Buffalo Gal

When I was a child, my grandmother's secret weapon was the Kookakadoo (kook-kah-dah-doo). If you snuck up to her attic, out to the street, or especially too close to the edge of the creek... the Kookakado would get you.
The spelling, likely having some root in Polish, is purely speculation as are all details about the "Doo." As a basically good child, I never met him myself... but certain older cousins were rumored to have had horrendous and live-changing encounters.
As an adult, my heart still beats through my chest as I go up anyone's attic stairs, but I know now that the Kookakado was simply one small woman's tool to ride herd on 17 boisterous grandchildren. Sure, she was exploiting fear and ignorance, but she did it out of genuine love and concern.
Terrorists have become the new Kookakado and the motives are not nearly as pure.
Why is the oxymoronic Patriot Act stripping civil liberties? Terrorists.
Why don't we address pressing economic and social policy issues? Terrorists.
Why are we bogged down in Iraq sacrificing more soldiers, sailors and airmen each day then we did doing the actual war? That would be the threat of terrorism.
Karen Hughes (please don't buy her book) compared pro-choice marchers to terrorists.
Dick Cheney (please don't buy anything he's selling figuratively or literally) evoked images of the communist threat by standing at the Missouri university where Churchill made his Iron Curtain speech and warned that a vote for Kerry would be a vote for terrorism.
What percentage of the population really remembers the fury and futility of the Red Scare? Obviously not enough to avoid the repeat.
My grandmother's children are now grandparents, even greatparents, and as far as I know, none of the little ones has ever feared the Kookadadoo.
But I know it would only take a couple of older cousins who enjoy scaring the bejabbers out of the little ones and the Kookadado would ride again.
If their government can do it, why can't they?
In my mid-40s I know empirically that there is no Kookadado, but in my heart I know that if they had set the Kookadado after Osama bin Laden -- he wouldn't be at large today.

Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs

Buffalo Gal Judi Griggs I'm a communications professional, writer, cynic, mother, wife and royal pain. The order depends on the day. I returned to my hometown in November 2004 after a couple of decades of heat and hurricanes. I can polish pristine copy, but not here. This is my morning exercise -- 20-minute takes without a net or spellcheck. It's easier than sit ups for me. No guarantee what it will be for you. Clicking on the subscribe link will send you an email notice when each new entry is posted.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (0) Share on Facebook		2004-04-28 7:28 AM The Kookadadoo and other terrorists When I was a child, my grandmother's secret weapon was the Kookakadoo (kook-kah-dah-doo). If you snuck up to her attic, out to the street, or especially too close to the edge of the creek... the Kookakado would get you. The spelling, likely having some root in Polish, is purely speculation as are all details about the "Doo." As a basically good child, I never met him myself... but certain older cousins were rumored to have had horrendous and live-changing encounters. As an adult, my heart still beats through my chest as I go up anyone's attic stairs, but I know now that the Kookakado was simply one small woman's tool to ride herd on 17 boisterous grandchildren. Sure, she was exploiting fear and ignorance, but she did it out of genuine love and concern. Terrorists have become the new Kookakado and the motives are not nearly as pure. Why is the oxymoronic Patriot Act stripping civil liberties? Terrorists. Why don't we address pressing economic and social policy issues? Terrorists. Why are we bogged down in Iraq sacrificing more soldiers, sailors and airmen each day then we did doing the actual war? That would be the threat of terrorism. Karen Hughes (please don't buy her book) compared pro-choice marchers to terrorists. Dick Cheney (please don't buy anything he's selling figuratively or literally) evoked images of the communist threat by standing at the Missouri university where Churchill made his Iron Curtain speech and warned that a vote for Kerry would be a vote for terrorism. What percentage of the population really remembers the fury and futility of the Red Scare? Obviously not enough to avoid the repeat. My grandmother's children are now grandparents, even greatparents, and as far as I know, none of the little ones has ever feared the Kookadadoo. But I know it would only take a couple of older cousins who enjoy scaring the bejabbers out of the little ones and the Kookadado would ride again. If their government can do it, why can't they? In my mid-40s I know empirically that there is no Kookadado, but in my heart I know that if they had set the Kookadado after Osama bin Laden -- he wouldn't be at large today. Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs Read/Post Comments (0) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top