7.16.2006
Happy Birthday, Artie
Arthur Pope.
Born Plattsburgh, New York. July 16th, 1944.
And still hiding from the feds. Guilty of blowing up a napalm lab during the ugly days of the Vietnam War, accidentally blinding a janitor who shouldn’t have been there that night.
Living underground. No one has heard much about you since Judd Hirsch portrayed you in that 1988 movie. Running on empty. An appropriate title for a movie about your life.
You must feel empty since all you did, all you stood for, means nought in the Noughties, the first decade of the 21st century. History repeats itself. Another dead end war raging on overseas. Divisiveness at home. But so far the protests haven’t spilled over into the extreme measures you and your radical friends took.
Not too many famous – or at least notorious – people hail from Plattsburgh. Maybe we could all learn something from your “youthful indiscretions.” Because what you did screwed up the lives of your parents, your wife’s parents, your sons, and that unlucky janitor.
Before committing to extreme action that can’t be undone, some of today’s angry protestors might think twice after hearing your story. That’s why everyone should remember your birthday.
Happy Birthday, Sam.
# posted by Stan Spire @ 11:35 PM 
