Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Heroes: real and self-styled

Commentary by Pat Murphy


By PAT MURPHY

Pat Murphy

Kansas provided the stages for two remarkable extravaganzas starring heroes within days of each other: One involving a superb new national hero made of the genuine right stuff, and then a batch of self-acclaimed heroes engaged in cheap self-aggrandizement.

First, the genuine article: Steve Fossett, 60, millionaire-turned-adventurer, holder of 102 world records in airplanes, sailplanes, balloons and sailboats, plus two failed attempts to climb Mount Everest.

When his experimental single jet GlobalFlyer touched down at Salina municipal airport, he became the first person to fly solo around the world non-stop and without refueling -- 23,000 miles in 67 almost-sleepless hours.

Utterly remarkable. A feat of steely human endurance and courage. Unsurpassed engineering genius.

Except for an impromptu dousing of champagne by his playful patron, magnate Sir Richard Branson, of Virgin Atlantic Airways, a strained rendition of "Matador" by the Salina High School band, cheers from 8,000 spectators and Fossett's beaming appreciation, there was not much more fuss in the climax to this astonishing exploit.

Kansas has been home to real heroes: native and adopted sons and daughters such as President Dwight Eisenhower, aviatrix Amelia Earhart, black scientist George Washington Carver, presidential candiate Sen. Bob Dole, frontier lawman Wyatt Earp, frontiersman Will Bill Hickok, temperance crusader Carry Nation, Olympic distance runner Jim Ryun and so many other Sunflower state standouts.

But just 93 miles down the road in Wichita, another celebration a few days earlier turned into a staged, egoistic spectacular that was roundly panned for its cheap self-indulgence.

For 53 minutes, a procession of self-congratulating politicians and law enforcement figures strode before cameras to praise their work in arresting the so-called BTK (bind, torture, kill) serial killer of at least 10 people.

Most devastating criticism was heaped on the emcee, Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams, whose style resembled camera-hogging Montgomery County (Md.) Police Chief Charles Moose during the sniper terror a few years ago. (Moose resigned to capitalize on his experience with a book and possible movie.)

Long after backslapping speeches by the giddy district attorney, by the controversial Kansas attorney general (he's under fire for subpoenaing hospital abortion records), by Wichita's mayor and by the chief did the garrulous Chief Williams pause in the orgy of gooey self-praise to even mention who BTK is—Dennis Rader, a church-going suburban code enforcement officer.

(What, no confetti and balloons dropping from the ceiling?)

The obvious is worth saying: The stagecraft of contrived presidential campaign rallies finally has been adapted to local police announcing they've done their job.




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