Generations lived with him...

Generations of people lived with Yasser Arafat in the news.

I can remember as a child during the 70's and 80's, constantly hearing his name on the news, but not understanding exactly what was going on. Lots of fighting and death, as there still is in the Middle East.

Then during the 90's he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with the Isaeli leaders. But that peace didn't last long, because both sides began killing each other again by the end of the decade. Almost daily it was either suicide attacks or retaliatary attacks.

Now he is dead, at the age of 75. Seeing his picture, he looked like he was at least 85. We probably won't know exactly what was wrong with him.

The old boys are slowly dying away, and will all be dead within a decade or so. Reagan died too this year, although he was ill for quite a while.

It's all a reminder that we are all getting old. The children of this age will look back and remember Dubya, Sadam, and OBL; always hearing their names on the news, but not knowing exactly what was going on, except for lots of fighting and death.

Will their kids also know the Middle East for this in the decades to come? I hope and wish that they won't have to.

DB