Falling Images

There is something amazing about watching U.S. Marines pull down a statue of Saddam in Baghdad live on tv. The images are so similar to those of falling Stalins in Central and Eastern Europe not too long ago, and just as powerful.

Moments after the statue came crashing down, I couldn't help but wonder what will the Iraqi people erect in place of these old Saddams. Maybe nothing. Perhaps life and progress will take care of such things.

In 1996, my old pal Zoltan Scrivener and I were on road trip in the Republic of Georgia. As we were about to enter the town of Gori, the birthplace of Stalin, we were a bit nervous and very curious. Then we busted our guts laughing as the first sign greeted us on the edge of town. It read: Coca-Cola.