search
Mort Laitner

We’re on the Eve of Destruction

Johann Georg Trautmann (1713–1769) Destruction of Jerusalem. Wikimedia Commons, (public domain)

The eastern world, it is explodin’
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’?
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don’t believe
We’re on the eve of destruction

I watch YouTube, and I listen to Barry McGuire sing, P.F. Sloan’s words to a 1965 classic protest song

Of course you remember “Eve of Destruction.”

Who could forget such a thoughtful tune?

Of course, it’s one of your favorites.

And of course, you think, “How little has changed in the last 60 years.”

For this very morning, you read the bold print headline in the paper: U-Haul Driver Crashes Rental Truck into Barriers Near White House.

 

And low and behold, guess what the Secret Service finds inside that truck.

Good guess.

How did you know it was a Nazi swastika flag?

I’m amazed with your guessing abilities.

Next you’re going to tell me, that this 19-year-old neo-Nazi buys these flags online.

Okay, that’s an easy one.

And after the crash, the punk leaves the rental and starts waving a red flag with a white circle in its center and a black swastika housed inside the circle.

Okay, another easy one.

But why the Nazi flag?

Because this genius, admires the Nazis’ “great history” their “authoritarian nature, eugenics, and their one world order.”

He tells the cops, “I wanted to get to theWhite House, seize power and be put in charge of the nation. I would kill the president, if that’s what I have to do.”

Think about it. For six months, this idiot plans to seize power from the government.

I wonder, “Where did he get such an original idea?”

Six months of planning: buy flag, buy one-way plane ticket, rent truck, smash truck into White House barriers, and take over country.

Now that’s a plan!

And I start singing:

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don’t believe
We’re on the eve of destruction.

 

About the Author
Florida's Jewish short-story writer, speaker, film producer and retired attorney. Mort is the co-editor of "Sea Of Tranquility---A Literary Anthology." The book is scheduled to land on the Moon in September 2025 as part of the Lunar Codex Project. The Earthbound editions are now on sale. He has also authored, "A Hebraic Obsession", "The Hanukkah Bunny" and "The Greatest Gift." Mort has produced an award-winning short film entitled, "The Stairs". Movie can be viewed online. ChatGPT says, "Mort is known for his works that often explore themes of love, loss, and the human connection. Laitner has published several books , including “A Hebraic Obsession.” His writing style is characterized by its emotional depth and introspection. Laitner’s works have garnered praise for their heartfelt expression and keen insight into the human experience." Mort is in his third year as president of the South Florida Writers Association. He was a correspondent for the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Jewish Journal.
Related Topics
Related Posts