> My comments have been at about the same level as others on the list;
> they simply don't share the same sentimental-leftist America-bashing
> assumptions. "Towers of evil" - which did appear some emails back -
> certainly deserved censure, but probably seemed, in the prevailing point
> of view, an acceptable truism. I pay back in the same coin others
> use.
Frederick
It's not a matter of America-bashing. I can bash the UK just as much as I
can 'bash' the US, and I'm sure Aus listees can think of plenty to say
against said Aus. The point is that on gross material levels of culture and
behaviour the US is the most influential nation, not necessarily the most
important. So it's very 'present', economically and culturally, and strands
in US culture are reprehensible, as are features of the UK's. But the US has
more clout. You seem unable to forget the fact that you are American, I only
remember I'm English if someone reminds me.
Here's a poetical thought. But maybe not to your ears. The low-income
nations of post-war Poland and Greece produced a poetry that is far superior
to post-war US poetry, despite the college funded hype. The greatest
post-war _American_ poet was Octavio Paz. No US poetry of the Fifties comes
near to that produced by Erminia's beloved Montale in that period. If I had
to choose between consigning all of US twentieth century poetry to the bin
or all or Russian poetry of the same period I wouldn't hesitate to throw
away the former.
The sad thing is that there is so much good American writing, but it has to
be hyped all the time, like everything else from the States. Muriel
Rukeyser, WCW writing to Fordie in heaven, Pound's cracked genius, etc etc.
Best
Dave
David Bircumshaw
Leicester, England
Home Page
A Chide's Alphabet
Painting Without Numbers
www.paintstuff.20m.com/index.htm
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/index.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frederick Pollack" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 1:38 AM
Subject: Re: (no subject)
> Alison Croggon wrote:
> >
> > Frederick, I don't know why you're part of this list, since
> > discussion seems the least of your interests.
> >
> > A
> >
> My comments have been at about the same level as others on the list;
> they simply don't share the same sentimental-leftist America-bashing
> assumptions. "Towers of evil" - which did appear some emails back -
> certainly deserved censure, but probably seemed, in the prevailing point
> of view, an acceptable truism. I pay back in the same coin others
> use.
>
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