Inspired by Dostoevsky's classic fable of the Grand Inquisitor, this novelette is an improbable fantasy in which a steel-eyed progressive finds herself in the presence of a living, breathing Thomas Jefferson. Confronting the author of America's founding document, this modern-day "Inquisitor" delivers a scathing assessment of both Jefferson's work and the nation he helped to create.
Written as an affirmation of America's history and ideals, "The G.R.A.N.D. Inquisitor" also attempts to shed light on what motivates the men and women of the progressive movement. In so doing, the story seeks to answer the most important (and perhaps most neglected ) political question of the past century.
Most political discussion in America is centered on the immediate goals of the American left. Whether the issue is nationalized health care, transgender rights, or gun control, the greater portion of our national debate is devoted to the progressive proposal of the day. Yet in spite of our focus on the progressive agenda, the essential question is never asked. That question, in a word, is: why?
Why has the progressive movement, from Woodrow Wilson to Barack Obama, sought to "fundamentally transform" the United States? Why do progressives seek to denigrate, or even erase, so much of American history? Through the confession of its modern-day "Inquisitor," this story offers an answer that is both illuminating and disturbing.
"The G.R.A.N.D. Inquisitor" is a fast and compelling read for anyone interested in the political arguments that will ultimately shape the future of our nation and the world.
