Birds of a Feather Make Policy Together

With all this chirping and squawking regarding a possible war with Iraq and related issues, it is time to introduce a new winged species onto the political landscape of the United States: the owl.

Owls, of course, are neither doves nor hawks, though we may possess traits of both. We do hunt, that is true, and no rat is safe with an owl on the prowl. However, we don’t posture in the sky for all to see -- including our prey and predators -- but rather quietly await, under cover, our moment of conquest. Nor do we perch idly on a limb, sanctimoniously displaying our sublime beauty while coo-cooing with our mates in a public display of indulgent passivity.

However, what really distinguishes owls from the two other groups of feathered fowl dominating political thought and culture throughout the world is our ability to turn our heads completely in the opposite direction, thus giving us yet another perspective, another point of view.

One more minor characteristic I might mention is that we are generally associated with wisdom, as opposed to ill-thought-out warmongering and irresponsible manipulation of the peace market.

Christopher Dill

Culver City