January 17, 2003
Intellectual Catfighting For Your Amusement
The ever irritating Studs Terkel is not happy with Christopher Hitchens. In a letter to the editor of The Nation on Jan. 6, Terkel accuses Hitch of being a washed-up drunk, who’s betrayed the forces of good to join Bush and his fellow bloodthirsty "wanton boys" (and what is it with pompous ol’ pricks always bringing poor dead Billy Shakespeare into everything?).
The Hitchster first sends a short reply, and then a more lengthy exchange with The Nation’s Victor Navasky, in which he throws out a few bitch-slaps of his own. Read it and enjoy...
(Via The Christopher Hitchens Web)
Posted by Captain Mojo at January 17, 2003 01:07 PM
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Dear God.
My associations with Chicago make me a bit defensive of people like Terkel, despite his odd moments. But this is just truly depressing.
Constant reference to one's own humility eventually reveals a massive hubris. I feel like this letter does the same with Terkels own vanity. "Look at me. I'm not vain. I'm the picture of modesty. Very humble, that's me. Everyone should be as vain as I am. I have exactly the right mixture of diffidence and self-deprication."
Feh.
I'm also pretty annoyed by the reference to Shakespear and the "authoritative" stance on Bush being a Wanton Boy. How superior can one man be? Declarations from on high coupled with effacing statements about not being the vain one in the discussion. Sounds like the guy thinks HE ought to be the "preeminent man of letters" to the country.
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