Colin Powell Out
I woke up this morning to the push notification that Colin Powell died of Covid-19 complications. I was surprisingly sad.
I met Colin Powell, man, what was that, 2007? His book had just come out. He was on a book tour, and came to Saint Xavier University as one of the stops. A small group of students were chosen to meet with him before his public talk and have a small Q&A. I think pretty much everyone knew that i despised the. man, and I found myself liking him even less after reading his book and finding that he personally felt the arguments for war were bullshit, but that he was told he was the only person who could sell the war to the public, and did so out of sense of duty, because that's what soldiers do.
The day of the meet and greet, I ran home after classes to get spiffed up, and of course was running late (I lived 2 miles from the school). We were told if we didn't get there on time, the doors would be closed so that security could secure the room for his arrival.
I literally got there with 2 or 3 minutes to spare. I apologized profusely to my professor, Valerie Morkevicius, who giggled at me. I pulled off my coat to take my seat. We were in a huge conference room, at a board room like table, long and oval. As I looked to where I would be sitting, I noticed there were only two empty chairs, directly across from each other at opposite sides of the table.
I noticed that the other students who actually knew me were openly giggling. I was the student who helped bring the mother of Lt. Ehren Watada, Carolyn Ho, to campus to speak out against the war, and against the imprisonment of her son. I was the student, and National Guardsman (2 years away from my first and only tour to Afghanistan) who alongside The Notorious Professor Peter Kirstein brought anti-War protestors to Saint Xavier. My feelings of Colin Powerll and what he stood for were well known at this point."Motherf**kers!" I said under my breath, and took my seat.
A few moments later, Colin entered the room, sat directly across from me, and greeted us with a smile. Within minutes, it was easy to see how he'd achieved the heights of his career. He glowed with charisma, and had a wealth of knowledge, particularly about history that was dazzling. He could have easily sauntered into a classroom in any university in America and been one of the best educators of the bunch.
I walked out of the room, not liking the man, but having a respect for him. In reality, it is always a pleasure to see a black man reach great heights...I suppose even if it is amongst the jackals?
The room was full of great minds that I am sure have gone on to many an amazing career. You'll notice in the attached picture, that I am at the furthest point possible from General Powell. That was a conscious choice.
And so when I heard that he died, I was saddened. While I found the man offensive for a variety of reasons, I never would have wished death on him. I found it additionally maddening that he was also vaccinated, but succumb to his illness while so many of his Republican colleagues endanger the lives of innocent Americans on a daily basis and dance like Satan spawn conjuring death upon the hillsides.
As they say, Karma is a bitch.
In any case, I offer my condolences to the friends, family, and those who had the pleasure to be inspired or delighted with Colin Powell. May he rest in peace.
What were your thoughts on Colin Powell? Did you ever meet the man? Let me know down in the comments!
Colin Powell with the best and brightest of Saint Xavier University, circa 2007.
