"Something that seems quite new, or that seems insolently false or very dangerous, is the test of a reader. If he tries to see what it means, what truth excuses it, he has the gift, and let him read. If he is merely hurt, or offended, or exclaims upon his author's folly, he had better take to the daily papers; he will never be a reader." R.L. Stevenson, BOOKS WHICH HAVE INFLUENCED ME, http://www.unibg.it/rls/essays/writing/aw-3.htm Mr. Pearlman wants all the crowd to unite in its unanimous hate of the Mr. Moyer, which had written some verse. Mr. Pearlman belongs to the world which is so proud it has 'civilized' for a name. He's sure all the bunch of the readers belongs to the same, and he threatens them with the possibility of him ceasing to 'hang out' here. And the answer to that is: Wa'al he can find a better place to 'hang out'. Mr. Pearlman: before using the world 'civilized' you have to prove it has some meaning. Civilization is, to cite Pound, a sane balance of values. Mr. Pearlman: what Mr. Moyer had written is just a _text_, as well as anything Pound had. What could be written 50 years ago can still be written now. Sane man is one, who having read the text, &being disagreed with it's content, -- gives an answer. Tries to prove that author was wrong. There are Jews, there is senate etc. There was once civilization in USA.