Magdha-
22-11-2005, 17:34
The Evening News
Everyday at 6:00 P.M., nearly every Roach-Busterian, man, woman, and child, turned on the TV to watch Roach-Busters National News Network, which proudly boasted that it was "the most trusted name in government-approved news." Before the news began, a brief cinema, only a few minutes long, was shown.
On the TV screen were shown snapshots of starving, overworked inmates slaving away in gulags, massacred, mutilated bodies outside concentration camps, cities set aflame and ravaged by chaos, crime, and lawlessness. People, old and young, eroded by disease. Emaciated, skeletal figures dropping dead of hunger in the middle of shoddy, unpaved roads. Children disabled by landmines. A gloating tyrant swimming in a pool of gold coins, while his slaves were whipped, beaten, and humiliated.
On the screen, these solemn words appeared, accompanied by a haunting musical score: THIS IS A ROACH-BUSTERS WITHOUT GENERALISSIMO J.L.
Then, a pillar of light blasted through the dark, sinister overhead clouds, and suffused the land in a shimmering, gentle glow of hope. Descending from the heavens, emanating an aura of invincibility, was Generalissimo J.L., who landed on the ground, and spread his arms apart, causing all those with vile hearts to disintegrate in a bloodless burst of golden stardust. The Generalissimo slowly waved his hand, and there was a brilliant white light. When it faded, all citizens found themselves well-clothed, their ailments cured, their flimsy shacks replaced with clean, modest, air-conditioned homes, well stocked with food, clean water, and medicine. People fell on their knees and bowed to the Generalissimo who smiled modestly, and said, "Do not bow to me. I am only doing my duty. I am only doing what is right." The people rose, but still their eyes took on a hue of idolatry, of worship. The Generalissimo silently made his way into the city, where he snapped his fingers, and, in a heartbeat, turned the rat-infested, crime-ridden, decrepit, disease-ridden hellhole into a scrupulously clean, crime-free, disease-less, robust city, full of immense skyscrapers, happy and healthy people, expensive cars, and sunshine all around. Communists withered to dusts. The Generalissimo then confronted the unnamed dictator, who drew a machine gun. He began firing. All the bullets ricocheted off the Generalissimo, hitting the dictator and filling him full of lead. He collapsed into a bloody heap, the last of his life fading from his body. The Generalissimo was greeted by huge parades, with citizens waving flags, girls swooning, children giggling.
The following words appeared: THIS IS A ROACH-BUSTERS WITH GENERALISSIMO J.L.
The camera zoomed in on a cute, chubby-cheeked, buck-toothed four-year-old boy with a face dotted with freckles and carrot-colored hair. "I'm proud to have Generalissimo J.L. as my leader," he said, with unabashed glee.
As the screen faded, a final message appeared: LIFE IS SWELL, WITH GENERALISSIMO J.L.
Once the message faded, the evening news came on.
City Life
In every city, large and small, 8 out of 10 billboards featured the Generalissimo's portrait. He was always shown in his military attire, beaming like a proud father. Various billboards had messages saying, "Papa J.L. loves his children very, very much"; "Smile! The Generalissimo is watching"; "Generalissimo J.L. is your friend." Some portraits showed the Generalissimo, with the afore-mentioned red-headed boy in his lap. In a cartoon bubble, the kid was saying, "I love you, Generalissimo J.L.!"
Most stores, banks, museums, movie theaters, orchestra halls, sports stadiums, etc. prominently displayed the Generalissimo's portrait as well.
Every five minutes, loudspeakers would blare, "Smile! The Generalissimo is watching," "Generalissimo J.L. is your friend," or "Papa J.L. loves his children very, very much."
School
In every school, from preschool to college, whether the school was public or private, students were required to pledge allegiance to Generalissimo J.L. at the beginning of the day, right before recess, right after recess, and before going home. Every student was required to wear a school uniform which was an exact duplicate of the Generalissimo's signature military attire, except with a small lapel bearing his portrait was added. Each textbook, whether the subject was math, science, history, or English, showed a picture of a smiling Generalissimo J.L. on the front, with the message: "Papa J.L. loves his children very, very much."
Government
Like school children, all government officials, whether they were congressmen, military officials, or whatever, were also required to wear 'uniforms,' with lapels of the Generalissimo's portrait. Like children, they were also required to pledge allegiance to the Generalissimo four times every work day. However, unlike children, they were also required to salute every portrait of the Generalissimo that they passed.
Other
Citizens were required by law to own at least one portrait of the Generalissimo.
Among the Generalissimo's official titles were: Father of the Nation; Savior of Mankind; Supreme Combatant; Invincible Warrior; Grand Designer; Great Strategist; Dearly Beloved Leader; and Loving Papa.
Everyday at 6:00 P.M., nearly every Roach-Busterian, man, woman, and child, turned on the TV to watch Roach-Busters National News Network, which proudly boasted that it was "the most trusted name in government-approved news." Before the news began, a brief cinema, only a few minutes long, was shown.
On the TV screen were shown snapshots of starving, overworked inmates slaving away in gulags, massacred, mutilated bodies outside concentration camps, cities set aflame and ravaged by chaos, crime, and lawlessness. People, old and young, eroded by disease. Emaciated, skeletal figures dropping dead of hunger in the middle of shoddy, unpaved roads. Children disabled by landmines. A gloating tyrant swimming in a pool of gold coins, while his slaves were whipped, beaten, and humiliated.
On the screen, these solemn words appeared, accompanied by a haunting musical score: THIS IS A ROACH-BUSTERS WITHOUT GENERALISSIMO J.L.
Then, a pillar of light blasted through the dark, sinister overhead clouds, and suffused the land in a shimmering, gentle glow of hope. Descending from the heavens, emanating an aura of invincibility, was Generalissimo J.L., who landed on the ground, and spread his arms apart, causing all those with vile hearts to disintegrate in a bloodless burst of golden stardust. The Generalissimo slowly waved his hand, and there was a brilliant white light. When it faded, all citizens found themselves well-clothed, their ailments cured, their flimsy shacks replaced with clean, modest, air-conditioned homes, well stocked with food, clean water, and medicine. People fell on their knees and bowed to the Generalissimo who smiled modestly, and said, "Do not bow to me. I am only doing my duty. I am only doing what is right." The people rose, but still their eyes took on a hue of idolatry, of worship. The Generalissimo silently made his way into the city, where he snapped his fingers, and, in a heartbeat, turned the rat-infested, crime-ridden, decrepit, disease-ridden hellhole into a scrupulously clean, crime-free, disease-less, robust city, full of immense skyscrapers, happy and healthy people, expensive cars, and sunshine all around. Communists withered to dusts. The Generalissimo then confronted the unnamed dictator, who drew a machine gun. He began firing. All the bullets ricocheted off the Generalissimo, hitting the dictator and filling him full of lead. He collapsed into a bloody heap, the last of his life fading from his body. The Generalissimo was greeted by huge parades, with citizens waving flags, girls swooning, children giggling.
The following words appeared: THIS IS A ROACH-BUSTERS WITH GENERALISSIMO J.L.
The camera zoomed in on a cute, chubby-cheeked, buck-toothed four-year-old boy with a face dotted with freckles and carrot-colored hair. "I'm proud to have Generalissimo J.L. as my leader," he said, with unabashed glee.
As the screen faded, a final message appeared: LIFE IS SWELL, WITH GENERALISSIMO J.L.
Once the message faded, the evening news came on.
City Life
In every city, large and small, 8 out of 10 billboards featured the Generalissimo's portrait. He was always shown in his military attire, beaming like a proud father. Various billboards had messages saying, "Papa J.L. loves his children very, very much"; "Smile! The Generalissimo is watching"; "Generalissimo J.L. is your friend." Some portraits showed the Generalissimo, with the afore-mentioned red-headed boy in his lap. In a cartoon bubble, the kid was saying, "I love you, Generalissimo J.L.!"
Most stores, banks, museums, movie theaters, orchestra halls, sports stadiums, etc. prominently displayed the Generalissimo's portrait as well.
Every five minutes, loudspeakers would blare, "Smile! The Generalissimo is watching," "Generalissimo J.L. is your friend," or "Papa J.L. loves his children very, very much."
School
In every school, from preschool to college, whether the school was public or private, students were required to pledge allegiance to Generalissimo J.L. at the beginning of the day, right before recess, right after recess, and before going home. Every student was required to wear a school uniform which was an exact duplicate of the Generalissimo's signature military attire, except with a small lapel bearing his portrait was added. Each textbook, whether the subject was math, science, history, or English, showed a picture of a smiling Generalissimo J.L. on the front, with the message: "Papa J.L. loves his children very, very much."
Government
Like school children, all government officials, whether they were congressmen, military officials, or whatever, were also required to wear 'uniforms,' with lapels of the Generalissimo's portrait. Like children, they were also required to pledge allegiance to the Generalissimo four times every work day. However, unlike children, they were also required to salute every portrait of the Generalissimo that they passed.
Other
Citizens were required by law to own at least one portrait of the Generalissimo.
Among the Generalissimo's official titles were: Father of the Nation; Savior of Mankind; Supreme Combatant; Invincible Warrior; Grand Designer; Great Strategist; Dearly Beloved Leader; and Loving Papa.