The man who in times of popular excitement boldly and unflinchingly resists hot-tempered clamor for an unnecessary war, and thus exposes himself to the opprobrious imputation of a lack of patriotism or of courage, to the end of saving his country from a great calamity, is, as to “loving and faithfully serving his country,” at least as good a patriot as the hero of the most daring feat of arms, and a far better one than those who, with an ostentatious pretense of superior patriotism, cry for war before it is needed, especially if then they let others do the fighting.

–Carl Schurz, “About Patriotism,” Harper’s Weekly, April 16, 1898 in: Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz, vol. 5, p. 461 (F. Bancroft ed. 1913)

Real Patriotism

The fact is, the '60s are still with us, and will remain so for the imaginable future. We are all like Zhou Enlai, who, asked what he thought about the French Revolution, answered, "It is too early to tell." When and how will the cultural and political battle lines the baby boomers bequeathed us dissolve? It is, well and truly, still too early to tell. We can't yet "overcome" the '60s because we still don't even know what the '60s were -- not even close.

Getting Past the '60s? It's Not Going to Happen.

What if fifteen years ago someone had suggested a nationwide network of gigantic bookshops, carrying about 150,000 titles each, staying open until 11:00 P.M. or midnight, and offering cafés, comfortable chairs, and public restrooms? And what if these sumptuous emporia were to be found not only in the great urban centers but also in small cities and suburbs all across the country—places like Plano, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Mesa, Arizona? Wouldn't we have thought that sounded like pure, if unattainable, heaven? Well, that is what the superstore chains—Barnes & Noble; Borders; and Books-A-Million, based in Birmingham, Alabama—have brought us. Why, then, the chorus of disapproval from the cultural elite? Why the characterization, spread by a vocal group of critics, of the chain bookstores as a sort of intellectual McDonald's, a symbol of the dumbing-down and standardization of American life?

Two—Make That Three—Cheers for the Chain Bookstores

Call it a pivotal moment, a rare window of opportunity, for Downtown Los Angeles. More and more people are moving into its stock of obsolete warehouses, restored office buildings and shiny new high-rises. City planners are writing a land use plan for the historic heart of town, proposing 21st century pedestrian-oriented commerce where industry has dominated for more than a century. The Grand Avenue project from City Hall to Disney Hall has been launched, and the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan is finally turning vision along the River into reality, with new state parks at the Cornfield and Taylor Yard leading the way.

Downtown can be a vibrant place where people exchange goods and services, share ideas and food and drink and serendipity - run into people they know or want to know, experience worlds the suburbs can't provide. "When the city comes together physically, it comes together socially," says Downtown developer Dan Rosenfeld. "Social contact creates social contract."

We have some specific ideas about how to make this happen. But none of them will matter much if we can't make the Central City friendlier for pedestrians, with more public spaces, places that people want to experience and enjoy. Instead of prioritizing the movement of motor vehicles, we have to open up Downtown for people.

D-Town Visions

To understand consciousness and its evolution, we need to ask the right questions.

Questioning Consciousness

Kay Hymowitz in the Winter 2008 issue of City Journal:

Today’s single young men hang out in a hormonal limbo between adolescence and adulthood.

Child-Man in the Promised Land

ONE year after Israel’s devastating 34-day war with Hezbollah, it seems as though both sides are readying themselves for another round. Recent statements by American and Israeli officials, as well as the United Nations, assert that Hezbollah has largely re-equipped and refortified, compliments of Syria and Iran. On the other side of the border, the news media report that the Israeli Defense Force has done the same, with, of course, the help of American military aid.

Given what may be a regional movement toward conflict, the United States and Israel would do well to pause and take stock of the nonviolent alternatives that Hezbollah itself says would lead it to shun military action. Indeed, the best way to contain Hezbollah may be to give it some of what it says it wants.

Getting Hezbollah to Behave

From urban centers to remote corners of Earth, the depths of the oceans to space, humanity has always sought to transcend barriers, overcome challenges, and create opportunities that improve life in our part of the universe.

In the last century alone, many great engineering achievements became so commonplace that we now take them mostly for granted. Technology allows an abundant supply of food and safe drinking water for much of the world. We rely on electricity for many of our daily activities. We can travel the globe with relative ease, and bring goods and services wherever they are needed. Growing computer and communications technologies are opening up vast stores of knowledge and entertainment.

As remarkable as these engineering achievements are, certainly just as many more great challenges and opportunities remain to be realized. While some seem clear, many others are indistinct and many more surely lie beyond most of our imaginations.

On February 15, we begin engineering a path to the future.

Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century

Proposition: Security in the modern age cannot be established without some erosion of individual privacy.

A debate on the theme of Zero Sum.

Economist on security and privacy in the modern age

Author and artist William T. Vollmann has explored some of the edgier parts of life and written about it with what critics call blunt honesty. He joins us for the hour to discuss his latest book all about hopping freight trains, "Riding to Everywhere." Vollmann's previous books include "Poor People," "Europe Central" and "The Atlas."

KQED | Forum: William T. Vollmann