EUGENE LUTHER GORE VIDAL
I miss the old fellow already. I feel like I've lost a relative. My favourite American, ahead even of Noam Chomsky and Muhammad Ali.
I admired and enjoyed his non-fiction, essays and memoirs. I also liked his political historical fiction - Burr, 1876, Lincoln. What little I know about US history I learned in great part from Vidal (plus some from Dee Brown, Philip S. Foner, and FW Fred Thompson).
It is his television interviews and other small screen excursions that bring the man to life; magisterial, patrician, erudite, witty. "Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn." Well, he pulled that off, though much of that style was, I believe, a pose. He developed a character, the cold, contemptuous aristo; wrote his own script, and delivered it word perfect. All pour épater les bourgeois, and he certainly succeeded in that endeavour. The outraged comments tagged on to articles remembering the man record the snarls of rabid rightists and heretic-burners. They are out in force. "Light the faggots and burn the faggot". Too late for that, but not too late to attack his reputation.
I also enjoyed his film appearances: the doomed liberal president in "Bob Roberts"; the Episcopalian cleric and exasperated headmaster in his nephew's film "Igby Goes Down" (great film, by the way).
"The great unmentionable evil at the centre of our culture is monotheism. From a barbaric bronze age text known as the Old Testament, three anti-human religions have evolved – Judaism, Christianity, Islam. These are sky-god religions. They are, literally, patriarchal – God is the Omnipotent Father – hence the loathing of women for 2,000 years in those countries afflicted by the sky-god and his earthly male delegates. The sky-god is a jealous god, of course. He requires total obedience from everyone on earth, as he is in place not for just one tribe but for all creation. Those who would reject him must be converted or killed for their own good. Ultimately, totalitarianism is the only sort of politics that can truly serve the sky-god's purpose." (Gore Vidal)
I bet that played well in Gainesville, Florida. The Quran burning pastor will be stocking up on lighter fuel. I suppose Gore had no qualms, believing as he did that Americans don't read. In fact he once claimed that his compatriots were " ... the worst-educated people in the First World."
5 comments:
I understand why that particular quote from Gore would be so appealing to you, but on a more hopeful note, Vidal also claimed this:
"There's no need to worry about the American people. The establishment treats them as if they are fools, but they are not fools."
http://www.marxist.com/decline-fall-american-empire.htm
Gore's historical fiction novels were massive best sellers in the United States, so it is safe to say those books were read by a lot of Americans...even (gasp!)some in Gainsville, Florida!
Btw, the wacko preacher in Gainsville has very few supporters, so I hardly think it fair to lump all the good people of a town in with its resident kook.
I have to confess to some mischief-making with that last quote, vza. I was hoping for a response from you. In reality I agree with you, and with Gore Vidal as per your quote.
However, your country does have an image problem, in that the citizens who are not fools don't appear to make good copy for your media. The USA is continually presented for our entertainment is that of the 'wacko preacher' and his kind. It may be a distorted view but that is surely the fault of your mass media.
Remember when some of your fellow citizens were claiming that John Kerry was not fit to hold the office of president because he speaks French? How wll do you think that played in the nation that played a substantial role in your country's struggle for eindependence?
I knew you were up to mischief, Jemmy!
As for the image problem, I agree. I blame the media and the caliber of our "public servants"
It is almost unbearable for me to listen to or watch many American programs. My blood pressure went up just watching Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera host NBC's broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Shallow, vapid, unprepared commentary. At one point Viera did not know why Tim Berners-Lee would be included in the spotlight on Great Britain's contributions to the world! She practically giggled about not knowing, as though this was funny instead of an embarrassing lack of preparation on her part...and this is broadcast to millions of people! Jeez.
As for Gore Vidal, I really enjoyed "Burr" and "Lincoln" and many of his essays. I did not always agree with him, but he was a delight to read. Every country needs iconoclasts and Gore Vidal was one of the best.
There's certainly an exaggeration in the closing quote and one can clearly see through what's implicitly meant; that many (but not ALL) "educated" Americans happen to be clueless still. A case in point is provided once again but a "high profile" politician running for president confusing (twice) 'Sikh' with "Sheikh". Here:
"In a competitive field, this may be Mitt Romney's worst gaffe yet. Discussing the Wisconsin shooting last night, the Republican presidential candidate twice mistakenly used the word "sheikh", denoting an Arab leader, rather than "Sikh", the religion of the victims."
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/romney-confuses-sikh-shiekh
Also, what is to be made of a person (a commenter on AACS that we are all familiar with) who, speaking of Arab countries and Arabs at large use the term "Arabia"? Such cluelessness is puzzling to say the least.
Maybe said commenter is a fan of TE Lawrence. Didn't he believe that the victors of World War I were going to create a kingdom of all the Arabs with a Hashemite monarch?
Post a Comment