“Sending A Message”

Years ago I watched a prominent psychiatrist interview Richard Kuklinski, the 6’5″ professional killer known as the “Iceman.” He was known to have murdered at least 7 victims, but claimed to have killed about 300, mainly for the mafia.

Throughout the interview, the Iceman maintained a blank expression, as if we were discussing the price of bacon. But one time he chuckled. He was describing a particularly grisly killing, with the victim left in the open for all to see. The Iceman said, “They wanted to send a message.”

There are various ways to sent a message. In the old days you could use Western Union to send a telegram, or write a letter. Now you can email or text or IM. Or you can blow a president’s brains out onto the streets of Dallas, Texas. Or you can nick a president’s ear while coming within millimeters of blowing his brains out onto a field in Butler, Pennsylvania. Or you can down an airliner with all aboard just outside of Washington, D.C., which just as well could have been Air Force One.

I apologize for quoting the Iceman. But you must admit he was an expert on the subject of messages.