Ravings of a Textual Deviant

The only nice thing that I can find to say about Strom Thurmond is that he was an excellent example of why term limitations would be a good idea. I desperately hope that his record is not “rehabilitated” as a result of his death, the way Nixon’s was. I’m not promoting speaking ill of the dead for its own sake, but I think his choices should be left unvarnished to speak for themselves.

That said, I am going to go on to talk about one of my favorite short stories, “Death and the Senator,” by Arthur C. Clarke. (Arthur C. Clarke has written almost all of my favorite short stories, actually.) “Death and the Senator” should be required reading for all politicians. It’s all about unintended consequences, and how a decision can come back and bite you years later, in a way you’d never expect. I’m going to spoil it for you, but go read the story anyway as Clarke is a much better writer than I could ever hope to be.

Early in his career, the Senator votes against funding a space station that would be comparable to one the Russians are building. Many years later, the Senator discovers that he has a heart condition that can only be treated by surgery in microgravity. The U. S. still doesn’t have a facility, mostly because of the Senator’s own actions. Arrangements are made for the Senator to have surgery aboard the Russian station. He’s even bumped to the top of the list. The beautiful part of the story is the Senator’s internal monologue, and how he finally comes to deal with the blatant hypocrisy he’s about to commit.

And for the record, there’s no connection in my mind between Thurmond and this particular story, other than the words in the title. Although, after I go back and re-read the story, there might be.

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