The old “Rowan and Martin Laugh-In” show had an award called “The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate,” which was used to confront any number of imbecilities in the news. I recall this when I see pictures of Iraqis showing their purple fingers following their voting. This has become the latest ritual in the secular religion of politics, not unlike the practice of Americans publicly displaying their faith in the democratic process when, on election day, they proudly wear their “I voted” stickers in full view. I might find the purple finger sacrament more to my liking if the ink was … Continue reading Giving the Purple Finger