What Went Wrong?

About that fake gang rape story that roiled the town of Charlottesvile, VA (and the nation) last November, well, Rolling Stone wants to get to the bottom of it.

As we asked ourselves how we could have gotten the story wrong, we decided the only responsible and credible thing to do was to ask someone from outside the magazine to investigate any lapses in reporting, editing and fact-checking behind the story. We reached out to Steve Coll, dean of the Columbia School of Journalism, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter himself, who accepted our offer.

Steve Coll - Beltway baby, Occidental, WaPo, New Yorker, New America Foundation and  now, CSJ dean. How's that for an "outsider" and I wonder what he'll find?

I think he'll find the New America Foundation's hymen "American Oxycodone" crooned by the internationally acclaimed pop star Rihanna at Saturday's Final 4 halftime gala in Indiana holds a clue (or two).

I say, you see, this is the American Dream
Young girl, hustlin'
On the other side of the ocean
She can be anything at all
America, America
I should, come see
Just close your eyes and breathe

This is the new America
We are the new America
This is the new America
We are the new America
This is the new America
We are the new America

Yes, the "New America" is down for the struggle - even though it's a lie.
I say, you see, this is the American Dream
Young girl, hustlin'
On the other side of the ocean
She can be anything at all
America, America
I should, come see
Just close your eyes and breathe

Perhaps Jann should have looked to Rolling Stone's readership for the answer but they're probably too busy watching hoops.

Or maybe Jann should have gone WAY OUTSIDE the magazine to find out what went wrong.

"The entire Baby Boomer mentality is one of finding exceptions and, using those to claim the invalidity of the philosophy that opposes whatever the Boomers desire, creating a justification that allows them to seize power. If you do not support freedom for everyone (it helps to slowly enunciate each syllable in this word to emphasize its importance) then you are bad, and the new generation should take over."

The New America will fade away just as surly as the fraternity rape story did, but not without causing a great deal of acrimony and disruption to peoples lives while they wait for the "truth" to be told.