Re: OK, that went over well. How about...

From: James L Piat (piat@JUNO.COM)
Date: Wed Aug 15 2001 - 10:51:49 EDT


Dear David, Folks--

Thanks for the comments David. I'm not especially interested in
discussing politics as such either, but I'm wondering about literary
discussions in general as opposed to, say, political, religious or
psychological discussions. What's the difference? I'm thinking that we
are interested in Percy both because of what he talks about as well as
how he talks about it. I suppose the "how" part might be in a narrow
sense the main concern of a literary discussion and the "what" part
perhaps less so. Of course if the discussion is of a particular writer
(as opposed to a literary discussion in a very narrow sense) then the
what part of his writing might be more important. I'm obviously not a
literature professor, nor trying to be --I'm just sharing some thoughts,
wanting to pick your brains and join the discussion. I wonder to what
extent you folks pick books for students to read based upon subject
matter as opposed to how the subject is dealt with as literature?

That said, I also have a personal observation. I think Percy has a lot
to offer non Catholics -even non Christians. But my guess is are few
of them to whom he appeals and even fewer that participate in these list
discussions. I think it is because Percy projects a sophisticated (but
not that sophisticated, eh) form of religious bigotry that is offensive
to non Christians. All that preaching about the gas chambers, for
example --as a half Jew and half Catholic I, personally, find it
extremely (extremely) offensive. Who the hell is he, as a Catholic, to
be preaching about what led to the gas chambers. Seems to me a bit of
humility or even an apology might be more in order. Especially the fact
that the propriety of this preaching is never challenged. That it never
seems to occur to anyone that such talk might be offensive. That's the
most offensive part. Does it not occur to anyone or is it simply that no
one gives a shit? Or is the sort of opinion I'm expressing now
offensive, unsophisticated (or sophisticated --I forget which is
supposed to be the bad guy) and political. I think Marcus' comment about
not caring what "sophisticates" think, helped me put my finger on what is
bothering me. Does anyone else, besides me, think that Percy's writing
sometimes comes across as affecting (we're all affecting something I
suppose) a bit of a pseudo "good ole boy, cut the crap,
anti-intellectual" veneer over a tired old snotty southern conservative
(occasionally antisemetic) core ? I think I sense this tension in
Percy's writing and I find it very interesting. Maybe it's my own
tension.
>
> "The only true joy on earth is to escape from the
> prison of our false self, and enter by love into union
> with the Life Who dwells and sings within the essence of
> every creature and in the core of our own souls."
>
> -Thomas Merton
>

David, I like this quote. I wonder also about the only true horror on
earth --where does it dwell? I mean we all gotta eat something right?

Hey, folks --I like Percy's writing (especially his essays and stuff
about language) and I like you all, but I'm hurt and pissed. I
strongly disagree with some of what seems to be taken for granted around
here. That only some kind of opinions are welcome. That others are
political. Bullshit. They're all political. Even the so called
religious. ESPECIALLY the so called religious. But the literary
religious --God preserve us!

Well, I feel much better now. Cookies?

Cheers,
Jim Piat



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