Re: Yes, by St. Jerome, but there is, Horatio, and much offence, too!

After noting that Will is upset, Tim concerned, Scottie smugly satisfied
about what he characterises as American prissiness, I find myself completely
at odds with Matt's observation that authorial intention on Scottie's part
is irrelevant here.

I would argue that nothing but that could be more relevant. I share Tim's
concerns in general (particularly because he administers the list and I find
that position unenviable) but on the specific matter (despite Matt's
premonition that reactions won't be honest) only to the extent that it is
Scottie being his usual self "delighting in playing bad boy".

I do not however agree that it was not a "case of "political correctness";
it's someone being outright offensive", particularly in light of Scottie's
unapolgetic but clarificatory post.

I merely read his initial post as a response to the polical correctness of
the times we live in where neutral nomenclature is sought to be devised --
Happy Hanukhah, or Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I am all for
inclusivism (if that's what it means or the word I wanted to use) or
secularisation of traditional concepts, but surely, even if Holden spent his
time erasing "Fuck You" signs from walls, the whole "derogatory" epithets
were just flame bait that

And having bitten that bait, to continue to join in the chorus of demanding
apologies of course will be playing straight into the hands of that old
bastard because that's what he delights, nay, gloats in, being able to have
everyone's knickers in a twist as it gives him a sense of having proved the
point, I would argue, he set out to prove. "Prissiness" is just one of the
words used so far.

('Sanctimonious humbug' and others of that ilk will get thrown around with
some glee too, as we progress or degenerate, I predict)

That, I submit to Matt, is what is going on here.

Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, Season's Greetings and all else that you
celebrate,

Sonny, the hand-wringing atheist,
going now to muse on the Salman Rushdie/Satanaic Verses syndrome.

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Received on Tue Dec 24 07:59:29 2002