Dear Fellow Twainacs,
    If I may weigh on Steve Martin ...
    He's the first truly deserving of the award, since he's a very good
writer, fiercely intelligent, torn between exhibitionism and genuine
shyness.
    What bothers me is that real writers are given short shrift in this
alleged "prize." It's given to, for the most part, comedians with lots of TV
exposure. That may be lucrative, but it's also deeply problematic.
    Where are Sid Perelman, Veronica Geng, Robert Benchley, Groucho Marx in
this scheme?
    When is Russell Baker going to get his Twanian due? Or, posthumously,
Will Rogers, Steve Allen and H.L.. Mencken?
    Sam was no comedian; he spoke truth when he came across it. To have a
"prize" named in his honor that doesn't fully understand his importance is
meaningless.
    There's my weigh-in.
    All opinions, counter or elsewise, are welcome.
Kathy O'Connell
Record-Journal
Meriden, Conn.
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