On the death of Mohammed Abbas we are confronted with conflicting realities. Not only the predictable charges that the US "assassinated" him in custody, but also baser canards that float up from the kook sewers, related complete with the knowing sneer, that what we think happened on the Achille Lauro is not the truth.

In this bizarro-world narrative, the hi-jacking of that ship was a Mossad ruse, designed to alert the world to the heinousness of Palestinians, and thus poison their national aspirations. So the beating of a wheel-chair bound elderly Jew, and the tossing of him into the sea, is laid with delicious irony at the hands of Jews themselves.

Never mind that the '72 Olympics, Entebbe, etc., etc., had already demonstrated the evil of certain individuals and groups among the Palestinians (who despite the actions of some on their behalf do of course deserve their own independent nation). For some folk no stretch of believability is too painful in order to apportion blame for everything to Israel.

So, while I don't find the truth to be as subvertible as these people, at the same time it's obvious to me that it's a waste of time to debate the nature of reality with such. So instead I turn to the essential truth exhibited on several early albums recorded by AC/DC. On my imaginary ideal set list as a rock god, those songs are prominent. In fact, a set list of early AC/DC, Weezer, and Rage Against the Machine (some great riffs, some abysmally stupid and ignorant lyrics, but such is rock) is what I practice to at home.

In parting, I end with some lyrics of the late Bon Scott:

But just you wait
one of these days
see me drivin' round town
in my rock 'n' rolls royce
with the sun roof down
my bottle of booze no summertime blues
shouting loud
look at me
in my rock 'n ' roll voice

© Copyright 1976 J.Albert & Son Pty Ltd.(Australia)