Ethical Diversions

[mikebailey at speakeasy.net]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter E. Zelz [mailto:pzelz at earthlink.net]
> 
> OK, this is getting tedious.
> 
> A.  Who said that the Holocaust had to be an element in every novel set in
> WWII?
> B.  Why the hell should I care?
> 

snort!  point well taken, 

...buuut, the thing about the Pynchon canon is the way that such elements are treated; or maybe say "what makes it interesting that the Holocaust might be an element in Gravity's Rainbow is the way that its author would work it in" (ie very elegantly, subtly, and thought-provokingly if following his form on other elements; and perhaps not overtly but in such a way that it could be seen if looked for discerningly) 
and that this author is fairly careful and does reasonably good research, seems to arrive at thoughtful conclusions, hold enlightened positions, and therefore his thoughts and inklings about the Holocaust - though he was not there himself - would at least be interesting and perhaps worth, well, not "imitating" per se, I mean I'm not going to follow some Pynchon party line, but... well, you know, maybe attach a certain respect to the way it's expressed in GR (if indeed it is) 

Those are my reasons at least, others no doubt have others