The Repugs will miss no opportunity whatsoever to demonize and propagandize over the Iraq war.If anyone doubts that, then read this New York Times story about Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr., nominated to be the first poet laureate of Nassau County, NY.
As stated in the story…
Mr. Wheat, a Freeport resident who declined to give his age, had seemed to be a shoo-in. The County Legislature had appointed a six-member advisory panel of experts, which unanimously nominated him after reviewing 14 candidates.So what caused the problem? Well..
The panel enthusiastically cited Mr. Wheat’s accolades after decades of writing, teaching and promoting poetry, including the Long Island School of Poetry Award from the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association, and an award from the New York State Outdoor Education Association. He is also a naturalist who leads local tours, and many of his poems are about the flora and fauna of Long Island.
…there was his volume, titled “Iraq and Other Killing Fields: Poetry for Peace” (Sheraton Enterprises, 2004), which lamented the horrors of the current and past wars. His poem “Torture” features the subtitles “Saddam Hussein Regime” and “George W. Bush Administration.” Several poems were prefaced by President Bush’s pre-invasion claim that Iraq had “some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.”Gee, Mr. Dunne, I suppose that when you were serving this country, you considered it a nation where all must conform to one voice of government and dissenting points of view must be silenced? And does your son feel the same way?
From “Torture”:
Balance black-hooded prisoner,
draped in make-shift poncho, on narrow box
wire his out-stretched hands
warn him he will be electrocuted if he falls
…
Members of the Republican minority quickly voiced outrage at the selection of Mr. Wheat, accusing him of attacking American soldiers, a charge he denied.
“He does not represent me, he does not represent veterans,” said Legislator Dennis Dunne, a former marine. “I won’t put up with it. My son left just yesterday for Iraq.”
Paula Camacho, chairwoman of the panel that nominated Mr. Wheat, noted that he was also a former marine, but that did not mollify the critics. She was one of more than a dozen poetry fans at the hearing, who all spoke on Mr. Wheat’s behalf.
The Times article notes that Wheat won the Long Island School of Poetry Award from the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association. Are you familiar with the work of Walt Whitman, Mr. Dunne?
Are you familiar with his poem “Beat! Beat! Drums!” about The Battle of Bull Run during The Civil War? It goes as follows…
1So, then, would you decide that Whitman would not be a candidate for poet laureate either because of his images of the dead during wartime (assuming Whitman would give you the time of day, as they say)? Does that offend your apparently fragile sensibilities?
BEAT! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow!
Through the windows—through doors—burst like a ruthless force,
Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation;
Into the school where the scholar is studying;
Leave not the bridegroom quiet—no happiness must he have now with his bride;
Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, plowing his field or gathering his grain;
So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums—so shrill you bugles blow.
2
Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow!
Over the traffic of cities—over the rumble of wheels in the streets:
Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? No sleepers must sleep in those beds;
No bargainers’ bargains by day—no brokers or speculators—Would they continue?
Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing?
Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge?
Then rattle quicker, heavier drums—you bugles wilder blow.
3
Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow!
Make no parley—stop for no expostulation;
Mind not the timid—mind not the weeper or prayer;
Mind not the old man beseeching the young man;
Let not the child’s voice be heard, nor the mother’s entreaties;
Make even the trestles to shake the dead, where they lie awaiting the hearses,
So strong you thump, O terrible drums—so loud you bugles blow.
This isn’t much of a poem on my part in response, but here it is …
Intolerant RepublicanSomehow I have a feeling that Mr. Wheat’s accomplishments will be remembered far into the future, while anything Mr. Dunne has contributed will fade into memory. And though that is small solace I suppose, it is some consolation anyway.
Denying praise and recognition
To man of art, lover of nature
Because of written wartime truth
“What happened to freedom of speech” indeed?
5 comments:
Is that something - Walt Whitman couldn;t have been poet laureate either, given his anti war sentiment. Thank -you for this post. I'm sending it to my Dad (Maxwell Wheat). He might find it helpful in his interview on KCAA (California) tomorrow. Dede
You're very welcome - best to you and your dad.
I think both your title of this piece and your quoting of Walt Whitman to Max's defense are wonderfully appropriate. I first met Max thirty years ago. As a teacher, as a fellow naturalist, and as a poet, Max has been an inspiration. But, acting in fear and ignorance, perhaps the Nassau County Legislature has done a service to us all, by bringing Max to a far wider audience. Nassau County may not have a Poet Laureate, but perhaps the peace movement now has one.
It doesn't matter what the legislature thinks of Maxwell Wheat's poetry...besides, the fact that with the internet and libraries and all kinds of resources to check out any poetry...they had plenty of time to research what kind of poetry it was, without waiting till the last minute to make a grandstand about the whole thing.......
That was just BS......
The whole appointment has nothing to do with ANYONE liking the poetry...
The opposition should stop diverting the attention...
Nassau County is 5th per capita in the nation.
They can't RISE above politics to enter their place in the world of CULTURE.
How pathetic is that?
Who cares what the poetry is about?
The idea of having a laureate is to promote poetry, conversation about poetry.....
The freedom to say whatever one wants doesn't mean EVERYONE has to like it.
And of course....NOT everyone will.....
No matter who was chosen....
Max was chosen, he just needed to be approved...
All of you, that oppose this appointment, need to get over yourselves.....
FREEDOM of speech will prevail....like the poetry or not!
Thanks, Doug - I think you're right (and Pandadoll also, of course, though I know we all realize "what the poetry is about," is vitally important...Wheat's entire body of work should be taken into accout, but of course this is about political BS more than anything else, unfortunately).
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