Long Island Poet Deprived of Being Named Laureate Because of his Anti-Bush Writings

[babylonsister]

http://www.progressive.org/mag_wx060607

Long Island Poet Deprived of Being Named Laureate Because of his Anti-Bush Writings
June 6, 2007 By Matthew Rothschild

Monday, June 4, was supposed to be Maxwell Corydon Wheat’s big day. The 80-year-old poet, who lives in Nassau County, New York, was to be announced as the county’s first poet laureate.

But the announcement never came. Instead, he saw his name sullied, and then his nomination shot down.

All because he’s written some poems critical of Bush and the Iraq War.

In Wheat’s book, “Iraq and Other Killing Fields: Poetry for Peace,” he has a powerful poem entitled “Coming Home.” The poem, which I’m including at the end (of link), recounts the biographical details of several soldiers killed in the war, with the refrain:

“All lidded down inside casket

carefully, caringly covered with the American flag.”

In his poem “Iraq,” he writes about the “Less-than-Elected-Vice-President Cheney” and the “Less-than-Elected-President Bush” who are contemplating the best time to launch a strike against Iraq to further their imperial desires.

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[n2doc]

1. Let us hope the nest Dem President rights this wrong

A small thing, but still. It would be soooo satisfying.

[TomInTib]

2. Isn't he the same guy that Pickles dis-invited to the WH?

When she was playing First Librarian and had a bunch of American poets over for some event.

I'm pretty sure it was Wheat.

[MadMaddie]

3. So is this the *Neocons Blacklist of 07....

depriving outspoken anti-* individuals of flying on planes (no-fly list), receiving awards like the gentleman above....?

[aquart]

4. Thin-skinned and petty, ain't they?

[Triana]

6. Vindictive bunch of sh*ts ....

.... narcissists/psychopaths - the lot of them.

[madrchsod]

5. it`s an honor to be denied at this time in our history

with their denial they have made him what they feared the most..unbowed before them

[Raksha]

7. That's crazy...what kind of poet worthy of the name

WOULDN'T be anti-Bush?

[pacalo]

8. These two less-than-elected WH occupants have a lot of people on their Nixon-like enemy lists.

A lot of disapproving people to shut up, considering how wrong these two nervy carpetbaggers have been about everything.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. By being turned down, he's reaching more people than if he'd been chosen.

Not to mention it's a greater honor to be anti-Bu**sh** than to be acceptable to Bu**sh** supporters.