That's How It Happened

The Atlantic asked some "eclectic thinkers", including David Foster Wallace to consider the future of, and greatest challenges to, the American idea. He responds:

"Have we actually become so selfish and scared that we don't even want to consider whether some things trump safety? What kind of future does that augur?"

I invite him to consider Cris Angel, who is by this standard a great American, in that this horrifying trick trumps any notion of psychological safety. Seriously, if you are a child, or are easily traumatised by a) midgets, b)amputees or c)mutilation do not press play.