Just hours after the terror attacks on 9/11/01, Hunter S. Thompson wrote an article for ESPN entitled “Fear & Loathing in America.” In it, he made some disturbingly accurate predictions, this one by far the most chilling:
“The towers are gone now, reduced to bloody rubble, along with all hopes for Peace in Our Time, in the United States or any other country. Make no mistake about it: We are At War now — with somebody — and we will stay At War with that mysterious Enemy for the rest of our lives. It will be a Religious War, a sort of Christian Jihad, fueled by religious hatred and led by merciless fanatics on both sides. It will be guerilla warfare on a global scale, with no front lines and no identifiable enemy.”
Though Thompson put the death toll for that day at 20,000 (I’m guessing based on flawed reports going around that day), I couldn’t help but wonder if the good doc, in his infinite, drugged-up wisdom, was alluding to the lives that would be lost because of what had happened that day. He goes on to say: “We are going to punish somebody for this attack, but just who or what will be blown to smithereens for it is hard to say. Maybe Afghanistan, maybe Pakistan or Iraq, or possibly all three at once.” Indeed, America has made its presence known in all three of those countries over the last 12 years, exact death tolls unknown.
We’re still fighting the last war (throwing Cold War money at countries that barely have electricity), still warding off the last attack (screening shoes and underwear at airports), still looking back in fear, but failing to avert the unavoidable. Domestic terror hit us again last week, and I don’t believe there could have been anything done to stop it. To limit its damage, yes (perhaps it could not have been so easy for those boys to obtain guns–thanks, Senate!), but ultimately we’ll always be At War with the sick minds among us.
But ‘lest we all suffer from Hunter Thompson’s disease for one more week, I’d like to part on some more optimistic words:
Mr. Rogers’ sage wisdom.
Image from quotespictures.net
Thank you to all the helpers who gave evil the finger and decided to help out their fellow man.
Man, what I wouldn’t give to watch some Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood right now. Lookin’ at you, Netflix Instant!
Fear and Loathing in the Counterculture 
Finally I’ve found a blog site that I can really relate to! I love history, especially from the Cold War period, I love the beats, I love Hunter S. Thompson, I loved the blog post, and I love what you’ve done with the place; it’s certainly got the Gonzo journalism feel to it, very spiffy lookin.. (please excuse my fanboy-ness right there, couldn’t help it).
Reblogged this on kjmhoffman.
given the world as it is, there are not enough drugs.