I want to extend warm thanks to Charles Moyer for the generous spirit of his remarks on the issue of Pound and censorship. I think we see things eye to eye on this. I am very sympathetic to your feeling that censorship is always a danger, and I agree with your interpretation of the Henry James quote, and the attendant fears regarding the debasement of culture. I believe I could say the same about the first Voltaire quote ("I defend your right . . . ."). Regarding the second Voltaire quote ("I am fond of truth, but not of martyrdom"), I appreciate the complexity inherent in such a position, but application to Pound's circumstances and Voltaire's would lead me to interpret that quote a little differently. But we need not go there right now. Salut, Wei PS. On the topic of Pound's alleged "social darwinism" permit me a brief observation. People who argue that Pound's racism has its origin in Darwinism need to provide evidence which is more than broadly cultural, and therefore circumstancial. No Pound quotes have been produced on the subject yet. In the Cantos we have the line: The mythological exterior lies on the moss in the forest and questions him about Darwin (29/144). Pound said he thought very little of Darwin on a number of occasions. If there is some reason to construct a reason or explanation for Pound's racism, then it must be done with reference to specifics in Pound's words, I think. Look at the racist quotes and determine something from contextual clues. Pound said he liked the racial theory propounded by Hitler in Mein Kampf (which he read in Italian translation). Of course, his racism has its roots in an earlier time. Evidence from Carpenter's rather lengthy biography roots the racism in Pound's early childhood environment, the prevalent anti-semitic, anti-black, and anti-immigrant sentiments which existed in his neighborhood. The attitudes do seem absorbed and ingrained, rather than reasoned out, or even rationalized. Charles Moyer wrote: <<Subject: Who demonizes ideas? Someone once told Pound that he was a sadist because he made men (as in mensch) think. I think governments become quite wise when they stop executing dissidents and thus creating martyrs. We seem to agree on that. But this country has been far advanced from others at the art of silencing its critics by denying them access to media or, in extreme cases, discrediting them by putting them in the "nut house". This practice, however, has probably seen its better days. It still amuses me that today's clever attempt to keep a lid on free thought is to pay loud-mouth radio dick jockies to reduce freedom of speech to a simple question of being allowed to explicate sexual acts in the venacular over the airways as if that is all this freedom means. "The triumph of the superficial and apotheosis of the raw" in Henry James's words. "Poetry sucks. I never could understand any of it." belts out Howard Stern. "HA,HA,HA" counters Robin (Aunt Tom or whatever she is supposed to be), the sidekick. My wholesome generation had Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. "But a tawdry cheapness shall outlast our days" Pound predicted. Wei, we don't disagree as much as it might seem; but I only fear, to answer your question, that, yes, "someone might want to put a warning on his works" or worse. And I fear that in doing so they may see it expedient to quote their chosen "experts in the field". Would you want to be used as a tool for such censorship? Would you want your statements taken out of context and used for such purposes? It is best,I think, for us to remember the statement attributed to Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." And Howard Stern can have his opinion too. On the question of Pound's support of fascist censorship, I am not so sure of his open participation as you seem to be although I could understand his reticence. Voltaire also said, "I am fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom." There's never an easy answer is there? On the subject of Social Darwinism, it strikes me as how neatly it replaces Calvinism granting the same rationalization for beating up someone weaker than oneself. Hence the phoney debate between science and religion. And I wonder what kind of latest "salvation" will we peddle to the world of "expanding markets" while we line our pockets with our filthy lucre. CM>> ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com