Remembering Rummy

Donald Rumsfeld died yesterday at the age of 88.

On her show last night, Rachel Maddow opened with a long piece on Rumsfeld -- but I loved how it wasn't a eulogy, but rather more of a recitation of his despicable actions over the decades. 

I'm not concerned with "Oh, how can you say that about someone who just died?" when it comes to Rumsfeld. How many died not only in unnecessary wars because of him, but wars we got into because he lied and manipulated facts? And how many lives did he hurt dividing America?

I've written here that I've known of Donald Rumsfeld for a very long time.  He not only was the Congressman who represented my district when I was a kid, but we also went to the same high school, New Trier in Winnetka, a northern suburb of Chicago.

In fact, we even crossed paths once -- and there's photographic evidence!

And to make matters even worse, Donald Rumsfeld and I went to the same high school, albeit at different times -- New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

Not long ago, I wrote here about how my childhood growing up in Glencoe, Don Friedman (who roams around these pages on occasion) sent me a note about how he was going through some old photos and came across one from a class trip we took to Washington, D.C.  Both of us think this took place during junior high, though the box was marked Freshman Year in high school.  

But there I am -- with Don -- and also the other Don, Rumsfeld.  You can see Our Congressman standing with the teacher chaperones in the lower far-right (and how appropriate is that?!) .  And you can see that he signed it on the Capitol steps.  That's me, the short fellow in the top row, fourth gremlin from the left.  Don Friedman is to my left, in the light sportcoat and dark sweater.

I’m trying to decide if it’s a good thing or bad that I have a picture with me and Don Rumsfeld together.  However, I take great comfort knowing that the two of us are about as far apart as two can be in the photo, which is a lovely metaphor for life…