Authorrheal in Tension/Re: Welcome Sunday!

[barbara100 at jps.net]

I wonder what Elaine thinks about our author's take on pre-emption.  I liked
her post the other day about the "canon of white male authors" solving the
problems of world terror.  You think they'd do a good job? I dream of the
day.
Some of us on the Pynchon List try to argue Pynchon's in our
ideological/political camp. One will argue he's a hawk, another a dove. One
will argue he's a patriot and holds respect for Institutions and Offices of
the President, the other certainly NOT. One will argue he's for the War on
Terrorism, another vehemently NOT. It's gets intense at times. Sometimes I
wonder if it's sheer animosity that drives the arguing, or genuine belief.
When others chime in with support, oftentimes the losing side begins
accusing the winning side of being one person, one person with multiple
personae.  It happens to Doug the most frequently.  A lot of leftward voices
have been dismissed as being his.  I'm probably the most notable. Some say
we have the same writing style, and offer double spaces after periods as
compelling evidence. I bet those accusers find the Blair Dossier compelling
too.
There was indeed a party at Doug's house last month.  A lovely party where I
met his wife, and his first girlfriend, and his old hippy high school buddy
who played folk music for us all.  He played guitar and banjo and his wife
played the harp. He was rugged and handsome and sang melodiously to the
crowd. She sang to him in what I can only describe as love. They were a very
appealing couple.  They made me long for a simpler way of life.
The invitation went out to the P-List, but I was the only other P-List
member to attend. Wouldn't you know it!  I was hoping for a witness at
least, looking forward to having an identity of my own. Alas, I'm still
caught in surreality too.
Barbara


Elaine M.M. Bell, Writer
(860) 523-9225
----- Original Message -----
From: <RuudSaurins at aol.com>
To: <Pynchon-L at waste.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 2:35 PM
Subject: Authorrheal in Tension


> Pynchon and War...
>    ...not much to discuss, is there?  GR non-withstanding, nobody is
talking about the "roots" of so much belligerence, which Pynchon so ably
addresses in his Luddite article (imho).  Some "Badass" is always bigger and
meaner than you and willing to kick your ass to have his way.  Knowledge of
the whereabouts and possible intentions of such persons can be terror
inspiring.
>     No doubt that Saddam Hussein has more than his fair share of "Bodine"
blood circulating thru his evil vasculature.  Should such individuals be
dispatched with extreme prejudice?  Pynchon has composed scenes in his
novels that bear some resemblance to pre-emptive strikes against "badasses".
Pre-emptive strikes such as the intended castration of Slothrop backfire
(tragically, if you are the Major).  As was so eloquently and laboriously
argued with regard to Dixon's "allowing" the slave driver to "run into his
fist"; the narrative is only suggestive (at best) of the author's "true
intentions" in composing the scene.  Again, no pre-emptive strikes are
composed into the narrative.  Perhaps the author is suggesting to the reader
that such actions either do not work, or are unpopular with the author.
>                                                  truly,
>                                                  Ruud
>