and gone beyond the clear failure of not only gun bans as a means of solving a violence problem, but beyond the failure of dialog in general. The reasons for lack of unity are deep and far, far beyond the narrow, failed social policy of gun control. Name the issue, and there is little unity because what brung us to the USA dance in the first place was a set of national myths and legends created by the Mass Media Model. Be it the Big 3 networks, the Dailies, the weekly mags, the goddam Top 40 and Ed Sullivan have all passed by in my adult lifetime. We may have wanted something better with the Innertubes and connectedness, and it may come about down the line, but what we have now is the instant power to discredit anything and anyone at any time. This breeds a profound alienation where the selfies and facebooks do little more than construct a fast-moving self-image; here today, gone tomorrow, with a Lonely Street hangover. Most can put up with this, but many can't, and a few will commit atrocities because the price of legend and myth is cheap with a universal exchange rate: A cure for cancer is as good as shooting up a nightclub, but with too damn much work with too little public notice.

I can (and should) ask you hard questions about What is unity, What is the difference between one atrocity and another? What are the chances your naivete will get anywhere? Are you ignoring bigger questions? But for now, you are the lone picket destroyer in heavy seas at night, trying to inform a fleet you are no longer sure is behind you. I welcome your challenge.