I am astonished by the posts of readers who cannot understand or relate to your humor , especially your satire. I have listened to you and read your books for about as far back as my 78 year old mind can remember. I know that your humor gently leans left, but that you are an equal opportunity purveyor of insults. Whether in religion (from Unitarians to Baptists), or education ( I am, like you I think, an English major), politics ( who could forget Bill Clinton ‘s “appearances” on your old radio show—or that wrestler who used to be governor of Minnesota). In short, I do not understand people who don’t enjoy your writing, which is designed to poke holes in all of our delusions of grandiosity. Most of all I don’t know why they bother to post their complaints to you. Praise whatever gods there be , whether Unitarian, Baptist, or that strait-laced Jehovah of the Minnesota brethren who raised you, I know you are not going to change. So my advice to your detractors is to just quit reading, go somewhere else on this vast potluck of opinion that is the internet. You’ll find some somber soul who is more to your liking.
You handle criticism of your views and writing with admirable grace, deference, and elegance. It's a lesson for us all. As someone who claims both conservatives and liberals as close friends, I enjoy hearing their points of view, even when I think they're wrong (as I occasionally point out to them). The United States is a melting pot of people and ideas, and we should never take this for granted, even when we're offended.
I'm grateful to read and ponder your ideas. They enrich my thinking and make me laugh.
Good morning from the Blue Ridge Mountains. I do appreciate all of your contributions to all of us. Your response to the comment about irrelevance included the phrase “or should“. 30 years ago I was privileged to hear the Quaker theologian Richard Foster speak about his then new book, “Freedom of Simplicity”. I will quote my take away from that meeting. “Don’t should on yourself and don’t should on anybody else.“ To these words of wisdom I have added “and don’t let anybody should on you”. This Trinity has been very helpful to me as I both speak and listen.
G'day Garrison. As you guessed from the 1st sentence, I'm from Downunder. Mate. I notice more people in the last coupla weeks taking umbrage at perceived slurs and slights in your wonderful columns. I don't know why you publish these knockers, and bother responding to them. We in Australia have a strong sense of irony, and as a rule know ( more than a lot of your compatriates, it seems) when not to take things too seriously. Anyone who's a real GK fan knows when you're innocently poking fun. Which is most of the time. So, Garrison, unless you feel an uncontrollable urge to debate, just ignore these trolls. We who love you are all, I'm sure, distressed to read what these trolls send in, locking horns with a generous, perceptive and extremely civilised soul. Utterly failing to understand his whimsy, nor to show the respect due to an old fella who's been around the block a few times. Trolls abound on the social media, so they'll always find someone else to get antsy with. Please spare us their mean-spirited invective ( now, there's a nice word: I challenge you to rhyme that in a limerick !! ). There were never any trolls or knockers on Saturday nights on the PHC, and we don't need them now.
Your humour, voice, books, short stories have been a balm to my soul for 35 years, mate. Ta ( that's Aussie for 'thank you', as perhaps you know, as the English use it too). Ta muchly. And as we also say in Australia - On ya !
If you like Bach, Chopin, and Faure (sorry about the missing accent grave), try Delius.
I'm not receiving it in my daily emails. Is it now on Substack? Where do I subscribe?
Dear writers' almanac crew, Has the daily Writers' Almanac gone away? like so many other things? thanks for a reply at skanderson@me.com
I am astonished by the posts of readers who cannot understand or relate to your humor , especially your satire. I have listened to you and read your books for about as far back as my 78 year old mind can remember. I know that your humor gently leans left, but that you are an equal opportunity purveyor of insults. Whether in religion (from Unitarians to Baptists), or education ( I am, like you I think, an English major), politics ( who could forget Bill Clinton ‘s “appearances” on your old radio show—or that wrestler who used to be governor of Minnesota). In short, I do not understand people who don’t enjoy your writing, which is designed to poke holes in all of our delusions of grandiosity. Most of all I don’t know why they bother to post their complaints to you. Praise whatever gods there be , whether Unitarian, Baptist, or that strait-laced Jehovah of the Minnesota brethren who raised you, I know you are not going to change. So my advice to your detractors is to just quit reading, go somewhere else on this vast potluck of opinion that is the internet. You’ll find some somber soul who is more to your liking.
You handle criticism of your views and writing with admirable grace, deference, and elegance. It's a lesson for us all. As someone who claims both conservatives and liberals as close friends, I enjoy hearing their points of view, even when I think they're wrong (as I occasionally point out to them). The United States is a melting pot of people and ideas, and we should never take this for granted, even when we're offended.
I'm grateful to read and ponder your ideas. They enrich my thinking and make me laugh.
Good morning from the Blue Ridge Mountains. I do appreciate all of your contributions to all of us. Your response to the comment about irrelevance included the phrase “or should“. 30 years ago I was privileged to hear the Quaker theologian Richard Foster speak about his then new book, “Freedom of Simplicity”. I will quote my take away from that meeting. “Don’t should on yourself and don’t should on anybody else.“ To these words of wisdom I have added “and don’t let anybody should on you”. This Trinity has been very helpful to me as I both speak and listen.
Ruffin
Sublime!
G'day Garrison. As you guessed from the 1st sentence, I'm from Downunder. Mate. I notice more people in the last coupla weeks taking umbrage at perceived slurs and slights in your wonderful columns. I don't know why you publish these knockers, and bother responding to them. We in Australia have a strong sense of irony, and as a rule know ( more than a lot of your compatriates, it seems) when not to take things too seriously. Anyone who's a real GK fan knows when you're innocently poking fun. Which is most of the time. So, Garrison, unless you feel an uncontrollable urge to debate, just ignore these trolls. We who love you are all, I'm sure, distressed to read what these trolls send in, locking horns with a generous, perceptive and extremely civilised soul. Utterly failing to understand his whimsy, nor to show the respect due to an old fella who's been around the block a few times. Trolls abound on the social media, so they'll always find someone else to get antsy with. Please spare us their mean-spirited invective ( now, there's a nice word: I challenge you to rhyme that in a limerick !! ). There were never any trolls or knockers on Saturday nights on the PHC, and we don't need them now.
Your humour, voice, books, short stories have been a balm to my soul for 35 years, mate. Ta ( that's Aussie for 'thank you', as perhaps you know, as the English use it too). Ta muchly. And as we also say in Australia - On ya !
SIMON, Queensland