Alison writes:
> Just for the record (I know this interlist stuff is dull, but I feel
> compelled to note this for clarity) - Richard was suspended from poetryetc
> for racist remarks many moons ago. It has been made clear to him that if
he
> wishes to return, he need only apply, as everyone else does. So far he
has
> not.
To be even clearer, Richard was bounced (not, at the time, "suspended") by
two of the three then moderators of poetryetc, the third being off-line at
the time.
The ostensible reason he was banned (not then "suspended") was that he --
one single phrase -- used the term "towelheads", which in my book is abusive
but not racist.
(K, you could argue this.)
... this was shortly in the wake of 9/11, where Richard had close friends
who could have been in the Twin Towers, so he had some quite justified
reason for emotion.
I'm fed up to the back teeth defending Richard not because I don't think
he's worth defending but because anything I say in Richard's defence is
automatically ruled out-of-court, parti pris, Robin is a mate of Richard's,
forget it.
Honest, folks, there's a double-standard operating here, the Left get away
with casual abuse, but the minute Richard steps out-of-line, all hell
descends on his head.
As if it matters: politically, geographically, artistically and about
everywhere else, I'm about the opposite pole from Richard, but I just kinda
sorta feel there ought to be an idea of fairness.
Balance.
*Something*.
<sigh>
Why hammer Richard for his rhetoric (which I agree sucks) when there are
others who come out with as trite unsourced remarks which pass without
comment as they're left liberal?
R.
Disclaimer:
K, I'm hoping to publish Richard Dillon's _Utter Dark, Utter Light_, so
obviously I'm biased.
|