Art is often hailed as the grandest expression of the human spirit, but we know now, if we didn't know it before, that the grandest expression of the human spirit is whatever it takes for a man or a woman to rush back into a burning building to save more people. Art, in comparison, can feel like a trifle, an indulgence; we undoubtedly spend far too much effort worrying about it. Even so, to the extent that artists and entertainers bear witness to what happens in the world, their work can expand our wisdom and tolerance, or, at the very least, it can put agony on hold for a couple of hours. The cotton-candy wispiness of a pop ballad or a cartoon might have something to do with our craving for it during the most mirthless of times. That's the conundrum at the heart of CABARET and SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS; it's the reason why razzle-dazzle musicals flourished during an economic collapse and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" flooded America with joy a few months after the death of a President. Sometimes, even for a moment, a song or a joke is enough to keep you going; the trick is figuring out how to relish the moment even though you know it's an illusion.

Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined

Introduction
"My Back Pages" (September 22, 2001)

Part One
"My Heroes Have Always Been Heroes" (March 24, 1995)

Part Two
"There Are Heroes Among Us" (April 5, 1995)

Part Three
"Heroes and Hope" (April 10, 1995)

Part Four
"Crisis of Faith" (April 19, 1995)

Part Five
"Oklahoma City" (April 26, 1995)

Part Six
"Making It Right" (May 16, 1995)

Part Seven
"Columbine High School" (May 4, 1999)

Afterword
"Unfinished Business" (September 23, 2001)