is love the problem?

[Paul Mackin]

Doug Millison wrote:

> Paul, Keith, you guys sound a bit bitter here in the new year, but I love
> you both anyway, and wish you better days ahead. Post-9/11 we're all in
> this thing together, don't you think?  Might as well make the best of it.
> Even old Tom Pynchon doesn't sound as bitter as he might -- assuming that
> is him in Playboy Japan, of course -- considering the rage he used to feel
> (I'm guessing about that, of course, based on what he had to say when he
> was younger, in V., his stories, GR, his newspaper articles, etc.) at
> seeing the country he loves doing such horrible things in underdeveloped
> and unfortunate places like Vietnam, Watts, etc. I'm guessing he's got the
> rage down to a low simmer, without sliding into cyncism or despair, judging
> from the mix of marvels and emotions on display in M&D.  And I wouldn't be
> surprised to see another book from him before too much longer.
> -Doug

Hope Doug is referring agape, not eros, otherwise the following lines might
apply.


Yet each man kills the thing he loves,
  By each let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
  Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
  The brave man with a sword!