Much fuss is being made about Her Majesty's death (just like during the ancien regime -- when the only affairs worthy public knowledge were the royal affairs) and the contribution of the ruthless reporters to that death. That rings the bell... In the German film "The Lost Honor of Katarina Blum" (available on video)-- the protagonist (true, literary fiction, but so are the British Royal figures) falls in love with a fugitive "terrorist" affiliated with Red Brigades -- and as she becomes the subject of a police investigation, her private life is being exploited by the tabloid press. Her story ends somewhat differently than Princess Di's, however. Katarina Blum invites the journalist who pursed her to her flat, promissing him an 'exclusive.' When he arrives, asking her to start telling her story with having sex with him, she shoots him dead. The film ends with his funeral at which fat cats shed crocodille tears over the "assault on the freedom of the press." I am not a big fan of royalty, but given the role of the media nowadays I would not mind Princess Di shooting back at the "free press" the way Katarina Blum did. Blasting that dirty swine Rupert Murdoch or his agents would actually be a greater service to humanity than removing land mines. Or better yet, use media pundits as human triggers to expolde those mines... wojtek sokolowski institute for policy studies johns hopkins university baltimore, md 21218 [EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: (410) 516-4056 fax: (410) 516-8233 POLITICS IS THE SHADOW CAST ON SOCIETY BY BIG BUSINESS. AND AS LONG AS THIS IS SO, THE ATTENUATI0N OF THE SHADOW WILL NOT CHANGE THE SUBSTANCE. - John Dewey
