So I guess they blew it....
“Perhaps the counterculture drive of our rambling protagonists has become infected by conservative society’s misguided technology fetishism, fostering their failure.”
By proclaiming, “We blew it,” I feel Wyatt is reflecting on their lives and the journey they have been taking. In the beginning they are “Born to be Wild” and road ready, but society and the road itself has beaten them down. During their first stretches on the road they were so sure of themselves and ready for anything and now I think Wyatt is questioning himself.
They prided themselves on being different and free with nothing to hold them back, and Wyatt is realizing that their actions have consequences. Because of their refusal to conform, their new friend was murdered. Also, I think Wyatt is feeling uncontrollable guilt about the death of George. Why did George have to be the one to die and both of them made it with minimal injuries? They bring along another passenger and essentially get him killed. Although they did not intend for this to happen to George, because of their lifestyle choices they were the victims of a hate crime.
As sad as hate crime is, it happens. This film put something on the screen that I am sure was controversial at the time. Most things are controversial because they are true; just no one talks about it. These types of events happened in society, which shows what “hate of the unknown” can do to a person. George himself realized that they were being hated against because they were scared of the freedom they represented.