In the years that I taught public school classes I had the opportunity to witness a steady stream of miscreants shuffle shamefaced into the principal’s office.  They had violated their teacher’s paean “don’t let me catch you” were caught and now were to suffer the punishment meted out for such crimes against school, honor, decency and the American way.

In the reports about the trial of Saddam Hussein in Iraq who is being judged by Iraqis we hear that Hussein will be aided with the awkward assistance of “Contrarian”, Ramsay Clark, who is there to see that Hussein gets a fair trial.  So far the reports show that the trial belongs to Hussein for he has no limits.  What he has is a superabundance of Hubris and is making the most of it.  The charges against him are denied by him for he denies the legality of the trial.  He feels free to express himself in anyway he can and does so loudly and the courtroom demeanor is upset regularly.  No one can say that he is prevented by gags or straight jackets to remain meek and mild while the evidence is trotted out for the world to see.

The charge is that he directed the killing of 48 innocent Iraqis years ago, a well documented feat by a dictator who pretty much did what he wanted including going to war for eight years against his neighbor Iran and then invaded Kuwait.  But the trial is about those few documented murders including stories of torture and inhuman treatment now disclosed by family members.  Mr. Hussein shows no concern except for his right to express himself by shouting and disrupting the proceedings.

In the popular American mind a courtroom is no place to find oneself. In most of our minds we see the accused as a worried individual mostly concerned with the way others view him or her.  He or she is ashamed to be in such a place and in the popular mind it is akin to the universal belief that if you were indicted you must have done something to be guilty about.

Mr. Hussein, who compares himself to Mussolini, will have nothing to do with this meek and mild image of him.  He equates himself with the heroic statues to himself that were pulled down after his country was invaded by the Americans and their “Allies”.   It is a pity.  He should be there with head hung low and guilt written all over his body language.

Mr. Hussein could use some introspection and less Hubris.  He has none of the former and too much of the latter. He seems to have no fear – I’ll give him that.