Parts of *Freedom* were also set in Minnesota, and the book featured a
curmudgeonly birder, perhaps a stand-in for the author, who railed against
outdoor cats and seems to do better with birds than with people.
Having just read Franzen's article, Jim Williams' response, and Audubon’s
reply, it looks to me like Franzen badly wanted to make a point -- concern
for long-term climate change often dampens concern for the present -- to
set the stage for this article and so cherry picked tiny portions of quotes
to turn Jim Williams and Audubon into so many straw men. Heck, the article
in which Jim Williams' quote appears addresses the sort of local, concrete,
present day concerns that concern Franzen in this piece: As alarming as
the Audubon study is, [Carrol] Henderson said that other issues may pose
even bigger — and much more immediate — problems for the state’s bird
population. He’s particularly concerned about contaminants in lakes,
especially lead used in fishing gear, that’s poisoning the loons. He also
pointed to the loss of grasslands and an increasing use of pesticides. And
a very quick look through Jim William's postings on the *Star Tribune* turn
up heaps of writing on and suggestions for keeping birds from flying into
windows.
I like much of Franzen's work -- fiction and non-fiction -- but it's too
bad he misused Jim Williams' words and apparently Audubon's work to set the
stage for this lengthy article on issues other than Minnesota, birds and
glass, and the Vikings' new stadium.
- Jared Del Rosso
Denver, CO
Formerly St. Paul, MN
On Thu, Apr 2, 2015 at 2:13 PM, Gordon Andersson gpanders...@msn.com
wrote:
Here is the link to the entire article Carbon Capture by Franzen. I
havent read it thru yet, but it is about much more than the stadium and
Audubon. The subtitle is Has climate change made it harder for people to
care about conservation? He is a birder and conservationist. I think his
novel Freedom featured a Cerulean Warbler on the cover and the species
was
featured in the plot.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/06/carbon-capture
GAndersson
St Paul
-Original Message-
From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of Jim
Williams
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2015 2:35 PM
To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: [mou-net] Jonathan Franzen's article in current New Yorker
magazine
Perhaps you have read author Jonathan Franzen's take on bird conservation,
the beginning of which hinges on the Vikings stadium now under
construction.
He writes in the April 6 issue of The New Yorker. (The article Is available
on-line.) Franzen takes a stick to the National Audubon Society, as well as
a poke at me. Response to this from Audubon Vice President Mark Jannot,
linked below, clearly and without mercy offer Audubon's reaction. Jannot
gives me a helping hand as well, since I am prominent in the beginning of
the Franzen piece. That consideration is much appreciated. Jannot posted
his
comments on the National Audubon web site.
https://www.audubon.org/news/friends-these
Jim Williams
Wayzata, Minn
birding blog at
www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/blogs/Wingnut.html
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JDR
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