Subject: Re: Fighting with words
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 14:08:57 +1200


I'll keep this short. Eric Dickens says
> >I have seen poems on the internet which spit
> >blood at the West as if it is one huge plot to exploit the developing
> >countries.

I must admit, this admission leaves me at a loss. I am unable to decide if
Mr Dickens is serious in his use of this fact as an 'example' of, to quote
him again
> >those who rant (I do not consider Michelle's e-mail as a rant, by the
> >way) and lash out in an irrational manner against everything around them,
> >while still enjoying all the fruits and safety of a western university
> >education or teaching post.

If so, I can only leave an eyebrow raised, and inform Mr Dickens that it is
considered somewhat irregular to use net rantings as the basis for scholarly
argument. Enough said there - though I note for the record my profound
relief that Mr Dickens does not consider my email an example of the
aforementioned ranting.

To move on. Eric's expressed irritation with third world scholars who do not
return to their homelands strikes me as rather imperialist. Whether
immigrants, exiles or 'victims' (I use this term uneasily) of diaspora,
these intellectuals can, and do have myriad reasons for returning, or not
returning. Eric's post reveals a singular lack of appreciation for this kind
of complexity. Tony Alessandrini's post outlines some of these issues, and I
suggest Mr Dickens invest some time considering them.

Michelle Menzies



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