A Poet Dissents (against the "herd of independent minds")

Tech Central Station ^ | February 20, 2003 | Frederick Turner

[Mr. Mulliner]

I love his use of the phrase "herd of independent minds." Doesn't that sound like a poet to think he or she is so out of step with the world, and then to gather as large a group as possible around them who think the same way so they can validate their out-of-stepness?

I think this guy deserves our thanks and support. There's an e-mail link on the source page at the end of the article.

[Mr. Mulliner]

A fellow poet you can look up to

[Utah Girl]

Very thoughtful article. And the poem is spot on.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I think you'll want to see this one. I hope that we can get freepers who will show some support for this guy. This is a bold stand he's taking and most of us probably cannot really understand just how bold it is.

[John H K]

It's really fairly decent poetry as such things go.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Hey, I'm glad you showed up, UG. That saves me from pinging you. (And btw, you're welcome for the ping to the Telegraph article.)

[moodyskeptic]

God willing, in sixth months he will be the most famous poet of our time. These are strange times, and his bravery will be rewarded.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Unfortunately, even if everthing in Iraq goes swimmingly, I seriously doubt that his brother poets will ever acknowledge that they were wrong and he was right. And it's hard to be a famous poet without the support of your peers.

[Utah Girl]

I think that those in acadamia and the arts who stand up for their principles (usually conservative) deserve all the support they can get. The reprisals can be vicious in the ivy tower world.

[Utah Girl]

Being a leftist and a dem means never having to say you're sorry or you were wrong. They just move on to the next argument.

[MozartLover]

Nice article MM. Thanks for posting it.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Hey, where have you been? You were supposed to interpret my dream from Tuesday night?

[blackbart.223]

"I love his use of the phrase "herd of independent minds." Doesn't that sound like a poet to think he or she is so out of step with the world, and then to gather as large a group as possible around them who think the same way so they can validate their out-of-stepness?"

I suggest you read Nietzsche.

[MozartLover]

???????

What dream?

[Bernard Marx]

Frederick Turner bump

[JoJo Gunn]

The "independent minds" means Leftists have only random firing brain cells.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Here is some contact information in case you want to thank and support Frederick Turner. The e-mail link works.

Frederick Turner
Founders Professor of Arts and Humanities,
University of Texas at Dallas

Email Author

[Libertina]

BUMP

[Interesting Times]

This is an act of courage.

[Jemian]

Ping for later reading