The recent acts of terrorism

The recent acts of terrorism have cause me to reflect on my own fanatical causes and idealism as a youth. I hope my levity is not ill-timed.

As a pup in Huntsville, Alabama I was a founding member of the Pylon Liberation Organization (PLO). Membership consisted of me and Klaus. (I’m using code names to protect the innocent.) Our fanaticism was of a different ilk than most fanatical groups. Most fanatics actually belong to the group that they feel so passionately about. Neither Klaus, nor I was a pylon (some of you may know them as traffic cones). Our fanaticism was more idealistic as our ideas of “brotherhood” transcended race, creed, color even organic life. We traveled to and fro about the city witnessing first-hand the suffering of pylons. (In my old age I regret that our fanaticism was so focused we couldn’t see the plight of the barrels or barricades.) We decided it was time to do something about it.

The Amsouth Parking Garage became the staging ground for what would become the single most important event of the PLO. We bought posterboard and markers from the local grocery store. Once we had acquired the materials we headed to the parking garage and sat down in front of the elevators preparing our materials. We had spotted a pylon near a travel agency that looked like it needed our liberation. It was butted up against the wall. Not only had it been taken from its brothers and sisters, but it wasn’t even allowed to serve in true noble pylon fashion as a construction warning implement. There were no potholes near it. It wasn’t protecting construction workers. It needed to be liberated. Klaus and I quickly prepared a cardboard sign that read “This Pylon set free by the Pylon Liberation Organization.” We drove to the travel agency under cover of darkness, grabbed the pylon, and left the sign behind. We were in and out like professionals.

It’s been over a decade since that fateful night and it comes to mind from time to time. I still wonder what happened to our “brother” that night. I think we left it on one of our friend’s lawns. I like to imagine him frolicking in a place where pylons are allowed to roam free. The most frustrating part is I really don’t think we made a difference. We didn’t make the world a better place in any way, shape or form. I think that like all fanatics the righteousness of our beliefs blinded us. I also believe that like all fanatics before us we will be lost in the annals of time as what is beautiful about mankind continues its weird and wonderful journey through the universe.