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Demanding Accountability

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Verbal Assassination

What Would You Do?

By Ron Lee

Here I was, all ready to throw some harsh words toward the world for sympathizing with the Hezbollah and for giving Mel Gibson such a harsh deal about saying inappropriate things while he was DRUNK - it’s not like anyone else hasn’t said things they didn’t mean while intoxicated ... please - but then life has this magical way about slapping you in the face and I was presented, once again, with the reality of existence and I couldn’t help but revisit a writing of old.

The Slap in the Face

While visiting a good friend who runs a Dutch Bro.’s coffee stand (I love coffee), an employee of the shopping center where the coffee cart is located came up saying that a man had just died outside in the parking lot. I asked a few question that the employee could not answer, so I decided to see what was going on.

The parking lot was crowded by emergency vehicles and personnel, store employees, and the typical rubber-necking gawkers. On the pavement near a parking space lay a man who appeared to be in his 50's (but I didn't get a good look at him) being diligently worked on by EMT's trying to get his heart to beat.

Now, I'm not squeamish, but there was a sudden reality which hit me hard. It was as if this man who now lay prone on the ground with hands beating at his chest had just fallen in mid-stride. I looked away and found an on-looker in front of my gaze. He was sitting in his pick-up watching the events unfold, and it looked like he had been there for a while so I asked him if he had seen anything. He told me that he had been on the ground ever since he walked out of the store and that it had been about ten minutes. He said something about how he thought the guy wasn't going to make it, but I didn't hear him.

I walked away with a reminder lesson ... one that I had pondered years ago and had written about.

And, I ask that after you read it you really, really, think about the question. Then I want you to get out a piece of paper and write down your answer and mail it to me.

In Ending

Suppose the world was to end tomorrow and you were the only one to know.

Would you have any regrets?

Would you have any would haves, should haves, could haves?

Would you find your love and watch the sun come up on the last day of existence?

Would you find any love and live it to the end?

Would you right a wrong, or make more?

Would you be alone in thought?

Would you run, to find a way out of ending?

Would you have sex or make love?

Would you be scared?

Would you surround yourself with family and friends and party to the end?

Would you heal an old relationship?

Would you wonder what went wrong?

Would you cry a thousand tears and pray to God it's wrong?

Would you do the things you could have done?

Would you take your own life?

Would you see things differently, as the fateful time came along?

Would you be disappointed or glad?

What would you say if I told you people die every day, and tomorrow may never come?

Perhaps in the next issue, I'll give you my answer.

About the Author: Ron Lee has been a freelance and published writer since 1985. He attended Richmond University in London where he focused on theatre arts, and the University of Nevada Reno where he dual majored in criminal justice and psychology. He currently spends his time helping the US~Observer's clients with his no nonsense investigative reporting style. Ron may be reached at ron@usobserver.com. Favorite quote, "The truth shall make you free." --John VIII. 32