Re: Juxtaposition
Matt Kozusko (mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu)
Wed, 21 Oct 1998 09:48:02 -0400 (EDT)
On Wed, 21 Oct 1998, Camille Scaysbrook wrote:
> ... or to put it another way, just because you don't like Ayn Rand doesn't
> mean that everyone else isn't allowed to either. I personally am not a huge
> Rand fan - in fact, quite the opposite - but I would certainly not begrudge
> anyone their own opinion if it is in any way linked to a discussion of JD
> Salinger. Think how angry everyone would be if you had substituted Ayn Rand
> for say, Catholicism!
I can't imagine that anyone will actually refrain from liking or
discussing Ayn Rand's work because of my post. Anybody who is earnestly
compelled not to read or advocate Rand on account of someone else's
opinions probably wouldn't like her stuff much, anyway.
The initial reply to my comments (the most prominent feature of which,
I'll suggest, was not anti-Rand sentiment but the distinctly Harold
Ober-ian overtones of "we are the literary representatives" followed by
various proscriptions about matters literary) lamented my "hate[red]" of
_The Fountainhead_ and wondered who had authorized me to dictate what
people should and shouldn't read. After careful scrutiny of the entire
colloquy thus far, I am unable to discover any instance in which I
specifically forbid other members of this list to like Ayn Rand or _The
Fountainhead_ (though I admit I have strongly, if obliquely, suggested
that people in general shouldn't read her books).
I am also uncertain what rhetorical purpose is served by juxtaposing this:
> > We are the literary representatives of Ayn Rand. Please be advised that
> > discussion of Ayn Rand is expressly forbidden on this list, which is
with this:
> > `... Sorry, but you're not really in a position to judge
> > the motives people have for holding to certain beliefs unless
> > you share those beliefs yourself. I mean, couldn't your criticism
> > here be viewed as a bit smug and self-righteous? ...'
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Matt Kozusko mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu