Frank Rich gives a superlative Op-Ed in Sunday’s New York Times.
I’m pleased to write that his column “No Time For Poetry” coincides with my entry this past week “Give The Devils Their Due.”
It goes without saying that Mr. Rich is more nuanced and thorough than yours truly. And, of course, he eschews the “creative phraseology” that I relied on.
But in The Times you don’t get a Nina Simone YouTube audio, an incomparable treasure.
His must read essay persuasively defends President Obama’s less than enthusiastically embraced Inaugural address. In so doing, he portrays a Republic in need of psychic repair as much as economic recovery.
Frank Rich: No Time For Poetry.
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On the subject of defending the Inaugural address, Stanley Fish’s column this week adroitly examines Obama’s rhetoric in Barack Obama’s Prose Style. Another good read, informative and engaging.
3 responses so far ↓
ellaella // January 25, 2009 at 10:42 pm |
I think many of those who are tepid about the speech were expecting soundbites instead of or in addition to substance. That’s been the pattern in recent decades, even though most of the bites were just that: a good, catchy phrase or two. They don’t stick with us.
Some of Obama’s words might end up etched in granite long after we’re gone. In the here and now, I’m satisfied with the tone of the speech, his message and subtext and that marvelous choice of words: bitter swill.
ellaella // January 25, 2009 at 10:43 pm |
You’ll need to close my tag. I’ll try.
Blue Smoke of Paradise // January 25, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
I guess you closed the tag?
I liked the speech. I thought the expectations were too high, thought similar to Frank Rich, though not as well honed.
The expectation of greatness dictated that many would be less than dazzled.
He will rise to the occasion when 1) the need for poetry to lift us presses hard; 2) when everyone is least expecting it.
Watched pot and all that. Thanks for the comment.