Evil + docility = the cure for hope

February 25, 2002—Above the entrance to my alma mater's library was inscribed, as I recall, "Who knows only his own generation remains forever a child." Given the times, the inscription seems to have legs. Still, it may be too gracious to characterize the American masses as children. Children are curious, often rebellious, and seldom content with one answer.

I am also reminded of Jack Webb playing a frustrated drill instructor in the 50s film, The D.I. Addressing his inept recruits, he lamented, "You men are so dumb, you're not even a mob. A mob has a leader; you're a herd!" Bovine docility might be closer to the mark. Ruminating cattle don't appear to worry—until it's too late. A flash of lightning, a sudden predator, or a staged terror event will get the herd moving. They don't care where.
Then, there's always Socrates' "The unexamined life is not worth living." He was never more prescient than now. Unfortunately, given the leverage of technology combined with rampant ignorance and corruption, Socrates' words may be taken quite literally. The fingers on the buttons and the supportive braying in the background do not bode well for life. The suspect doctrine of Manifest Destiny, with its underlying belief in religious supremacy, is now a manifesto for mass destruction. The potential has always been there, of course, but now we have the means and a power vacuum on the planet enabling a rogue nation to gorge on criminal behavior while invoking God in the name of freedom.