Let me just say that all apologies are due if my words were taken as exclusionary. I have no defensive response to any charge of intellectaul snobbery, as I am merely a lowly waitress-cum-grad-student and fellow admirer of Twain. On that note, I'm sure we're all subscribed to this forum for the same reason. I can't speak for Gary, but I would like to point out that my particular email to which Sue replied should be apprehended as the response to a _particular_ posting, to which I was trying to respond diplomatically and in what I felt was a fairly non-kneejerk manner. I can't apologize for my words, but I'm sorry if the context wasn't clear. Ack. Here's to clearing up misunderstanding and getting get back to business. Rivka On Thu, 5 Mar 1998, Sue Harris wrote: > Let me just say that some people on this forum seem to think that unless > you are an intellectual or scholarly, then you needn't bother to make > your views known. Well, let me just remind those of you who fall into > that category that some of us are subscribed to this particular forum in > order to learn more and enjoy the subject that we are so enthusiastic > about - MARK TWAIN! Therefore, if we happen to offer an opinion and it > seems petty or less than "genius" to any of you, oh well -- I thought this > forum was intended for anyone who might be interested and membership > should be > encouraged - not discouraged. In short, don't be so pious! > > Sue J. Harris > Secretary for Career Development and Fine Arts > Elmira City School District > > "Live Life To the Fullest Everyday" > > On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, Rivka Swenson wrote: > > > I am in agreement with Gary about purviewing appropriate articles on the > > issue, prior to pronouncement of opinion, so as to make informed, > > appropriate and salient responses. I also appreciated Larry's point about > > it being alright to say something about your mother (or, about yourself) > > while still taking legitimate offense at an outsider's similar voicing.. > > One last word about the N-word: one way to look at it, is this--members of > > minority groups who appropriate "the language of the oppressors" do > > succeed in defusing, somewhat, the sting. If you're not in that group, > > though, you're simply, as it's put, "calling someone out their name"--a > > ery big offense, because, historically, names, religious affiliations and > > family structures were shattered. That seems pretty clear. Finally, Steve > > said something to the effect of "what if I get offended by the term > > 'honky'?" Well, what if you do? The issue, whatever it may be, shouldn't > > be a matter of "personal and individual offense." > > > > On Tue, 3 Mar 1998, Gary Henrickson wrote: > > > > > In all honesty, I've been waiting for this thread to die off. The issue of > > > Mark Twain's/ Huck Finn's racism has been viewed and reviewed for the last > > > 10-15 years in the journals and in some fine books with no resolution (Cf. > > > Forrest Robinson's articles and books). My suggestion is that one plow > > > through some of those articles and then return to this thread if there is > > > anything new to say about it. > > > > > > As far as the "N" word goes, I do accept arguments that it is a historically > > > weighty term. But I am struck by the frequency of the use of the word by > > > American blacks in conversation with each other. I have wondered at times > > > if such use hasn't taken some of the sting out of the term. (?) > > > > > > Gary Henrickson > > > North Dakota State College of Science > > > > > >