Part 7/9:
The article reflects on Michael Corleone’s character arc in The Godfather. Initially portrayed as the “all-American” outsider ready to assimilate, Michael eventually succumbs to the darker forces of organized crime. His moment of truth is when he lies and slams the door on his past self, representing a rejection of his original ideals.
The author counsels that this is not the only path. He advocates for following the “truth” about America—that it remains a fundamentally good and great country. The door shouldn’t be permanently shut; instead, Americans should resist the forces that seek to close it and instead embrace the nation’s core values.