<<Every young person has gone through a period when , " nobody understands me," embracing Holden as a hero serves only to perpetuate this myth. It's about unlearning the differences, Buddy. >> Robert, But one must know these differences and feel them deeply to ever unlearn them. This may be immature of me to say, but I'll say it anyway because its how I feel. I've seen many people go through much of the anguish Holden went through, including myself. Yes these people suffered, but the vast majority of them came out of this experience as much better people. They were much more understanding of humanity, much more accepting. I don't think this acceptance can EVER happen until one goes through something similiar to what Holden went through. These values and ideals must be tested to the extreme, must be worked in the mind and heart constantly for a long period of time if one ever wants to "do it for the Fat Lady." I'm not saying that everyone must read CITR or any such notion...I'm just saying that the process is a very valuable one to me at least. Eric