“The Public Hating,” Steve Allen, 1955 — A crowd gathers in Yankee Stadium, the rest of the nation before the television. They are to “hate” to death a political prisoner, Professor Arthur Ketteridge. The presumably outspoken Professor is accused of treason. A reverend blesses the proceeding as the nation “smites the devil.”
Comments: Themes include politics, emotions, mass behavior/mobs, religion, public executions/capital punishment, and perhaps lynching. Read in The Best of the Best, ed. Merril.
Author: Wikipedia: “Stephen Valentine Patrick William ‘Steve’ Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer.”
