The Subtle Logic of Absurdity

I received an understandably opaque comment from a good friend about my previous post.

"I read your blog post and see that you are still alive and churning out your cryptic observations of the universe from your vantage point in [city]."

My friend seems to think I have lost my mind (admittedly, I DO have brain-damage from Multiple Sclerosis, but my ability to separate fantasy from reality hasn't been dimished).

To speak more plainly, I found it absurd that while the airline is being scrutinized in connection with the death of a politically-controversial figure from RADIATION POISONING, that the airline is simultaneously handpicking (unlikely) items that travellers might use to damage an aircraft or its passengers.

Obviously, the two stories are unconnected. The irational juxtaposition of events that occur in chronological proximity to one another of is merely a literary device to encourage readers to think about the REALLY BIG PICTURE(tm).

I don't know anything about Alexander Livinenko's personal OR professional grievances with the FSB, Vladimir Putin, or any other entity in Russian internal politics, and I don't know enough take sides in the matter.

I'm fairly certain that I've made clear throughout this blog that unless I have a personal or peripheral stake in a matter, I am apt to reserve judgment about the meaning of events that have the potential to stir populations to violence, an outcome that is simultaneously undesirable and vaguely predictable.

My rationale for such absurdity is in no way intended to suggest anything but my own inability to make rational sense of such clearly tragic events...regardless of what anybody thinks about a public figure's personal politics, idealitic conflict resulting from his sudden and mysterious death is likely to affect more innocent bystanders than is obvious at first glance.