Friends, I have been following the massive volume of material on the forum since Sam's birthday -- and enjoying most of it.  As I was walking the dogs tonight (alone, unfortunately, Vicki is recovering from a nasty fractured ankle), I found myself thinking about the ongoing Huck discussion.  The question that I had is: how important is the Twain lexicon to American culture?
    It has always seemed to me that part of the importance of the public school movement is in developing an American identity -- something essential in our democratic republic.  How significant is Twain in that development?  Is Twain our Goethe or Shakespeare?  Is Twain an important common point of reference that we all need to have imprinted in our American psyches?
    Tom Quirk once wisely told me to leave literature to the professionals.  I've adopted that as a maxim.  So I am not trying to make any analysis or assertion.  But it seems to me that Huck has acquired an independent significance that transcends art and literature.  I can't help but think that Specialist Wilson who had the gumption to stand up to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld about the armor situation was exercising his Huck rights.  Every once and a while you just have to decide that you'll go to hell and do the right thing for principle.
    I also feel terribly sorry for the poor victims of rightwing home schooling or repressive schooling who don't get the phrase "my huckleberry friend" in Moon River.  Can you imagine?
    By the way, Vicki told me tonight I am a lousy nurse.  She and Tom Quirk are sure keen on my limitations.
    Terrell Dempsey