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> 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. > Clarification: by which I mean these are examples of US writing that are worthy of care and admiration. 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: "david.bircumshaw" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 2:49 AM Subject: Re: (no subject) > > 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. > > >