Sneaky Nonsense

  I received an E-mail from one M. Sanjayan who describes himself or herself as lead scientist with The Nature Conservancy, an environmental organization to which I contribute a few bucks each year.
    The purpose of Mr., Miss, Mrs., or Ms. Sanjayan’s communiqué was to supply me and, I assume, the Conservancy’s million-plus members with a link to my "Very Own Sneak Preview" of how the group has been rescuing American forests and flood plains from commercial exploitation and the proliferation of the human species in places it doesn’t belong.
    In any event, the word "Sneak" combined with the word "Preview" kicked off a long-repressed train (or cargo ship) of thought in my few remaining gray cells:

What the hell is Sneaky about an event that is being broadcast far and wide to anybody and everybody?

    Answer me that, will you?
    You say you don’t give a shit?
    Well that’s just the kind of head-in-the-sand ostrich attitude that results in the proliferation of feral hogs in Florida and the election of Nancy Pelosi to Congress.

                                                                
* * *

    Although the origins of the phrase "Sneak Preview" are lost in the mists and three-martini lunches of Madison Avenues past. I believe (correct me if I’m mistaken) that its first usage emerged from the primordial slime of some unknown marketer’s tiny brain back in the 1960s.
    I’m sure you all remember the ‘60s ─ Elvis and the Beatles were ascendant, sex was being invented by teenage mutants at a three-day pot-fest at Max Yasgur's farm near Woodstock, New York; the nation was being Greened with LSD by Timothy Leary and kindred assholes, and mass nonconformity via advanced hair styling was sweeping the world.
    Since I am congenitally not with it, I was puzzled at the time ─ as, indeed, I still am ─ over why events that are massively advertised on radio, television, the internet, and the print media are billed as "Sneak."
    Used as an adjective, thesauruses (thesauri?) list "Sneak" as synonymous with "Secret," "Clandestine," "Furtive," and "Stealthy." Dictionaries define the word as "Perpetrated without warning" and "Marked by quiet and caution and secrecy."
    Examples of usage include Sneak Thief, Sneak Attack, and Sneak Affair. In other words, the exact opposite of its usage in the phrase "Sneak Preview."
    Like, suppose Al Qaeda had followed the Hollywood Sneak Preview formula prior to September 11, 2001: Here are some of the headlines and TV announcements we could have expected in the months preceding:

● Sneak Atrocity Preview to be broadcast to the Muslim world September 11 via Al Jazeera cable channel 666! Observe with ecstasy as Islamic fanatics crash airliners into Twin Towers for no reason! Thrill to the sights and sounds of Holy Warriors killing themselves and thousands of unbelievers! Rejoice as infidels die in agony. Catch the action live in flaming color and surround sound! Allahu Akbar!

● Sneak Jihad coming to you next month courtesy of Taliban TV! Giggle as Muslim lunatics destroy Twin Towers...delight as Islam heroes crash into Pentagon...See Arab martyrs ascend to heaven and have sex with Virgins!

● Exclusive Sneak Preview of terrorist attack to be aired 9/11 on CBS: Be amazed at collapsing skyscrapers! Listen to innocent victims scream as they die in flames! Be horrified as Dan Rather "Speaks Truth to Power" while he explains how President Bush is murdering American office workers!

    Or what if the Japs had advertised their coming Sneak Attack on Pearl Harbor with a massive media Sneak Preview blitz in the months leading up to December 7, 1941:

● Sneak Attack Preview Coming to your Rocal Theater December 7: Raugh and Cheer as Imperial Air Force Annihirate America Freet, Eriminate many Roundeyes!

● Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere to Raunch Pearl Harbor Sneak Attack December 7! Do Not Miss once in rifetime surprise event!

● Be sure to tune to Radio Nippon next Sunday! Risten to Sneak Japan Sordiers Sink Batterships, Destroy Airpranes, Brow up Civirians!

    Or the Navy Seals offing of Osama Bin Laden:

● President Obama went on national television today to announce a Sneak Preview of the assassination of terrorist Osama Bin Laden next Wednesday at his home in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Sneak live television coverage will begin 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time with the boarding of Secret Black Hawk helicopters by an elite Sneak Force of Navy hitmen.

● The New York Times has learned that Muslim activist, Osama Bin Laden, will be featured in a Sneak Assassination Preview May 2 when a Sneak Team of Special Sneak Forces will kill him. Unidentified sources say Mr. Bin Laden’s bullet-riddled corpse will be dumped at sea in traditional Mohammedan fashion after he has been gunned down like a dog.

    Or Israel’s raid on Entebbe:

● In late-breaking news, Al Jazeera has been informed by Israeli Defense Forces that a Sneak Preview of a clandestine Jew operation will take place next week (July 4, 1976) to transport a hundred or so Sneak Zionist pig tourists from Entebbe airport in Uganda to the Zionist entity in contravention of international law.

● Speaking at a Texas-style roast pregnant woman barbecue June 28, beloved Ugandan President-for-Life Idi Amin invited his remaining countrymn to visit Entebbe next week to enjoy a Sneak Preview of a secret commando raid by Israeli Special Forces. After the scheduled Sneak Fiasco has engulfed the Ugandan army His Majesty will stage a Sneak Massacre of Ugandan civilians. Bring your own mashed plantain and banana wine! Don’t miss the fun!

Norm Mack, Sneak Blogger, Peterborough, dog@myfairpoint.net

 

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