Will's Students- Adam : Vollmann's "The Blue Wallet"

[A. Rick]

Paul-

	Of all political, racial, ethnic, and national groups in history, the
Nazis are by far the most notoriously racist. In "The Blue Wallet", they
ARE "more or less equal in moral standing" with the Koreans. It seems,
however, that there's a different kind of racism exhibited by each group of
Bill's polar circle of friends. I tried to demonstrate the distinction
between the neo-Nazis' "active racism of hate" and the Koreans' "passive
racism of condescension." Bootwoman Marisa eagerly cusses out blacks and
fat people, but Jenny's society instead keeps their dislikes and prejudices
to themselves; both groups try to keep company with only their kind, except
when their like of Bill brings them in contact with the enemy.
	You appropriately refer to the neo-Nazis as the worst of the West--this is
the reason why the conflict between Marisa and Jenny cannot be solved. I am
not inclined to argue that their mutual prejudices could be erased by any
imaginable turn of events. The last line of my essay is misleading in this
regard: I think that Bill is doing a remarkable job of staying friendly
with both ends of his social spectrum. But, I wonder if this success can
last. Can Bill continue to eat Marisa's breakfast, meanwhile dating Jenny?
	Perhaps--if you're not too committed to M&D--you have already gotten your
hands on some Vollmann, including TBW. You will notice that Bill maintains
his polar relationships without expressing any direct endorsement or
criticism of either side. (He does make Jenny call her brother to get him
to apologize for criticizing Bill's non-Korean-ness.) Jenny asked Bill to
choose between her or them when she thought they stole her wallet, and Bill
didn't choose. When will he be forced to?

Thanks for your interest. We (Field students) are very lucky that you like
Will so much that you've responded a number of times. You've earned my
first of three responses. Thank you, thank you.

Adam Rick