by B. Thomas Cooper

Created on: May 13, 2007

"Many years ago, I was so innocent I still considered it possible that we could become the humane and reasonable America so many members of my generation used to dream of. We dreamed of such an America during the Great Depression, when there were no jobs. And then we fought and often died for that dream during the Second World War, when there was no peace.

But I know now that there is not a chance in hell of America's becoming humane and reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Human beings are chimpanzees who get crazy drunk on power. By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas".

Kurt Vonnegut
1922 - 2007

And so it goes.

Kurt Vonnegut is in Heaven now, and I imagine he is enjoying himself. Can you imagine it? Kurt sporting wings, chatting with Hemingway, Twain, Trout and Christ knows who else...

Oh, and there's music. Beautiful music. Kurt knew he was going to Heaven, because he could hear the music, and it was heavenly. Kurt deeply cared for mankind. It was man he disliked.

And we won't let him down, not while there is a man still standing. Hemingway knew it, and Hunter Thompson knew it, and Kilgore Trout knew it too. Kurt Vonnegut was too good for this world, and it'll all certainly go to hell in his absence.

Kurt would have been embarrassed by tributes such as this, and so it was sensible we wait until his passing. Still, I just wish I could have told him how much his words meant to me. Life is cruel sometimes.

"We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different".

God bless you Kurt Vonnegut

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