I generally think of myself as a fairly well read person. Not that I’ve tackled every book worth reading written in the last 5,000 years, but I was under the impression I’d at least heard of them all. And I was wrong, as my wife (who’s maddeningly good at this) recently pointed out. She asked me if I’d ever read “Johnny Got His Gun” and while I knew of the author, Dalton Trumbo, I had to confess I had not. Either read it or even heard of the damn thing. And boy am I glad I now have because it’s one of the most amazing books I’ve come across in the last twenty years.
But what, you may be wondering, does that have to do with the price of tea in China (or the purview of this column, at any rate)? Well, as you may recall, a short time ago I decided to conduct a poll of my readers to determine if I should keep going with this thing. And having recently tabulated the results, it’s obvious any reasonable person (not that I’m personally acquainted with any) would conclude it’s time for me to get my gun and put a bullet in this quixotic endeavor of mine. However, thanks to Mr. Trumbo I have a different perspective.
A perspective which suggests that on no uncertain terms should anyone ever, ever stop tapping. (If you’ve read his book you know what I’m talking about and if you haven’t, you should do yourself a favor.) Tapping on a keyboard or whatever other communications device happens to be available. Because you never know who might be listening. Or when. And all it takes is one.
So, having completed this exhaustive, empirical inquiry of mine into the wisdom of forging ahead with this column, I’ve arrived at what I’d be the first to admit is probably not the world’s most unexpected conclusion:
Fuck the research.neill blomkamp 2 girls 1 cup district 9 halo
Like your new mantra. Liked the book. Keep tapping.
Terrific! I enjoy reading the posts and am delighted you’ll continue with the blog.
Tim
sorry, i missed the survey. but, thanks for the book tip. and, yes, keep on communicating!!
Trumbo was a committed Marxist, committed Communist, committed Cominternist.
He favored war when it advanced his cause (i.e. the Soviets marching into Poland and Finland); he was a pacifist when the movement was imperiled.
He was, however, brilliant. And, as such, wrote powerful polemics that to this day seduce ad people everywhere.
Glad you’ve decided to keep at it. While you may not get daily applause, this site is carefully read and appreciated by many of us here on the left coast. Keep on tappin’.
Today’s Trivia: Dalton Trumbo, while blacklisted, won an Academy Award for The Brave One under a pseudonym in the 1950s. (Don’t remember who the front was.)
yo silvarga! you were going to shut up? I don’t think so.
rave on, baby.
Now that’s the Mark I know! F the research indeed (when did you ever not?). And yes, an amazing book. Like I said, quixotic it may be, yet inherent in that, “a romantic and noble deed to try.” Tap tap tap, Mark, tap tap tap.
The front was one named Robert Rich. Don’t know if he was real person or not.
Johnny Got His Gun was made into a film…one of the Bottoms played the amputee.