Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Poet Sharon Olds Bitchslaps Laura Bush for Invite

The Nation (highlights of Sharon Olds' letter to Laura Bush): "I am writing to let you know why I am not able to accept your kind invitation to give a presentation at the National Book Festival on Sept 24, or to attend your dinner at the Library of Congress or the breakfast at the WH... I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you. I knew that if I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush Administration. What kept coming to the fore of my mind was that I would be taking food from the hand of the First Lady who represents the Administration that unleashed this war and that wills its continuation, even to the extent of permitting "extraordinary rendition": flying people to other countries where they will be tortured for us. So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds and fire. I thought of the clean linens at your table, the shining knives and the flames of the candles, and I could not stomach it." Please read the entire letter... it is a righteous and mighty bitchslap that Ms. Olds should be duly proud of. Olds is not my fav poet, but I am fond of 3 of her poems: Sex Without Love, The Pope's Penis, and The Unborn.
Posted by Tina :: 12:11 AM :: 0 Comments:

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