Memory Loss Pandemic
For weeks, and in some
cases stretching into
months, even years,
politicians and other
public figures in Ireland,
Canada, and the United
States have been suffering
the ravages of a particularly
virulent form of amnesia.
Hapless citizens have
watched in agony as
their past and present
representatives have
appeared in front of
tribunals (Ireland),
parliamentary committees
(Canada), and Commissions
(United States), delving
into sundry happenings
in all three countries.
Again and again they
have wept at the sight
of men and women in
their prime suffering
the early onslaught
of Alzheimer's disease,
unable to recall exactly
when they did or did
not do something, where
they were when they
did or did not do something,
who was in the room
when they did or did
not do something, how
many windows were in
the room where they
did or did not meet
somebody, when they
knew or did not know
something, what they
were told or not told
about something, whether
there was or was not
a meeting that they
did or did not attend,
but convinced that if
they did or did not
do something it was
the right thing to do
or not to do.
Seeing their genuine
and sincere inability
to remember, and hearing
their genuine and sincere
remorse at their inability
to remember, citizens
of all three countries
have expressed alarm
at the spread of the
disease amongst those
upon whom they depend
for truth, transparency,
and accountability,
the three most important
virtues that hitherto
they have associated
with persons elected
or appointed to high
office.
Can it be due to undue
stress that those most
affected suffer such
affliction? Can the
cause be attributed
to improper diet? What
about degradation of
the environment? Something
in the genes? Or too
tight jeans?
Is it a matter for the
World Health Organization
to investigate? Should
the Centre for Disease
Control be alerted?
Is it possible that
modern medicines will
not be the cure? Should
traditional medicines
be tried? Acupuncture?
A holistic approach?
Injections? A truth
serum? Truth? What is
truth? Wasn't it Pilate
who first asked that
question? Pilate? "I
don't remember!"
--30--
Home
| About
| Canadian Vindicator
| Literature
| Gallery
| History
|