Comments on: Elizabeth Alexander to Read at Obama Inauguration

By: Michael Robbins

Michael Robbins — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:53:33 +0000

Thanks, John, for these thoughtful comments. In brief, I’m at best a very lukewarm defender of democracy (I’d have to see it in practice to make a final decision, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere), in no small part because it means putting up with people like Warren. I don’t see why hateful nonsense, whether of Warren’s variety or the sort that demands that little girls wear headscarves to school, should be “tolerated” by thoughtful members of intricate social formations. Democratic principles assume no one should be shut out for their views, because there’s no way to adjudicate with reasonable certainty among views in general. But that’s simply untrue.

By: Henry Gould

Henry Gould — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:17:14 +0000

I was saddened to learn that the Ace Toothpick Co. (of Giminy, Wisconsin) has been chosen as the Inaugural Toothpick Supplier for the upcoming event next month. I have always considered Ace Toothpick one of those companies which kept its “picks above the fray”, so to speak – untainted by the dolorous weevils of Presidential or other politics, maintaining a strict policy of “Politics – No Picks” – which originated in the devotion of its founder, Scroggby D. Ace (1857-1912), to the Neo-Mugwump Party of northeastern Wisconsin, which Mr. Ace helped to organize in 1884-85, and which subsequently spread through many of the logging areas and toothpick manufacturers of the Middle West. How unfortunate to see this fine tradition of Hands-Off the Toothpick going, as we say in literary circles hereabouts, “the way of all fish”.

By: john

john — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:54:04 +0000

Michael,
Thanks for the link to the Packer piece. Very interesting — calls to mind Kenneth Rexroth’s long-ago complaint that contemporary American poetry (since Sandburg anyway, and with the exception of some of the Beats) lacked vocalic punch, that it was difficult to recite with vigor. Interestingly, this would apply to Frost as well; it’s not a question of accessibility or prosody. In W. R. Johnson’s terms, modernist poetry has by-and-large lacked a “choral lyric,” which would be the type that an occasion of state would call for. Some of the Slammers write “choral lyric,” but more often in the mode of “odi” rather than “amo” (to borrow from Catullus).
As I consider it, it occurs to me that, interestingly, W. R. Johnson’s “God’s Trombones” — themselves modeled on African American preaching — could be declaimed. Angelou herself is in that oratorical tradition. But I agree with Packer; who could pull it off? (I don’t think Angelou did.) I can’t think of a poem from the Laureate’s tradition that doesn’t sound embarrassing — or, perhaps, droll — now. (Some of Jonson’s masques praising the monarch — am I hallucinating a mutually recognized tongue-in-cheekiness in Jonson comparing Elizabeth to a goddess? A recognition that, yes, that’s his job, to compare the queen to a goddess; and yes, it’s ridiculous, so we might as well have some fun with it. Can’t imagine an American politician picking a poet who would flatter with a hint of cheekiness-via-hyperbole.)
It will probably turn out that I will end up sharing your sorrow about the inaugural poem. For reasons of poetry, which are definitely related to reasons of politics. I don’t know Alexander’s work at all, so it’s nothing against her — I just can’t imagine anybody pulling it off!
p.s. Miller Williams dedicated one of his books to his daughter Cindy. Not the actress on “Laverne and Shirley”; his daughter later decided to go by “Lucinda.”

By: Michael Robbins

Michael Robbins — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:53:04 +0000

Rich, that’s a completely different question: I would refer you to Chomsky’s stock answer when asked, as he often is, whether he sees a contradiction in his dissident work’s being subsidized by the CIA & Department of Defense (which have long maintained associations & contracts with MIT) — but I’m no Chomsky, Chicago’s no MIT, & the answer is pretty obvious.
Anyway, yes, I agree that Alexander’s reading will do no harm. I never said otherwise. To shift the topic away from my red diapers, have you guys seen Packer’s somewhat obtuse post at the New Yorker blog? I don’t disagree with his overall argument, but the details are rather devilish: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/georgepacker/2008/12/presidential-po.html.

By: john

john — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:30:11 +0000

Michael,
Does your admonition against state functionaries apply to state university poetry professors? I don’t see how they don’t place their poetry in the service of the state, no matter how much resistance and critique their poetry fosters, enacts, describes, depicts, or embodies. And that applies to my own beloved state-university anarchist poetry professor! Whom I don’t, personally, blame for taking the job; in fact, I’m grateful he did; but then, I don’t find it sad that Alexander is reading at the inauguration. The choice of Warren to participate disgusts me too, but since when does participation mean 100% endorsement? Something I cherish about democracy: The right to disagree. Which, of course, applies to you too, Michael! You have every right to bemoan Alexander’s participation.

By: OolosisS

OolosisS — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:08:03 +0000

Invocation
By OolosisS
Rick Warren, I warrant
Is a Glutton for God.
The Obese, Obey!,
I imagine they say,
Makes us our millions
And we will pay
Unto God, what is God’s
And build this day,
A mall for His Church
So that weekly they’ll say,
Unto Caesar, what is Caesar’s!
Tax exempt always!
But come visit our stage
Prior Election Day.
(Whisper)…and please, take with you
This word, “marriage” of ours
From our Bible to halls
Of Congressional white
And with words of black
On tablets like stone
Place it within and define
Rights of our own.
But remember always,
Well beyond here, today
Separation of church
And state on tax day.

By: Rich Villar

Rich Villar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:25:56 +0000

I’ll make no further comment on here except to say:
-It’s a bit difficult to call an Obama Administration imperialist, non-progressive, or anything else, given that there is no Obama Administration as of yet.
-You’ll find no one more willing than me to call the U.S. out for what it does, but reading a poem at an inaugural ceremony…a historic one, despite the opinions of the more cynical among us…does not equate with sanctioning homophobia, war, or U.S. policy past or present.
What I’m saying is, yes, we know poets should be ideological and all that jazz. But really fellas. Relax. I think one good poem for one huge audience will do nothing but good for the country.
Lastly, I could be obtuse and ask Michael why he continues to be affiliated with the University of Chicago, the institution that gave Milton Friedman a platform and breathing space while successive imperialist governments (supported by the U.S. military) played havoc with the world using his economic theories. But that wouldn’t be fair, now would it?

By: "noah freed"

"noah freed" — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:21:26 +0000

Jasper is right on; Hitchens has an article well worth reading on the Warren choice: http://www.slate.com/id/2207148/.

By: Jasper

Jasper — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:22:40 +0000

I have to say that Michael is right, here. Let’s remember that Alexander will participate in an inauguration that will legitimate Rick Warren and his revolting views on homosexuality, among other things.
What can we expect from the Obama administration? Well, the continuing murder of Iraqis under Gates (and already the signs are clear that we can expect no real withdrawal anytime soon), the intensification of the “good” war in Afghanistan, the continuing exploitation of the entire country for the benefit of the banks under Geithner’s Treasury and Summers’s advisory role, the commitment to Israel’s apartheid state under Hillary Clinton’s. etc., etc. The Obama administration is already nothing less than shameful, and anybody who claims the term liberal or progressive and thinks otherwise is, frankly, either ignorant or a fool. I think the moniker “imperialist” is here rather real than imagined, despite Rich Villar’s claims to the contrary.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:14:52 +0000

Tom–
Dickey, while taking part in Carter’s inaugural celebration (specifically the Inaugural Gala), did not participate in the inauguration ceremony itself, which, I believe, is what is being counted here.
Michael