Abishai100
VIP Member
- Sep 22, 2013
- 4,957
- 250
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Will the very modern problem of terrorism 'color' our etiquette storytelling?
This little parable was inspired by the film Die Hard with a Vengeance!
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Karl wanted to pull off an incredible heist, to compensate for his emotionally frustrating life (an alcoholic father, an uncaring mother, a departed sister, and an unfaithful wife). Karl considered terrorism (some meaningless anti-social deed) but settled on a fancy heist to justify and validate his otherwise ridiculous soul-less life. Karl read that the Queen was visiting NY in September to see the U.S. Open (tennis tournament) and was bringing the Crown Jewels to showcase during the tennis trophy ceremony following the championship game. Karl got a brilliant idea.
Karl went to the U.S. Open disguised as a photojournalist working for ESPN. He got a press-ID card from a friend who worked for ESPN. Karl obtained entry into the tennis tournament grounds and spent the first few days scoping the scene and following the Queen's entourage and noting where and how the Crown Jewels were transported and kept. Karl discovered that the royal gems were being held in a vault inside one of the main offices of the tennis-complex (Flushing Meadows). The Crown Jewels would be stored there one final night after the trophy ceremony following the championship game, giving Karl just one chance to grab it.
Karl decided to probe the guards and desk receptionist by the vault about the Crown Jewels (still pretending to be an ESPN photojournalist!). Karl watched the trophy ceremony during which the Queen and her guardsmen showcased the royal gems to the crowd as Spaniard Rafael Nadal accepted the U.S. Open championship trophy (having defeated rival Andy Murray in the men's tournament). Karl now probed the guardsmen and receptionist by the vault, asking them all kinds of questions about the royal gems.
Karl realized that the security was rather tight but not really too too ominous. He pulled out his assembled revolver and held it up to one guardsman's head and threatened to shoot if they didn't hand over the Crown Jewels to him. Karl told the guardsmen and the receptionist that it was all just an elaborate prank orchestrated by ESPN and the British government, but if they didn't cooperate, things would not go as 'smoothly' as planned (so the guardsmen and receptionist cooperated!). Karl took the Crown Jewels and fled to Mexico (vowing never to return to America again!). Two months later, Karl picked up an American newspaper in Tijuana and noticed the news-story: "Flushing Meadows devastated by terrorist attack during closing activities of tournament!"
It dawned on Karl that his Crown Jewel heist was impressive and nifty and lucky but in no way compared to the turbulence caused by the terrorist attack on Flushing Meadows. The attack took place just hours after Karl fled the tennis-grounds with the royal gems. Now, with the Crown Jewels in Karl's possession, the ambitious and gloating 'thief' meditated and wondered how his nifty little theft would be contemplated in the context of the terrible terrorist-attack on Flushing Meadows that fateful day. Karl concluded that his life (like any other) was in no way bereft of any 'spiritual intrigue.'
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This little parable was inspired by the film Die Hard with a Vengeance!
====
Karl wanted to pull off an incredible heist, to compensate for his emotionally frustrating life (an alcoholic father, an uncaring mother, a departed sister, and an unfaithful wife). Karl considered terrorism (some meaningless anti-social deed) but settled on a fancy heist to justify and validate his otherwise ridiculous soul-less life. Karl read that the Queen was visiting NY in September to see the U.S. Open (tennis tournament) and was bringing the Crown Jewels to showcase during the tennis trophy ceremony following the championship game. Karl got a brilliant idea.
Karl went to the U.S. Open disguised as a photojournalist working for ESPN. He got a press-ID card from a friend who worked for ESPN. Karl obtained entry into the tennis tournament grounds and spent the first few days scoping the scene and following the Queen's entourage and noting where and how the Crown Jewels were transported and kept. Karl discovered that the royal gems were being held in a vault inside one of the main offices of the tennis-complex (Flushing Meadows). The Crown Jewels would be stored there one final night after the trophy ceremony following the championship game, giving Karl just one chance to grab it.
Karl decided to probe the guards and desk receptionist by the vault about the Crown Jewels (still pretending to be an ESPN photojournalist!). Karl watched the trophy ceremony during which the Queen and her guardsmen showcased the royal gems to the crowd as Spaniard Rafael Nadal accepted the U.S. Open championship trophy (having defeated rival Andy Murray in the men's tournament). Karl now probed the guardsmen and receptionist by the vault, asking them all kinds of questions about the royal gems.
Karl realized that the security was rather tight but not really too too ominous. He pulled out his assembled revolver and held it up to one guardsman's head and threatened to shoot if they didn't hand over the Crown Jewels to him. Karl told the guardsmen and the receptionist that it was all just an elaborate prank orchestrated by ESPN and the British government, but if they didn't cooperate, things would not go as 'smoothly' as planned (so the guardsmen and receptionist cooperated!). Karl took the Crown Jewels and fled to Mexico (vowing never to return to America again!). Two months later, Karl picked up an American newspaper in Tijuana and noticed the news-story: "Flushing Meadows devastated by terrorist attack during closing activities of tournament!"
It dawned on Karl that his Crown Jewel heist was impressive and nifty and lucky but in no way compared to the turbulence caused by the terrorist attack on Flushing Meadows. The attack took place just hours after Karl fled the tennis-grounds with the royal gems. Now, with the Crown Jewels in Karl's possession, the ambitious and gloating 'thief' meditated and wondered how his nifty little theft would be contemplated in the context of the terrible terrorist-attack on Flushing Meadows that fateful day. Karl concluded that his life (like any other) was in no way bereft of any 'spiritual intrigue.'
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