the post-911 Situation, Vietnam & Pynchon

[jbor]

on 19/10/01 10:44 AM, The Great Quail at quail at libyrinth.com wrote:

>> I wonder,
>> instead of spending your time pontificating and excoriating Barbara, why
>> don't you challenge rj/rjackson/jbor/?'s assertion that Pynchon would
>> approve of the Bush's war on Afghanistan?
> 
> Because though I don't agree with him, I only see it as his opinion
> on a minor issue to me. If I posted my disagreements with every
> opinion that I don't hold to, I would jam up the list. Frankly, I
> just don't see the issue of Pynchon's agreement or disapproval as
> something I wish to debate. Also, there's just no real way of arguing
> what Pynchon thinks, without a tedious round of my quote/your quote.

Just to clarify a few things, there is no "war on Afghanistan", but on an
oppressive regime within that country, and it's certainly not "Bush's war on
Afghanistan". These are factual distortions: propaganda. I agree that it is
a minor issue, but the main point I made was that whatever his personal
opinion Pynchon doesn't appear to feel it is qualified or authoritative
enough to warrant offering publicly. His reluctance to use his celebrity to
offer public comment, or to exploit current events to fuel this celebrity,
is something which hasn't been acknowledged and should be, as it is this
very reluctance which characterises his ideology. I'd argue that it's a more
reasonable and respectable (and respectful) stance than that adopted by
people like Vidal or Sontag or Chomsky.

Prior U.S. foreign policy has been despicable, I agree, but the current
"Situation" is markedly different to any previous "Situation" the U.S. has
faced, apart from, perhaps, Pearl Harbour, and it's a comparison of the two
responses I'd be seeing as most pertinent at this juncture.

                        MB DRO
                         ROSHI

Further, I honestly don't think there's anything in _GR_, or any of the
texts, to suggest that Pynchon supported the policy of Appeasement prior to
WWII (cf. Blatherard Osmo and Novi Pazar, saving "Europe from Balkan
Armageddon ... though not from World War II, of course" 16, or blithering
Pudding and his _Things That Can Happen in European Politics_ 77), or that
he believes there can *never* be justification for a reasoned, strategic
military response in self-defence or in the interests of peace. If there is
I've yet to see it presented, here or elsewhere. On statistical probability
alone, which is all that anybody has to go on (unless Doug can read
Pynchon's mind, of course), it's more than likely that Pynchon supports the
current international coalition against terrorism.

best