I wanted to avoid this topic just as I want to avoid everything concerned with what has become known as"9/11," America's penchant for nicknames and short-forms holding even in its nightmares. But we donot always get to do the things we want, and ignoring this is something like ignoring a monstrous icebergthat's drifted into the harbor.
On that date this year, a dense, almost impenetrable fog will descend over the entire United States. Allthinking will stop. Television networks will proudly sport logos designed just for the day, and they willbroadcast spots from advertisers pretending not to be selling anything. Hours of toe-crinkling,stomach-churning sentiment will be broadcast from politicians with the morals of gangsters.