What's he on about now?

In case the articles, essays and opinions throughtout this site just weren't enough for you, here's my online diary (a.k.a. 'blog'). It's as close as you'll come to the inside of my head, so don't say I didn't warn you
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   Friday, July 19, 2002

DON'T BLAME GORE...

Sometimes it's hard to separate a compliment from an insult. A Salon review of social critic Joseph Epstein's new book "Snobbery: The American Version" quotes him referring to Gore Vidal as "the patrician trying to save a country so dreary as scarcely to be worth his efforts, though against his better judgment he continues to try."

Not having read the book yet, I assume that to be meant as a criticism but I enjoyed the line as a reminder of why I like Vidal so much. Of course he's a dreadful snob -- he truly believes that he knows more about American politics than almost anyone and that the country would benefit from him if it would only listen. If others don't think so, I don't see how a more humble presentation would help sway them. Painting Vidal's frustrated love for America as a snobbish disregard for it is just another sad example of attacking the messenger when you can't argue with his message.