Hot-Heads

They're at it again, the hot-heads. Fulminating in the press. Besieging embassies. Bombing churches. That sort of thing. It's the Pope, this time. Quoting some head of state from hundreds of years in the past. But they don't forget, the hot-heads. And they never forgive.

Some of my friends just laugh it off. 'Amusing,' they say. 'A real laugh riot. You can always count on them to rescue a dull afternoon.' There is something to that, perhaps. But I find it sad. They seem so sad and insecure, like every little thing is a very particular and personal affront. And beyond that, of course, is the danger. They're not very powerful anymore, yet someone could still get hurt. It's a good thing they lost their empire all those years ago.

The guy the Pope quoted was a Nelson somebody-or-other. He said that the hot-heads' attitude was a threat to world peace. Their response is violence and threats. Such an effective refutation. Ah, those Americans. Who can forget when they swept across the Middle East, with the battle cry of 'Democracy or death!' It is a good thing they lost their empire ...