Friday, October 9, 2009

On Unilateral Nuclear Disarmament

The new sheriff strode into the street under the noon sun, his dark skin a stark contrast to his white hat. His opponent was already there waiting. They moved closer together and stopped at 20 paces. "It doesn't have to be like this Black Bart" the sheriff said, oblivious to the irony. "We can put aside the logic of fear, lay down our guns and talk about this like reasonable men". Black Bart's head turned almost imperceptibly and his eyes narrowed in calculation. The sheriff held out his hands and slowly drew the polished weapons from the holsters that he wore rather uncomfortably on his hips. He knelt down and placed them on the ground in front of him and stood again..... smiling reassuringly, arms again outstretched, hands empty, palms up in a gesture of trust. The whole town held it's breath as the seconds ticked slowly by. And when Black Bart visibly relaxed there was a sense of relief in the town. Perhaps the bitter rivalry and tense stand off between the two adversaries was finally over. And then Black Bart did something that no one seemed to expect: He drew his gun from its holster and stood there in the hot sun examining it as if seeing it for the first time. And then, slowly and deliberately he raised it to shoulder height, carefully sighted down the barrel and shot the new sheriff right between the eyes. (The End)