I’ll give credit to the author of the article “Searching for meaning at the Thunder Ranch gun school” (Aug. 16, Nation & World) for managing to elicit sympathy for his protagonist, Kyle Hay, while describing an overarching narrative imbued with paranoia, violence and macho masculinity. How sad it is to seek redemption for a broken marriage and unfulfilling career by crawling around in the dirt with an assault-style weapon, in preparation for a battle with a fictional bogeyman.
That many men (and some women) seek a sense of purpose by engaging in this type of militaristic “Disneyland for men” is sad, and a bit scary. Instead, I’d suggest they seek fulfillment by engaging in art, writing, volunteering, or finding some way to give back to the community. And a little therapy wouldn’t hurt.
Larry Wechsler, Edmonds
