Okay, you guys, I've been monitoring this squabbling all week, and I have
one thing to say, from my Mommy repertoire: "Don't make me come over there!"
I don't believe in spanking, but I will give you all "time outs" if you
don't get along! Jeez -- you make a roomful of periomenopausal women look
like a prayer meeting!

Now that THAT'S off my chest. HAPPY NEW YEAR from Maine.

I am 2 1/2 months behind deadline on my EE Cummings article (for the
upcoming Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature) and I am depending on
all of you for cogent, concise, unobscured interpretations of Pound's
influence on Cummings, William Carlos William, H.D., Hemingway, Frost and
any other "moderns" considered part of the Lost Generation. Not just the
poetry, but the politics/attitudes, etc. of American vs. European ideas.

Altho I'm told by a Cummings scholar that Cummings did not consider himself
among the "Lost," I would like to at least give the readers, most of whom
will be so young as to never have heard the term, some idea of how this
group of writers and poets felt disenfranchised (if that's the word and
why).

Since I have never read a word of Pound, except what's on this site, PLEASE
do not post those mysterious posts that allude to verses that only Pound
experts can dicipher. My readership will be highschool, college, grad
schoolers. Pablum, please (not in an elitist sense, but with the desire to
win over more readers of your favorite poet's works.)

Kate


----- Original Message -----
From: "Stoner James" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: 2003 hope


> My Dear Friends,
>
> Happy New Year, especially to my good friends Gancie/Parcelli, Moyer,
> JBCM2
>
> If you are interested in putting a face to my personae, you can go to this
> link:
>
>
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/stoneris/lst?.dir=/Yahoo!+Photo+Album&.view=l
>
> I tell you I am better looking than Dr. Pearlman (no offense, I'm joking,)
> although I'm sure he's more successful with getting dates.  I am
> heterosexual so I can't date any of you men, (although if JBCM2 sucks as
> well as Dr. P suggests I might consider one date with him--again, I'm just
> kidding so as to lighten things up a bit.)  I am looking for a nice woman,
> however.  I am a relatively smart guy, one of my more redeeming qualities
> :).  We might as well make this an Internet Personal Matching Site, since
> substance seems to be lacking. "For what purpose is this board
> anywho?--this is my sarcastic persona :)
>
> I must tell you that I am rather surprised by your most intellectually
> produced comments (mostly from Gancie/Parcelli, Moyer, JBCM2), which
> belabor my many points I've brought out in the many recent messages I've
> produced. I have tried--with some effort--to draft messages that are
> articulate and well argued--logical, concise, accessible, allegorical,
> citing both primary and secondary sources, and expressly creative.  I have
> been attacked in ways that I would expect from persons that fall into the
> elitist category as I have previously articulated--the recent messages
> have attempted to defile me, through interesting and amusing puns, plays,
> and outright demeaning and diminishing statements on my character and
> personae.  I have yet to have any of these individuals explicitly direct
> their comments at the content of my messages; rather my 'personae' has
> been attacked.  It has been suggested that I am an 'asshole'.  I may be an
> 'asshole' but not for reasons that have been suggested by one of the
> members of this group.  It has been my intention to address the
> controlling screen personalities of this discussion list because of their
> very narrow rendering of Pound; the fact that alternative perspectives are
> dealt with by slurring the person producing the perspective; by
> 'despising' the writing expressing contrary and important claims; and by
> viewing this writer as inferior merely because I produce intelligent
> possible claims, arguments, and offerings, inconsistent with those who
> dominate, control and define the 'reality' of this list serve.  I am
> inclined, as I might, because I'm a bit of a rebel, to continue to
> challenge the authoritarian personalities on this list serve, so as to
> democratize it, rather then allow fascist-like ideological actions, from
> continuing to dominate the definition of perspectives, and subsequently
> reality.
>
> I have been fair and have produced objective and well-rounded messages.  I
> would say though, that in comparison to Jon W. (I should add Romano as
> well-I've always thought he was thoughful), I have not met his mark of
> intelligent responses.  Furthermore, I have stated that we can learn much
> from Pound, his poetics, as well as his politics.  I see both the bad in
> the good and the good in the bad.  I want to learn more about Pound and
> his place and importance in literature.  I have not expressly stated a
> firm opinion.  I also stated that my opinions do change often, especially
> when confronting with well-reasoned and articulate responses.
>
> I wish us all a very happy new year and hope that we can make this a more
> productive and thought-producing list-serve.  Maybe not, we will see.
>
> Truly Yours,
>
> Mr. Steiner Berstein Stoner James James Stoner, Human Being.
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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