Yesterday on KERA's Talk Show, Ben Fountain was interview about his book, Brief Encounters with Che Guevara. It's a political book without being a boot to the head.
One question prompted Ben to say this (paraphrasing): When Kennedy was shot, America lost its innocence; when Watergate was exposed, America lost its innocence; when the American Embassy and the soldiers in Iran were taken, America lost its innocence; when the Challenger exploded, America lost its innocence; when 9-11 crashed into us, America lost its innocence; when Katrina hit, America lost its innocence. When will America finally lose its innocence? It seems our innocence is the most dangerous thing about this country.
And he is So Damn Right that I laughed darkly!
Because the question comes to this: When will America grow up? When will America stop acting like that pre-adolescent who has never been censored for her casual cruetly, and so feels justified in everything she does? When will America learn to introspect, to criticize herself, to grow from her self-criticism, to learn about the effects of her behavior, to learn the dark corners of her own history, the needs and humanity of those she so casually abuses in pursuit of her own satisfaction, and thus attain some maturity?
Nice one there, Ben. (xo)
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