Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003 | 8:13 a.m.
We Americans have a tendency to remember momentous events by a mundane task we might have been performing at the time.
Where were you went the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor?
What were you doing when President Kennedy was assassinated?
When did you learn about the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center?
What was I doing when the word came over the news that Saddam Hussein had been captured?
Would you believe mourning over the death of Keiko, the killer whale who starred in the "Free Willy" movies?
As often happens with success, fame lasts as long as the press clippings continue to heap praise on the person or venture.
After starring in one of 1993's most successful movies, Keiko disappeared from public view, only to be located in a Mexico City aquarium suffering from malnutrition and inadequate facilities.
Keiko's plight struck the hearts of scientists and animal activists who determined he should be treated and returned to the open seas to join a pod of killer whales.
His rehabilitation took place at an Oregon coast aquarium, where handlers taught him to catch fish and swim in the open seas.
Experts were sure he would make the adjustment and return to his fellow whales, but Keiko had other ideas. His desire to stay with humans baffled some but pleased others.
At age 27 Keiko died of pneumonia. He never won an Oscar, but his contributions to the science of marine biology and human interaction with wild animals were inestimable.
It was with a bit of melancholy that I finished reading Keiko's story, but was exhilarated and joyful when I learned of Saddam's capture.
The cruel, despotic leader will now face a world tribunal. He will have to answer for thousands of deaths and crimes against humanity committed at his bidding.
Seldom has there been a man with such evil intent, whose despicable treatment of his people rings of the horrible injustices of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Noriega, Idi Amin and others of their ilk.
Saddam will be treated as a prisoner of war. He is lucky. The world will watch eagerly for the court case that could be reminiscent of the Nuremberg Trials or the Eichman trial in Israel.
What a sight it was to see this bitter, broken old man with the bewildered look as he was searched for head lice.
As harmless as he looked, his captors must not forget this is a dangerous, desperate man who hands reek with blood. We can be sure he will reach into his bag of tricks searching for a solution to his present situation.
Will we ever see a time when Christmas is just one big bash of gift giving and holiday cheer -- no more of those lovely old Christmas hymns or Nativity scenes celebrating the birth of Jesus?
I am afraid we are heading in that direction with organizations like the ACLU beating the drums. Away with Christmas carols and religious traditions.
Where do we go from here?
Happy hunting -- that's shopping.
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