Not sure I Know it when I see it...

[C. Endicott]

A couple of people have expressed shock that p-listers who claim to
understand Pynchon could fail to recognize what *they* deem offensive,
morally wrong, etc. What suprises me is that people who claim to
understand Pynchon are able to make broad categorical statements about
what is "wrong" and what is "right";
my take on Pynchon is that he seeks to point out the danger, or at least
uselessness, of such a binary approach. 

For example, someone said: "The 'Ebonics prayer' would be extremely
hurtful to *any* African American who heard it."
(my emphasis) To test this theory, I actually went out into the "real
world" and asked a couple of those people we so quaintly label "African
americans" what they thought about it; they laughed. They also claim to
know people who really "talk like that". I believe them, as I myself
worked with people who really talk that. I imagine that some people would
be hurt, some would laugh, and some would be indifferent, as with most
things. 

"Cultural relativism falls down when people are hurt." Sez who? You mean
there *is* some underlying, tangible truth out there that I am merely
"ignorant" of? Please show it to me. 

Not trying to be cranky here- I have found this whole thread enlightening,
as it has made me question my initial reaction to the post, and therefore
think. But I really do think that there is a certain amount of
subjectivity involved in this whole discussion that can't simply be
written off...

Five tons of flax,
CLE


"Any society that you build will have its limits. And outside
 the limits of any society the unruly and heroic tramps will
 wander, with their wild & virgin thoughts..."
                             -Renzo Novatore