The King Kong Syndrome

In recent interviews with officials of the American Consulate-General here in Jerusalem, the new head of the EU's Middle East team who visited as well as a very pro-Palestine British MP, I have been asked about what we revenants (see a comment on my use of this term and I published an article: "Revenant is relevant" in the Jerusalem Post on September 29, 2002. pg. 06) feel regarding the future and more specifically, how I view the new security barrier which places Shiloh on the "other side".

I tell them that I call my feeling the King Kong Syndrome. We are the sacrifice positioned on the other side of the wall to gratify the Beast.

If you can't remember or fail to understand my point, here's an excerpt from the synopsis of the film:-

The main island has a long sandy peninsula…the rest of the island's shoreline has sheer, steep precipices, hundreds of feet high. A wall cuts off the base of the peninsula from the rest of the island. Denham explains that there's an ancient, monstrous wonder "that no white man has ever seen" on the mysterious island:

Denham: A wall...built so long ago that the people who live there have slipped back, forgotten the higher civilization that built it. That wall is as strong today as it was centuries ago. The natives keep that wall in repair. They need it.
Driscoll: Why?
Denham: There's something on the other side of it, something they fear.
Captain: A hostile tribe.
Denham: Did you ever hear of...Kong?
Captain: Why, yes. Some native superstition isn't it? A god or a spirit or something?
Denham: Well anyway, neither Beast nor man. Something monstrous. All powerful. Still living. Still holding that island in a grip of deadly fear. Well, every legend has a basis of truth. I tell you, there's something on that island that no white man has ever seen..

In a frenzy of excitement, the natives have prepared Ann as the new sacrificial bride. The witch doctors open the tall gate in the enormous wall and drag her to the top of a high stone altar at the edge of the jungle. Her wrists are spread and bound to two great pillars or altar stakes (each decorated with a human skull) as a sacrificial gift - the "bride of Kong." After the witch doctors hurry back, the gates are closed and re-sealed with a huge wooden bolt. All the natives then climb to the top of the wall or gate where they gather to watch, torches lighting the sky. The chief halts the dancing, raises his staff, offers prayers, and then two half-naked assistants strike a giant brass gong above the gates to signal Kong. Left invitingly open to attack, Ann sobs helplessly on the altar.

Just then, a lookout up on the gate next to the giant gong cries out: "Hey, look out. It's Kong. Kong's coming!" Ann screams again. They try to keep the huge gate closed, bolted and blocked - the gate that has kept Kong trapped inside the island for so long. At the sound of the gong, the natives swarm from their huts and join them to hold the gate against the giant ape. Kong pounds repeatedly on it, and pushes with his entire weight thrown against the door. As last, he breaks it down, and the doors swing open to reveal the awesome brute. An enraged Kong attacks the village searching for his blond beauty. He hurls an entire hut at the fleeing natives and crushes everything in his path. Kong then smashes the platform with three swift punches from his fist.

And if that isn't enough to get your imagination going, try the trailer of the new Jackson film here.