Contemporary Politics

The author uses this theme to skewer the absurdity of contemporary politics from a number of different angles, without ever really aligning himself with any particular political ideology. The theme is perhaps most apparent in “Toxic Actuality,” the story about a college professor, Benjamin, who has been reprimanded for offending his students by discussing racism. When Benjamin complains to his friend Geoffrey that the students accused him of using “microaggressions” (23) and bemoans their hypersensitivity, the reader is likely to suppose this will be a story that sympathizes with the conservative belief that young people are too sensitive and political correctness is ruining discourse. However, this supposition is turned on its head when Geoffrey responds by telling Benjamin that it has always been this way; it is the duty of young people to help forward the progress of social justice. While these particular young people might...