We all want to discuss the attack and its consequences, and we all want to think about something else. But when we talk or think about something else, we all come back to the attack because everything else seems trivial. That attack is what is in everyone's mind. I went on a getaway weekend this past Saturday and Sunday to try to stop watching television. I went to upstate NY wine country which was jammed with people all doing the same thing. How did I know that? Everywhere I went, everywhere I stayed, every winery I visited I found people talking about how they were getting away and trying to laugh and learning that they could talk about only one thing for any sustained period of time. If we don't talk about it here we will talk about it somewhere else. If talk about it here is forbidden, few will have anything to say .----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Beason" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2001 2:24 PM Subject: Re: reply to Ken Bain Well, I am obviously in the minority, but despite the strong language from some members of this (and who can blame them?), I do not believe the list has gone over the top in terms of the 'digressions' on the national crisis. Yes, there are more appropriate forums, but I think each and every forum at this time should be willing to listen to ideological debates (even finger pointing) within certain limits. What are the limit? I don't know, but given the scope of the tragedy, I don't think the list has come close to being overwhelmed by digressions. One unfortunate image of those of us who study grammar is that we focus on minutia. This stereotype is not true, but I think that insisting we focus only on technical aspects of language is not going to change anyone's mind that grammarians are out of touch with the bigger issues of communication. So I guess I would enter a small plea for more tolerance of the digressions, for a little while longer at least. larry beason <<< "Paul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]> 9/15 6:22p >>> I think no one has said it better than Johanna and Bob have done below. Now let's stop the digression and move the list back to its true center of attention. Paul E. Doniger The Gilbert School ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Yates <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2001 4:48 PM Subject: Re: reply to Ken Bain > Dear list members, > > Let me second Johanna Rubba's request. > > > I am going to call once again for a cessation of ideological debate on > > this list about this particular incident, the roots of terrorism, George > > Bush's honesty, the reasonableness of past US actions, etc., etc. > > For me, one of the great attractions to the study of language is that it is the one > unique quality which every human being shares with every other human being in the > world. We are all born with this wonderful capacity; only the most extraordinary > conditions can prevent us from learning language. Despite the apparent > differences we experience on the surface of the world's languages, all the world's > languages are fundamentally related to properties which every human being is born > with. > > For almost twenty years I have had the good fortunate of teaching English to people > from all over the world. My spouse was not born the United States. As a > consequence, I have lived for several years in other countries. > > In my professional life and private life, I both celebrate the diversity in human > beings and the fact that beneath that diversity are properties which I share with > all other human beings. I truly believe that those who planned and carried out the > attacks on Washington and New York are fundamentally opposed to the kind of > diversity and universal humanity which I celebrate > > For people of good will all over the world, this is not a time to engage in finger > pointing when there are among us some who hate our world so much that they will do > literally anything to destroy it. > > Bob Yates, Central Missouri State University > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html > and select "Join or leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/