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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Carl Dietrich
Published Letters: 7 Editor's Choice: 2
I would happily pay another $200 in taxes as my share to eradicate the deficit. We boomers must not leave a huge deficit for our kids. Carl
In 1975 I first read "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg in a modern poetry class. I remember thinking: You can say that?! And I also thought: You can say that, that way?!
2006 has been the 50th anniversary of "Howl." Jason Shinder's timely book, The Poem That Changed America: "Howl" Fifty Years Later celebrates the mind-bending poem. In the book, various writers, artists, and musicians reveal their feelings and impressions about reading the poem for the first time. My favorites include Amiri Baraka, Andrei Codrescu, Gordon Ball, Alicia Ostriker, David Gates, and Anne Waldman.
This fall I taught "Howl" for the first time to a class of first year college students. A sample of the generation raised on rap, hip-hop, and alternative rock found the poem rather less than revolutionary. But I think that their response shows each generation must howl in its own way.
With a black background behind her Molly sat as a guest of Brian Lamb's (Mr. C-Span) on the Sunday night show, Booknotes. He asked her a question about Tom Delay's stand on some issue. Her reply, "He's just stupid." Lamb laughed and stammered something like--you don't really mean that. Molly said, "Oh, yes, he's stupid." She went on to talk about Delay's views on DDT and exactly how stupid they were.
That interview took place a few short years ago. Apparently, Molly's judgment proved correct. Again.
It's clear that many passionate writers try to outrant the author. Some succeed. But these replies are irrelevant. Here's why.
Rose writes that he was involved in raising the first set of children and is involved in raising the second. He also loves to play with his kids and to be with them. Several responders would be well served to reread Rose's article as a reminder that the man cares. But many writers seem to say that Rose's failing is that he doesn't literally enjoy every waking moment with his kids or appreciate every comment or every act.
Should Rose enjoy Barney Redux? What about Chutes & Ladders II: the New Batch?
Still, to be sure, parenting allows for wonder and joy. Singing to a baby can birth more delight in a parent than a child. Also, those first steps don't need to be recorded on video: parents will remember them. First t-ball game. First day of school. First date.
Of course, some extraordinary moments become etched in oft-told parents' "war stories." The vomit-plagued vacation. The toxic diaper. The literal cat bath.
And then there are the tedious "Big Fun" moments that, unfortunately, fill too many days. Scenario One: The second year of t-ball. It's cold. The port-a-potties haven't yet been placed. The game progresses at the rate of one hour per inning. Scenario Two: orthodontist's office. Another missing retainer. The trip to the office resulted in lots of yelling by the interested parties that nearly melted the plastic cup holders. In the office, sullen silence is accompanied by feigned study of National Geographic. Scenario Three: family at table eating supper. "How was your day?" Grunt. "What?" "Fine." "Yeah, fine. Geez, gimme a break." Sudden but not surprising appearance of an iPod.
No wonder parents cry at graduation.
"Detroit fought the Senate bill, arguing -- as usual -- that it would be too expensive to comply with."
I received my driver's license during the oil embargo in October, 1973, that occasioned the Yom Kippur War. At that time the U.S. got about 30% of its oil from OPEC. Now that amount is around 50%. Meanwhile, Detroit's automakers dithered the decades away keeping CAFE standards, for the most part, low. Now, the Big 3 move like slugs sloshing toward slightly higher CAFE standards for the first time in several decades while brave Americans die in Iraq. Where's is Detroit's patriotism?
And what about us--the consumers who buy autos made by Detroit's Big 3? Speaking strictly for me, when my gas guzzling Taurus is paid for I'm going to buy a high-mileage Japanese hybrid. It's better for people, it's better for the planet, it's better for patriotism. Besides, it's as obvious as a sign for higher prices at the gas pumps that Detroit's Big 3 don't love America.
I give the organizers of the Values Voter Summit kudos for using the baptized-down phrase "Values Voter." The summit's name really should have been Right Wing and White Bible Thumpin' Christian Voters Summit. But why are members of that group so afraid to call themselves what they are? After all, they believe that "truth will set them free". Don't they love freedom???
Which would caused Pullman the most trouble?
1--Writing novels attacking religion in general and Roman Catholocism in particular?
2--Or naming a stuffed animal toy John Paul?
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
