Down from the ivory tower (FR is wackos mention)

Boston Globe ^ | 10/28/03 | Alex Beam

[Pikamax]

Down from the ivory tower

Boston College professor Paul Lewis is an able writer and possessed of sharp wit; for instance, he coined the term "Frankenfood." His academic field of expertise is humor, but when Lewis wrote a caustic op-ed piece for the Toronto Globe and Mail last month, not everyone got the joke.

Titled "Can We Democrats Be Your Next Province?" Lewis playfully suggested that the states that voted Democratic in the 2000 election might secede and join Canada. But his tone was bitter and corrosive -- e.g., "We new Canadians will (shortly) acquire a national leader capable of producing coherent sentences in at least two languages. We will leave behind a US composed of increasingly polluted semi-tropical and desert states inhabited by citizens hell-bent on posting the Ten Commandments in public washrooms, installing a Star Wars defence system around fast-food restaurants, and generally doing what they can to bring on the Apocalypse."

Surprisingly (to him, not to me), Lewis was instantly vilified by dozens of right-wing Internet wackos, most of them apparently perusers of the website freerepublic.com. He received at least one death threat, and an ad hominem attack in Hilton Kramer's Frankenzine, The New Criterion. "It's a take no prisoners attitude that is not democratic in its instinct," says Lewis. "There is this disturbing quality of intimidation on the right now."

Alex Beam is a Globe columnist. Hise-dress is beam@globe.com.

[katana]

the states that voted Democratic in the 2000 election might secede and join Canada.

We'll keep the States, thank you, but there's nothing stopping the voters from moving north.

[Always Right]

Death threats shoot, I would encourage this guy to have some of the more liberal states secede to Canada. Where can I sign the petition?

[Porterville]

I sell on eBay, and I sold a book to a Canadian. It wasn't what he expected although I stated what he didin't like about the book twice in the description. He/It/She/The Canadian was mad even after I told them to send it back and I would reimberse them. The Canadian igit was still condesending, rude and foppish during the whole exchange. I have a perfect rating on eBay but this Canadian acted as if I was trying to rip them off. I will only sell to Americans now, Canadians appearently believe they are better then Americans just because of lattitude. I guess they take being on top geographically translates to being superior culturally.

[borkrules]

"There is this disturbing quality of intimidation on the right now."

Wuss.

If you don't like the "quality" of response you are receiving from the targets of your decidedly un-funny ripostes, Mr. Lewis, I suggest you refrain from taking the opening shot(s).

The days of the "rednecks" and "rubes" just sitting there, mouths agape, while the snotty, effete, smug phuks on the East Coast insult them is long, long past. The people in fly-over country have found their voice and they are using it to express their disgust and offense when "professors" deign to commentate on them and their society.

If you're so smart, why haven't you figured that out until now, Mr. Lewis?

If you want to write smart-ass columns long on "witty" insults and short on fair comment, don't expect polite responses in return from those you attack. Don't you just love free speech, Mr. Lewis?

I do.

[maryz]

Lewis playfully suggested that the states that voted Democratic in the 2000 election might secede and join Canada. But his tone was bitter and corrosive

Ah, yes -- my friends can always tellwhen I'm being playful by my bitter and corrosive tone . . .

[rogue yam]

Beware the statistics of small samples.

[Catspaw]

Boston College professor Paul Lewis is an able writer and possessed of sharp wit; for instance, he coined the term "Frankenfood."

Lewis needs some Cheese Whiz for that whine.

[Porterville]

That's true that is true, just in the metro areas. As is true with the metro areas in the US. However, Chretien test the patience of every American and makes one jump to a conlusion about all who live in the Toronto region

[TheBigB]

"I love Free Speech."--GWB

"I hate Free Speech." -Prof. Lewis

[prairiebreeze]

Wow, this is the third time today I've read FR cited!

We're getting famous!

Prairie

[Steve_Seattle]

Lewis seems to think that because he - a liberal - does not receive ugly emails or death threats from liberals, then liberals never write ugly emails or issue death treats. To complete his education, I suggest he talk to Kenneth Starr, Kathleen Harris, or President Bush.

[Steve_Seattle]

I suggest you send your comments directly to Lewis.

[battousai]

Its not all us Canuks, though we are a rare breed there are quite a few conservative thinkers in Canada, its just we're ruled by the wanabe-french from Quebec who are voted in by the wanabe-europeans in the big cities.

[arasina]

We're getting famous!

Yeah, but have any of the citations been positive?

[prairiebreeze]

Of course not. That would be tantamount to admitting that the masses can think and critique for themselves and don't need to be lead around by the nose and told what to think by the Dims and their media.

Prairie

[lilylangtree]

The voters of the states that voted democratic can leave with the rest of the nation's good wishes. But the mess they leave behind is of their own making. Our nation would be better off spiritually and financially if those libs did move north.

[Tempest]

Sounds like a spoiled case of the pot calling the kettle black. Asinine extremist on both sides of the aisle suck.

[BlueLancer]

"Yeah, but have any of the citations been positive?"

I should hope not ... we should wear their hatred and vitriol as badges of honor.

If we're getting positive citations from people of that ilk, we're doing something wrong.

"Always with the negative waves, Moriarty .. always with the negative waves."

[Starboard]

His academic field of expertise is humor, but when Lewis wrote a caustic op-ed piece for the Toronto Globe and Mail last month, not everyone got the joke.

This dosen't say much about his expertise.