Four stars

WFYI-public television20, April 24

Kurt Vonnegut came home to Indianapolis for the inaugural program of Wordstruck, Indiana Humanities Council’s short-lived innovation to engage the life of the mind through spoken words. WFYI’s re-airing of the Across Indiana conversation with Vonnegut and Michael Atwood and the added Indiana Historical Society clips of the family history re-invigorated private dialogue surrounding events sixteen years ago. And here we are, still hammering at the same issues — Must everything an artist does be celebrated? What happened with the notion of civility as a way of life? Why can’t schools today kindle within students [and their parents or caretakers] a burning desire to be educated? Vonnegut, who never puffed himself up, represents the better part of being a Hoosier. Adlai Stevenson, during his presidential campaign, observed, “In quiet places great reason abounds. Many things are revealed to the humble that are hidden from the great.” For that brief half hour it was invigorating to be in the presence of Kurt Vonnegut as he enthused about being with childhood friends, meeting Wordstruck coordinator David Hoppe, revisiting old sites-especially Shortridge. Perhaps the best way to honor this man is to walk humbly and each day do at least one thing worthy of mention