Hello David,
The scenario mirrors a similar situation closer to home for me. A buddy and I were
hitch-hiking around the country just after high school, we were both 18, had long
hair, 1968, etc. A couple of fellows picked us up and after a minute it became
clear we were "you hippies" to them. We embodied all the anger of these two good
"Americans". We were worried for own safety, completely unable to break through
their judgments, until after only five minutes they dropped us off 'on the
freeway'. It is illegal to hitch-hike or be a pedestrian on a freeway. Two minutes
didn't pass before a California Highway Patrolman pulled over and issued us each
citations.
Were we any less American for our looks? In point of fact, no. Was there any
escaping the paradox of the scenario as it played out? No again. Was there any way
to address the prejudices of the guys who picked us up? The more we tried the more
it became apparent we were only stepping deeper in crap. The patrolman made it
clear he didn't want to hear our story either. All we could do is get through the
events and move on feeling lucky the only one with a gun was the officer.
Thank goodness the rest of our two week adventure thumbing across the States was
absolutely contrary to that experience. Whew!
Which is to say, I choose to take the time anymore, David, to get to know you and
invite the honor of being considered as an individual by you. It's my pleasure to
have any cultural assumptions I may exhibit put in check by anyone at poetryetc,
I'm not without. At the same time, even practicing a poetry of place (which I
believe I do in my writing) is an act of naming my world, not a cultural agenda.
I abhor the same things you do...
Best,
Frank
**************************
Frank Parker
[log in to unmask]
http://users.montereyisp.com/frank
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Poetryetc provides a venue for a dialogue relating to poetry and
>poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of david.bircumshaw
>Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 5:19 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Billy Collins/Robert Creeley (Editor)
>
>
>Hi Frank
>
>thanks for your thoughtful post. I've been pondering this issue rather hard:
>where I think the problem lies in the fact that 'American' can be an
>ideological statement as well as a geographical description, one hears
>continually about the 'American way of life' or the desire of the US to
>export its 'culture' to everywhere else, to make all otherness the same, one
>sees it in the global aspirations of MacDonalds for instance, and obviously
>in Hollywood.
>
>There's much more could be said on this, but it's rather late at night here!
>
>Thanks
>
>and
>
>Best
>
>Dave
>
>
>
>David Bircumshaw
>
>Leicester, England
>
>Home Page
>
>A Chide's Alphabet
>
>Painting Without Numbers
>
>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/index.htm
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Frank Parker" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 4:07 PM
>Subject: Re: Billy Collins/Robert Creeley (Editor)
>
>
>>I have met some of the politest and apparently friendly people in USA but I
>>have no problem when he says _but the cultural imperialism of the States is
>>undeniable_
>>
>>L
>
>Hi Lawrence,
>
>I don't think anyone is denying the validity of David's statement on its own
>merits. "the cultural imperialism of the States is (as)
>undeniable" as the historical imperialism of Briton. However, I do not hold
>an
>individual poet (you, David, any poet on this List) accountable and/or if I
>note
>an assumption on his/her part based in such imperialism I address that in
>the
>framework of political poetics. What I perceive happening is a deep seated
>and
>justifiable anger leveled like a shotgun blast at any mention of the word
>American. Dude, I cannot deny my birth certificate and I'm not the enemy.
>Nor will
>I be made to answer for the multitude of sins of the country I inhabit at
>any
>mention that refers to my local experience.
>
>Almost (I say almost) every poet at poetryetc has proven to be in common
>cause. We
>vary in form and substance which is to say we need each other much as a
>family to
>check our assumptions. And while I have at times argued with my brother I
>cover
>his back and stand by him; that I've learned in the streets, am I wrong?
>
>Best,
>Frank
>**************************
>Frank Parker
>[log in to unmask]
>http://users.montereyisp.com/frank
>
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