LETTERS NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition

In her piece "Rebut, Don't Bar, Offensive Speech" [Viewpoints, Oct. 10], Barbara Bernstein asserts that Amiri Baraka, author of a poem with an offensive, anti-Semitic passage, should remain poet laureate of New Jersey. Bernstein argues that the continuation of Baraka as poet laureate...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inNewsday
Main Author Ellen B. Bogolub, Alan Hartman, Richard A. Zaun, Elizabeth C. Gallagher, Stephen M. Perlstein, Chuck Donegan, Kris Binder
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Long Island, N.Y Newsday LLC 16.10.2002
EditionCombined editions
Subjects
Baraka, Amiri
Bernstein, Barbara
Falwell, Jerry
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:In her piece "Rebut, Don't Bar, Offensive Speech" [Viewpoints, Oct. 10], Barbara Bernstein asserts that Amiri Baraka, author of a poem with an offensive, anti-Semitic passage, should remain poet laureate of New Jersey. Bernstein argues that the continuation of Baraka as poet laureate would demonstrate respect for free speech, as guaranteed in the First Amendment. That is, as poet laureate, Baraka would be able to express his ideas, which could then be publicly debated, as befits a free society. I believe in free speech as much as Bernstein does. But, if Baraka lost his position as poet laureate, he would still have free speech as an American citizen, and his ideas could still be publicly debated. Gov. James McGreevey's appointment of Baraka as poet laureate was an honor. Many, including myself, believe that the offensive passage in Baraka's poem renders him unsuitable for this honor. Surely there is a New Jersey poet of higher character, more worthy of the position of poet laureate.