THE GIRL WHO CRIED WAR CRIME
by Shay Martin
A lesson about what can happen to those who employ disparaging language against language itself
Many, many years ago, somewhere within the Old World confines of Europe, there lived a young woman who found herself in conflict with her ruling authorities. The specific nature of this conflict, it is not for us to know, but we should be aware that, one day, it occurred to her that there might be a new means for bringing about the end that she had so long sought.
“War criminal!” she said in the streets, pointing out he with whom she had issue. “War criminal!”
The ruling authority was, of course, much taken aback by this outburst, especially as he had always been very careful in his conduct of the current war, which he had been ruling over for the entirety of his authority. Obviously, the people, too, were greatly alarmed at this fact of the man, especially as they had been watching him closely during every stage of the war. In the end, the man was removed from any lever that might be construed as powerful, and the world moved on, now a little better informed.
Some time later, after new ruling authorities had been established, our young woman came into a new, albeit similar, conflict with the new man-‘top-town. This time, it did not take long at all for the woman to realize the ready means for her end.
“War criminal!” she said in the streets, pointing out he with whom she had issue. “War criminal!”
The ruling authority was, of course, taken aback by this outburst, especially as, for the length of his authority, there had not been a war for him to rule over. Obviously, the people, too, were alarmed by this fact of the man, especially as they could hardly fathom how he had managed the evil without opportunity. In the end, after some convincing, the man was removed from any lever that might be construed as powerful, and the world moved on, now a little better informed.
Some time later, after new ruling authorities had been established, our young woman came into a new, essentially opposite, conflict with the new man-‘o-war. As it happened, she and she alone was privy to a war crime that the man had perpetrated in the war that had lately broken out, and she felt it her duty to inform the world of this fact.
“War criminal!” she said in the streets, pointing out he with whom she had issue. “War criminal!”
The ruling authority did, of course, note this outburst, especially as it was true. He had, however, previously, upon taking office, said to himself:
“What of this word war crime? My predecessors, I see, have all been termed it, though I and the surrounding facts cannot see why. Is war criminal, then, synonymous with ruler? It must be, I suppose. In any event, since I shall be called a war criminal no matter what I do, I might as well commit a war crime or two, should such seem necessary. This is, I suppose, what the world informs.”
Obviously, the people, too, felt some alarm at this accusation of the man. They did, however, presently, during the crisis, say to themselves:
“What are the odds that we would raise to power three successive war criminals?”
In the end, after a bitter fight, the man retained his position as ruling authority, and the world moved on, now a little better informed.
Mr. Martin is a 2016 graduate of UT-Austin still living in the Austin area.
