For Gregg and everyone:

Yes, thanks Gregg, many of those thoughts occurred to me, but my previous
verbosity provided an unusual amount of self-restraint in posting similar
thoughts (unusual for me, that is).  But here I go again. . . .

I agree with pretty much everything Gregg says.  I have been struck by the
number of posts mentioning a sort of tension between the "scholars" and
"non-scholars."  I frankly do not see the LIST in these culture-war type of
terms: academic vs. layperson, scholar vs. amateur.  Gregg is correct in
saying that most of the posters these days are not academics--I believe this
is true-- and that actually many of us academics do many other things in
life besides viewing Mark Twain through a microscope.  Plus, I rarely
actually teach Twain, compared to the vast minefields of AmLit and culture
that comprise my courses.  For example, this entire year I have not taught
one text by Twain! I have so much else to cover.  Most days in my actual
existence are no longer tied very directly to Mark Twain.

I personally view the elites in this field, such as Lou Budd and the folks
at the Twain project like Bob Hirst, as very much my superiors in this area
(as is Gregg).  And honestly, I am in awe of them and very much covet their
approval of my own feeble attempts.  I always fear missing so much.  And I
agree that this LIST has rarely seemed to me unapproachable or
arrogant--though possibly I am one of the chief offenders, and I also
recognize my own status as "insider" academic.

Finally, besides the academic vs. layperson, I think Gregg is correct to say
the old left vs. right tension is evident in many posts.  Meaning, the
academy is NOT just left-leaning, tenured radicals.  That is so funny to
anyone with even a passing understanding of life in the universities these
days.  Many English departments (amd many schools) are in fact quite stodgy
and conservative.  Maybe the stereotype is so strong because the loudest
wheel gets the oil--and the academics on CNN tend to be radicals??  Is that
it?  Anyway, my university, to take the example I know well, is pretty
representative of all things political and moral.  The truth is, most
veteran English professors actually dislike departmental meetings PRECISELY
BECAUSE it is just to darned HARD to get anyone to agree about almost
anything.


Pax,







Harold K. Bush, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Dept. of English, Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO  63108
314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
<www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/ENG/faculty/hbush.html>

Quote of the moment:

"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above
morality. Be not simply good; be good for something."
     
        --Henry David Thoreau