The Last Question We Ever Ask? by Norma Zager “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself…” Albert Camus Inflammatory rhetoric precedes bloodshed. Never in history has a war been avoided through words. Ultimately a die is cast, and speech must surrender to armed conflict. Only after the despots are defeated, can reason prevail. Abraham Lincoln once said “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” In America today that is the...