" So what is the problem? Foreign-sounding people, not Christian, and not apologetic about it. They may have their own ideas. It suggests a challenge to our hard-earned peace and bounty. Making a fuss over Negro segregation would be another example.’
‘I see that, The issue is not Communism per se.’
He leaned forward, his blue eyes watery, feverish looking. He held up both hands as if he meant to clasp my face between them. ‘You know what the issue is? Do you want to know? It’s what these guys have decided to call America. They have the audacity to say, ‘There, you sons of bitches, don’t lay a finger on it. That is a finished product!’
‘But any country is still in the making. Always. That’s just history, people have to see that.’ […]
Suddenly he looked weary. ‘You force people to stop asking questions, and before you know it they have auctioned off the question mark or sold it for scrap. No boldness. No good ideas for fixing what’s broken in the land. Because if you happen to mention it’s broken, you are automatically disqualified.’
‘Surely that’s overstating it,’ I said. ‘America runs on extremes. The latest craze and a tank of gas will get you about anywhere. "

― Barbara Kingsolver , The Lacuna