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I never knew that Saddam Hussein wrote novels. It was in a news story today, that his latest manuscript was discovered during the invasion. The story described his works as rather banal novellas depicting a character suspiciously like himself triumphing over every adversary. They are, apparently, epic in reach and pedestrian in grasp. But I find the entire notion that Saddam Hussein wrote novels to be very humanizing. The fact that his writing was no good makes it all the more poignant. How many people do you know who are plugging away at some artistic endeavour, unaware that they're hopelessly untalented? It is, I dare say, sort of cute. It seems Saddam spent his later days in power delegating most decisions to his sons while he worked away at his writing. I like to imagine him shuffling about in his slippers, drinking strong coffee and trying to come up with an artistic way to say "slaughtered thousands of Kurds." This whole mess in Iraq has tended to draw people in two dimensions. Bush and company would certainly like us to see Saddam as purely evil, with no humanity at all. It'd make the war an easier sell, especially now as the nation's zeal for militarism is wearing off and the black and white is fading into shades of grey. Saddam the mediocre novelist doesn't whip anyone into a patriotic froth now does it? I suppose this forces me to reluctantly admit that Bush himself is human...though I doubt he'd be able to read one of Saddam's books, much less write one of his own. Sorry...couldn't resist the easy shot. |
