A 33 year-old teacher from Texas, Ronnie Smith decided to educate kids in Libya, and called himself "Libya's Best Friend."
In case you can't guess what happened next, here's one of today's news reports...
Some say he should never have gone to Libya.
Well...you might remember my YouTube video and Groucho imitation after Moammar was shot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTquHnLvzXY
But really, if you'd care to Google the name "Philip Chism," you'll know that it's just as risky to be an honest, dedicated teacher in Massachusetts. Or any other state of the Union. What 14 year-old Philip did would probably sicken even a Libyan sniper.
You could say this Ronnie Smith was a hero. Or at least, a great optimist.
He was also a bit odd, as you'd expect from somebody named Ronnie Smith. Here, on Twitter, just days before his demise, he tells the world about...a butt sprayer...
What does this teach us?
Use your butt sprayer while ye may, because there's no warranty on your ass, and it may not last as long.
In addition to Warren Zevon's "enjoy every sandwich," now there's Yomna..."enjoy every peanut butter cookie," whether you can sing Happy Birthday in Arabic or not.
As Groucho said of Harpo, "he was a nice man, and that's as good an epitaph as any." Ronnie Smith: a nice man; and a humanitarian, an idealist, an optimist, and for a little while, a maker of peanut butter cookies and smiles. Hopefully his teachings will not be forgotten.
