a question of visuals

[realthog]

The good news for the day is that the vile Radovan Karadzic has finally been captured (and, to their enormous credit, by the Serbian authorities themselves rather than by any external/international organization).

While reading the Beeb's report on this and letting out the occasional cheer, I was struck afresh by how normal Karadzic seems -- at least in photographs. I could see him slotting happily into my circle of friends, if only at the nice-chap-I-met-down-the-pub level:

 

In short, he looks like the kind of guy you might imagine bumping into and having an interesting conversation with -- perhaps even a professionally unsound but highly enjoyable game of pool. Hell, on the face of it, I'd buy him a pint any time. He most certainly doesn't look like the kind of person who'd order, or at the very least condone, some of the worst acts of mass murder Europe has seen in the decades since the end of WWII.

Hm. He appears like the kind of fellow you'd be happy to share a beer with.

American voters might want to think about this one.
 

Comments

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

The first time I met a killer, he was helping a friend change a tyre. He was quite affable. When I was formally introduced to him, a couple of years later he was most polite. Another murderer I've known was a kindly old gentleman, who was very solicitous of the welfare of young ladies.

As to the dragons of Manhattan, I got the book, inscribed 'All best'.

[louismaistros.livejournal.com]

It is certainly a happy day with this monster in custody.

He does look normal. Of course, you chould say that about Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy and most other famous homicidal maniacs of our time. And you could say that about our current president as well. But yes, usually the genocidal maniacs have a certain look of crazy about them: Hitler, Amin, Sadam, etc... Very bizarre fashion sense, all.

BTW, I feel the need to tell you that I find your "tags" endlessy entertaining. :)

[bobhowe.livejournal.com]

Funny, I thought the same thing (and have every time I see a picture of Karadzic). Ratko Mladic, on the other hand, does look as though he's assembled from hagfish parts.

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Yes, poet, psychiatrist, physiotherapist, statesman, mass murderer, and, apparently, practitioner of alternative medicine...

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Why in heck is whether or not you'd like to have a beer with someone a valid criterian for choosing the POTUS?

I bet that wasn't a criterian during Prohibition elections -- talk about social engineering that failed.

Love, C.

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

I worked in a prison as a counselor and my favorite inmate was a man who was in for murder. Really great guy to talk to. You'd have never guessed from his face that he was capable of the murder he committed.