Monsters of our own making By Rosa Brooks

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-oe-brooks17jan17,1,5245527.column

Happy Frankenstein Month! Yes, this month marks the 190th anniversary of the publication of "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley's novel about a man who dreams of reshaping humanity but ends up creating a monster. And you're probably wondering: Just how should I observe Frankenstein Month?

Hallmark seems to be slacking off here -- I couldn't find a single Frankenstein's 190th anniversary card. Fortunately, you can still mark the occasion just by skimming the week's newspapers, which contain an above-average number of "Oops We've Created a Monster!" stories from the world of foreign policy -- many starring the U.S. government as a modern-day Dr. Frankenstein.

DISCUSSIONS OF PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ


So here's my proposal: Let's join together to mark Frankenstein Month, a national period of reflection on foreign policy hubris and unintended consequences. President Bush has established National Mentoring Month, National Farm-City Week and Great Outdoors Month -- so why not Frankenstein Month?

Shelley's Dr. Frankenstein built his monster out of body parts pilfered from corpses, and the monsters created by our reckless foreign policies also reek of the charnel house. Of course, in Shelley's novel, Frankenstein is tormented by guilt when he realizes what a horror he has unwittingly unleashed on the world, and he tries desperately to undo the damage he's done. There might be some lessons here for the White House.