunteer.)

Sure, our police and politicians will continue to issue vaguely

informative and reassuring statements. And sure, s/he's still out there.

But so are we--working, laughing, loving, sharing. And as the song says,

"They can't take that away from me." As long as we are aware of that, the

sniper(s) cannot ruin or destroy our lives. Unless we allow it.

Be strong, be brave, be loving.

And may the blessings be with us all.