Comments on: Apparently, poets are not immune

By: Lo

Lo — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:35:13 +0000

I tried, I tried.

It’s an embarrassing community sometimes. Sometimes I embarrass myself by being there. Sometimes I quit. But, like a moth, I’m always lured back again.

I like to argue, what can I say?

Nice new blog – shiny.

By: Agnes

Agnes — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:28:09 +0000

Yeah. Private property. It’s hard to find a good poet group. Most message boards are like that, not just poetry sites. People’s feelings get hurt. People get angry and go off half cocked. Somebody’s always gotta be the heavy, crack the whip, arm the nukes, get folks back in line, I suppose. Kind of stifles thinking and creativity, though. Oh, well. I guess that’s why God invented cliques and political parties. I really need to write a poem. ::sigh::

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:43:09 +0000

Freedom of speech has nothing to do with private property, which is what Erato is.

The DNC, on the other hand, is a bunch of idiots and apparent Republican wannabees. That sort of banishing of protesters should be left to the Bushes of the world, not embraced by Democrats. I guess they become what they (claim to) hate.

By: Agnes

Agnes — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:51:50 +0000

Poets. Yes. Poets are nuts. ::wink:: I see that poet group you linked to has closed that thread. Oh, yes. Freedom of speech is alive and well in America, people. Not. If we want to feel sorry about something, Julie, maybe we should feel sorry about that.

Thanks for listening. I hope you get a chance to see that video. It’s about the pens being put up for the DNC in Colorado. Free speech zone, dontcha know.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:12:12 +0000

Who said anything about shame? Poets, good poets at least though it appears Bill Julian can hardly be called that, recognize the power of words. Good people recognize that we should treat others as we would like to be treated. That means not hiding behind disingenuous bullshit and batting our lashes that, gosh, we’re just asking questions, isn’t a person allowed to ask questions?

Ask John McCain what he thought of pollsters asking how voters would feel if he had fathered a black child. Words mean things and they reveal our biases as surely as anything does.

I am not talking about politicians. I didn’t title this post “Politicians are not immune.” I’m talking about poets. McCain has sure as hell come out in favor of discrimination based on sexual orientation, and that is completely unacceptable to me, but again, I’m talking about poets–people I actually have some contact with.

I can’t watch the video from here, though I tried.

I stick by my original position. Those who call Obama “Hussein” are stupid people. The nicest I can be is to feel sorry for them.

By: Agnes

Agnes — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:41:59 +0000

I don’t pay a lot of attention to politicians. Most of them suck. Bellows. Bags of hot air. I haven’t seen McCain come out in favor of discrimination or preferential treatment based on race or ethnicity or name. The opposite actually. If Obama isn’t ashamed of his name, why should we be? It makes no sense to me. If you have a second or three, go look at that youtube video I put on my blog this morning (I can’t believe I put politics on my blog. Oy. The shame of it all.)

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:03:17 +0000

I think there’s a slight difference between calling someone “Sidney” and calling them “Hussein.” If McCain’s middle name were Hitler it would be a better comparison–and equally stupid.

By: Agnes

Agnes — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:38:39 +0000

Obama’s middle name is Hussein, ain’t it? Callin’ him Obama Billy Bob would just be plain weird. Has anyone written a poem titled Obama Hussein and John McCain? There’s a nice rhythm and rhyme thing goin’ on in that. I’d do it, but I’m more of a Ron Paul kind o’ girl. Besides, my muse is on vacation. Hey. Will I be burned at the stake if I decide to call McCain John Sidney? I’m going to push that “kommentar schreiben” button now. Hope it doesn’t explode.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:59:54 +0000

I’ve pretty much decided that calling Obama “Hussein” at all is a signal that the person speaking is irredeemably stupid. That comforts me.

By: Grumpy Teacher

Grumpy Teacher — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:20:37 +0000

Sadly, I have to avoid talking about Senator Obama with my extended family because they actually believe stuff like that.

Sheesh!