Lars von Trier, the Danish film director in the news, is pointing the way with his “Dogville”: the so-called American values are behind many an evil in today’s world. He was accused of making a film about the United States without having been there. “They never went to Casablanca when they made ‘Casablanca’,” he retorted. A good point, but there is an even better one: Dogland is spreading around the world by hook and by crook. Britain is its fifty-second state already, just behind Canada. Back to the American values, this is where we must strike now. We must take them apart. Bit by bloody bit. That is where the devil is now lurking.

Addendum I (June 4, 2003)

I do not wish to take any of this back, or to mince words, but I feel that I must make a point out of admitting that my growing feelings toward things American make me ever-so-slightly uncomfortable. Especially when I remember those Americans I love and respect. Their names matter to me. Bob Collén, a fellow poet, comes first, but he is far from alone. Harold Marshall, a fellow building economist of renown, comes next. Kreon Cyros, who managed MIT’s facilities while I was there, is another “good” American, as I like to put it. There are many others, it goes without saying, but these fine people come to mind at once. They are straight and open, forthright and daring, effective and efficient, gentle and caring. And they are embodiments of American values by some definition of that term. They are American to boot, to put it simply. Whence my discomfiture and the need to bring it out in the open. For whatever it is worth.

Addendum II (June 6, 2003)

I sent around the original piece and the addendum as an electronic postcard. Bob Collén responded immediately, as I suspected he would. And he responded in the manner I expected. Here is his answer in full:

We are friends, in the antique Roman sense. We are wayfarers, poets, and Sufis who have the freedom of the royal road. We are brothers who are free to disagree without ever ceasing to be brothers. Indeed, we are nourished by our differences, as we are sustained by our friendship. Your postcards, pro and con, are my daily bread. For whatever it is worth.

Just as I expected, but fuller, richer. Closer to the bone. More beautiful. Which only goes to show that my discomfort was well deserved. Luckily for me, I have only gained in the bargain.