Red Death 2000

Red Death 2000 The shaman shakes his rattle... a gourd and seed rhythm like Mexican maracas... The sound meant to draw attention of spirits invading the host... Wake them, break their concentration and persuade them with his song to vacate their chosen abode. Smoke and feathers... the heartbeat of the drum accents the shaman's dance. He places the small medicine bag upon the sleeping boy's chest... it is bright red from the fever and glistens with sweat in the flickering firelight. In the early morning light the women of the village will wail the funereal song as death takes one more child unto his cold eternal bosom. The shaman collapses in an exhausted heap... to repeat the dance tomorrow. Smallpox... the red death... brought by invading Europeans, along with syphilis and alcoholism decimated the great Indian nations. The innocent pay the price of the conquistador's progress... as it was then, so it is still... on an ever greater global scale. Corporate greed is the new invader, pollution and environmental decay the new most deadly diseases... destroying not only the innocent but, in the end, the whole planet. It is not yet too late ~ our own ecology we must master to prevent this ultimate disaster! 1-20-2002 Written January 20th, 2002 © on Jan 20 2002 02:50 PM PST, Heinz Scheuenstuhl    0 • 9