[AsburyPark] On the Other Hand...

Sun, 08 May 2005 12:17:47 -0700

Hello [EMAIL PROTECTED],


In reference to your comment:
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned is from a fundamental
rule in semantics, "the word is not the thing" (i.e. words are no more
than tools, albeit loaded with magic and symbolism). Hence, if a gem
of an obscenity simply nails it; why not state that and let the timid
have a good time spinning in response?
On the other hand...
 
Walt Whitman:
 
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
 
Countee Cullen, Harlem Renaissance poet:
 
Incident
 
Once riding in old Baltimore,
Heart-filled, head-filled with glee,
I saw a Baltimorean
Keep looking straight at me.

Now I was eight and very small,
And he was no whit bigger,
And so I smiled, but he poked out
His tongue, and called me, "Nigger."

I saw the whole of Baltimore
From May until December;
Of all the things that happened there
That's all that I remember.

Mario
 

========Original Message========
Subj: [AsburyPark] Re: Jersey Urban v. City of Asbury Park, - freedom of _expression_
Date: 5/8/2005 2:11:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com
Sent on:   

"So are you saying you purposefully posted a distasteful comment to
cut to the chase and get to the quick?"
Dan,
Purposefully gives me too much credit; however, I obviously don't mind
being a lightning rod.  I think we, the at large we, spend too much
time trying to get it right (i.e. politically correct), rather than
attempting to understand what in hell is going on and addressing the
issue. 

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned is from a fundamental
rule in semantics, "the word is not the thing" (i.e. words are no more
than tools, albeit loaded with magic and symbolism). Hence, if a gem
of an obscenity simply nails it; why not state that and let the timid
have a good time spinning in response?
ps thanks for the compliment.


--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "Skip Bernstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> "I'm all for freedom of _expression_, but keep in mind that this is an
> open publicly readable forum and everything here gives readers a
> perception of not only the posters but of Asbury Park in general.
> Isn't it hard enough for the few of us concerned posters to stay
> credible without a comment like that."
>
> Werner, Food for thought; I'm truly delighted that you're "âall for
> freedom of _expression_â", so long as it's not too freely employed?
> However, your message supports a grand hypocrisy that it's not what we
> believe, think and do, but rather how we appear to others that
> matters.  Appearance has become the end all, the measure of value and
> legitimacy. 
>
> Therefore, "a comment like [mine]" is perceived as so dangerous or
> injurious, that though clearly made in jest, you feel I must be
> chastised.  Ya know we used to burn witches; we don't do that anymore,
> we've evolved, today we have political correctness, a lovely device
> that incinerates words that might offend.  Life is so much easier when
> we can ignore an interest group that acts obscenely in mass by voting
> for one of theirs, despite his meager skill set.
>
> Obviously "âeverything here gives readers a perception of not only the
> posters but of Asbury Parkâ" that's at the heart of why we're doing
> what we do.  But consider there's more to communications than a
> chronicling of fact; there is also a need for relief from detail,
> unfortunately not every utterance flies, not every word works and not
> every argument wins. 
>
> I suppose we each have a threshold of acceptability, but do enlighten
> me, which is the greater injury, a one liner of dubious taste or a
> community that is perceived as the driving force behind a city's
> regeneration, adopting a position of near unanimity in supporting a
> government that chooses to hear, see and speak no evil, irregularity
> or deficiency; in blindly agreeing to a corrupt and damaging deal,
> which threatens that very rebirth?  Sadly, particularly in Asbury at
> this moment, it's not just who we know, but why, how and what we know.
>
>
> --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "wernerapnj" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "Skip Bernstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > doesn't that come under the subheading, "it's not who ya know, it's
> > who ya
> > > blow"?
> > >
> > > Skip Bernstein
> >
> > Skip, I'm all for freedom of _expression_, but keep in mind that
this is
> > an open publicly readable forum and everything here gives readers a
> > perception of not only the posters but of Asbury Park in general.
> >
> > Isn't it hard enough for the few of us concerned posters to stay
> > credible without a comment like that. Perhaps you're not concerned
> > about how you are perceived.
> >
> > I feel that should have been a private email to those you thought
would
> > find it amusing.
> >
> > With all due respect,
> > Werner





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