| Author | Message | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 8500 Registered: 11-1998 |
PUBLIC STATEMENT BY ADMINISTRATION OF WILD POETRY FORUM To Whom It May Concern: We recognize that many of you who post at Wild Poetry Forum (WPF) also post elsewhere. A situation was brought to our attention regarding a discussion at another poetry forum in which WPF was not only mentioned (by a member of that forum not connected to WPF), but criticized for our action regarding a poem posted, not at this other forum, but rather at WPF. We would like to clarify our position regarding this situation for anyone and everyone who may wish more information on the matter. We could not post this information at the other poetry forum out of respect for their administration and members. To drag our situation onto their forum was disrespectful/inappropriate behavior on the part of this person and we felt a detailed response in our own defense by us might have been considered the same. Hence, we said little there out of courtesy. A poem was posted here at WPF in BIOFEEDBACK, our heavy critique forum. It was considered a controversial poem and a controversial position. The author of that poem was criticized for his handling of the subject matter and personal comments were made against him. That poem was “Bad Religion” and the author of that work was Fred Longworth. We interpreted this poem as satire and irony while those who are critical of Mr. Longworth do not interpret it this way. The ensuing discussions were quite heated and animated, both here and at this other forum. We at WPF support first amendment rights to freedom of speech as protected under the U.S. Constitution since WPF is based in the United States. It is not our place to restrict an author’s content unless that content breaks the rules of WPF which this piece did not. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our position (as stated in the User Agreement) that the Administration and staff of WPF may not always agree with an author’s content and the opinions expressed in a particular poem nor do the opinions of the poet/member necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or positions of WPF management. We protected Mr. Longworth and his privilege to write what he wished to write in the manner in which he wished to write it. Those who criticized him felt that the poem was bigoted and that the author, by virtue of having written it, was himself a bigot. They misinterpreted his use of satire and verbal irony. He was verbally attacked, not only here at WPF, but also at this other forum even though the poem was never posted there. WPF Administration and staff read this piece of work as the satire and verbal irony the author intended and went on to honor it with an Honorable Mention. We would like to remind people that we honor poetry not based on content, but rather on poetic execution. We felt Mr. Longworth was worthy of this honor and still do. His poetic execution was admirable. In your travels, you may hear and read that some people feel that Wild Poetry Forum, because of our support of Mr. Longworth, is bigoted and dishonorable. One person in particular has gone so far as to dub us “Wild Bigotry Forum.” We would like to go on record as stating that we are not bigoted against any individual based on gender, race, color, culture, religion, creed, beliefs, or writing experience. We welcome all people at WPF, even those whose opinions we do not necessarily share, as long as these individuals conduct themselves in a manner that is in accordance with WPF rules, guidelines, and community standards. WPF Administration does not agree with this portrayal of Mr. Longworth as a bigot based on what he wrote. We feel this portrait is inaccurate and unfounded. Nor do we appreciate WPF being misrepresented in this fashion. What follows should explain why. We would like to take this opportunity to remind members and guests of Wild Poetry Forum that a poem and its author are two very different things. We shouldn’t confuse or mistake one for the other. Take for example this poem: They call me skinhead, and I got my own beauty. It is a knife-scrawled across my back in sore, jagged letters, it’s in the way my eyes snap away from the obvious. I sit in my dim matchbox, on the edge of a bed tousled with my ragged smell, slide razors across my hair, count how many ways I can bring blood closer to the surface of my skin. These are the duties of the righteous, the ways of the anointed. The face that moves in my mirror is huge and pockmarked, scraped pink and brilliant, apple-cheeked, I am filled with my own spit. Two years ago, a machine that slices leather sucked in my hand and held it, whacking off three fingers at the root. I didn’t feel nothing till I looked down and saw one of them on the floor next to my boot heel, and I ain’t worked since. I sit here and watch niggers take over my TV set, walking like kings up and down the sidewalks in my head, walking like their fat black mamas named them freedom. My shoulders tell me that ain’t right. So I move out into the sun where my beauty makes them lower their heads, or into the night with a lead pipe up my sleeve, a razor tucked in my boot. I was born to make things right. It’s easy now to move my big body into shadows, to move from a place where there was nothing into the stark circle of a streetlight, the pipe raised up high over my head. It’s a kick to watch their eyes get big, round and gleaming like cartoon jungle boys, right in that second when they know the pipe’s gonna come down, and I got this thing I like to say, listen to this, I like to say: “Hey, nigger. Abe Lincoln’s been dead a long time.” I get hard listening to their skin burst. I was born to make things right. Then this newspaper guy comes around, seems I was a little sloppy kicking some fag’s ass and he opened his hole and screamed about it. This reporter finds me curled up in my bed, those TV flashes licking my face clean. Same ol’ shit. Ain’t got no job, the coloreds and spics got ‘em all. Why ain’t I working? Look at my hand, asshole. No, I ain’t part of no organized group, I’m just a white boy who loves his race, fighting for a pure country. Sometimes it’s just me. Sometimes three. Sometimes 30. AIDS will take care of the faggots, then it’s gon’ be white on black in the streets. Then there’ll be three million. I tell him that. So he writes it up and I come off looking like some kind of freak, like I’m Hitler himself. I ain’t that lucky, but I got my own beauty. It is in my steel-toed boots, in the hard corners of my shaved head. I look in the mirror and hold up my mangled hand, only the baby finger left, sticking straight up. I know it’s the wrong goddamned finger, but fuck you all anyway. I’m riding the top rung of the perfect race, my face scraped pink and brilliant. I’m your baby, America, your boy, drunk on my own spit, I am goddamned fuckin’ beautiful. And I was born and raised right here. Written by a white male racist? No. This poem, entitled “Skinhead,” was written by Patricia Smith, an African American woman poet. Would we support it had it been posted here at WPF? Absolutely. Would we have protected the author had that author come under attack? Again, absolutely. Just because a poet experiments with other voices that doesn’t make her the subject(s) or character(s) of her poem, anymore than writing about killers makes crime/mystery novelists murderers. Ms. Smith is obviously not a male white supremist, but had this poem been posted under the name Pat Smith, this erroneous conclusion might have been reached. Please remember that even poems written in the first person, I, are written in the voice of a fictional narrator, not in the author’s voice. Though many beginning poets write from and about their own personal feelings, please remember that experienced poets don many different personas. We caution you about assuming all authors write only from personal experience or even their own personal beliefs. Is Ms. Smith bigoted against white male racists? The poem would suggest that, but we would caution everyone about jumping to that conclusion as well. We think many would agree that she was exploring male white supremists and their thinking, rather than portraying them in a negative light to criticize or be bigoted against them. We see this rudimentary error happening all the time in online writing forums -- people confusing the author of the poem with the narrator of the poem. Poetry is like any other work of fiction – it is FICTION, even if some of it is based in fact. Anyone with any experience should know that you cannot make assumptions about the author based on the work. Writers write about all kinds of subjects and all types of people and belief systems. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they are what they write about, that they’ve experienced for themselves what they’ve written, or that they support or believe in the opinions expressed by their fictional characters. In fact, we should write from other perspectives. It widens and broadens our own. So, please keep this in mind when you read and critique work here at WPF and at other poetry forums. Attempt as much as possible not to make this same mistake. Do not assume you know anything about the writer of a piece of fiction (his/her beliefs, his/her opinions, his/her personal character, his/her gender, etc.) based on his/her writing and do not make verbal attacks against that writer. Keep your comments focused on the poem, not the poet. Mr. Longworth has stated that the poem was a work-in-progress. He had hoped that by posting it in BIOFEEDBACK, he would receive just what that forum advertises, heavy critique. Not personal attacks and vindictive statements. He hoped to receive well-targeted comments that would help him refine the work and bring it to completion. He had no objections to being told the work was not being read as intended in a level-headed and respectful manner. As writers, we owe our peers these considered responses. We do not have the right to jump to conclusions about their beliefs, political and otherwise, and then to castigate them for our misperceptions. You are certainly at liberty to tell a poet that a poem does not work for you and if you are in heavy critique, to point out the reasons why and assist him/her in refining that work in a well-mannered and helpful manner. But we will not tolerate verbal attacks against anyone no matter what they write. We would extend the same protection we extended to Mr. Longworth to any of you. We have had poems posted here at WPF written in the voices of murderers, rapists, child abusers, alcoholics, and the list goes on and on. And about these subjects as well. We are very careful not to equate the writer with the characters or voices in his/her poem. And we at WPF do not wish to be thought of as supporters of murder, rape, child abuse, alcoholism, etc., because we permit these pieces of fiction to be posted here. The same applies to bigotry. To make that assumption is an extrapolation both about the poet and about WPF that is unfounded and naïve. Best, The Administration of Wild Poetry Forum | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 5542 Registered: 07-2002 |
BRAVO, M. This is a serious issue that has greatly disturbed me. Your post is extremely thoughtful and well said. You have left nothing for me to add and I will reiterate my support for Wild and her poets' exercise of free speech. Thank you. xo ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog | ||
| Zephyr
Senior Member Username: zephyr Post Number: 4857 Registered: 07-2003 |
Well said M, I can remember in a challenge writing a poem from the point of view of a paedophile - that doesn't make me one! We are not obliged to comment on every poem, it is easy to avoid comment if a poem offends anyone's sensitivities, and probably a better option than blowing everything out of proportion. Best wishes Zephyr Igor Stravinsky In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love? | ||
| "A-Bear"
Senior Member Username: dane Post Number: 1864 Registered: 11-1998 |
Read and well said. It’s so easy to bite into the bait too. It is for me anyway. Especially when the criticism is written to destroy an author’s personal character and credibility rather than to constructively critique his/her poem (or post). D | ||
| K L Monahan
Advanced Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 1370 Registered: 08-2004 |
OMG! Okay, I hafta check this out-- I must read all the information, but, am sure that it has all been blown completely out of hand. Geez, I'm not a bigot, but I played one on TV-- comes to mind here. Poor Fred. (((smile))) Karen KL Monahan's Blog | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 9219 Registered: 07-2001 |
Done right. Gar A River Transformed The Dawg House July FireWeed more War/Peace | ||
| penny august
Intermediate Member Username: funnyoldlady Post Number: 851 Registered: 06-2006 |
So glad you spoke up, M - well said! penny (-:= Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry. - Mark Twain. | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 359 Registered: 05-2006 |
Exactly. Sooooooooooo well said. Fred | ||
| K L Monahan
Advanced Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 1373 Registered: 08-2004 |
Yes, agreed-- love it when M stands on that box. Don't feel bad, Fred, I've been picketed, harassed and called names. My favorite is when someone calls me a witch, I always answer "If I'm a witch, you're a frog." I was born catholic, raised baptist, and my mother is pagan. AND! I have freckles and red hair. (It's good to be versified before testified.) ((((smile)))) Karen KL Monahan's Blog | ||
| Bren
Advanced Member Username: bren Post Number: 1479 Registered: 12-2001 |
You've got C L A S S Miss ~M~ and you're upfront with everything just as it should be...I love that most of all! Bren PenShells | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 8513 Registered: 11-1998 |
Dear Members and Friends -- On behalf of WPF Administration and Mr. Longworth, we thank you for your understanding and support. This entire issue has been very upsetting and disruptive to both the poet and to us. We would also like to remind you that if you receive e-mails about this issue or find posts at other writing forums that indicate posters might benefit from reading this clarification, we encourage you to post a link to this thread. This recommendation to post a link is predicated, of course, on the stated approval by the management of those writing forums about their openness to reading information about this topic and their endorsement of posted links that take their members and guests outside their own communities. Best, The Administration of Wild Poetry Forum | ||
| GA Sunshine
Valued Member Username: ga_sunshine Post Number: 202 Registered: 06-2006 |
Dear ~M~, Well said and well supported. Again you show WPF's merit by not stooping to their level. ~M~, Steve, Emusing, LJC, Sis, and all the other moderators - I can only imagine how you feel. You have worked so hard to build a good reputation for WPF just to have someone slash at it. Like the bully at school who singles out your child to be his/her victim. Take a good look around the boards. Look at the posts as well as the posters. I know in the short time I have been here that my poems have gone from so-so to not bad. I credit that totally to WPF. Thank goodness that one sour grape does not spoil the cluster. *Hugs* GA | ||
| Andrew Dufresne
Intermediate Member Username: beachdreamer Post Number: 527 Registered: 01-2006 |
As Lillian Hellman once said, (before the HUAC committee): "I cannot cut my conscience to fit this year's fashion." Bravo M. Let freedom ring. The bell's been getting rusty lately. ad __________________________________________________ Heed me my ghost, my heir. To-morrow, Or soon, my body to ash must fall... Heed me, ghost, and I shall not sorrow -- Learn this beauty, O learn it all. --John Drinkwater 1920 | ||
| Chris
New member Username: anonymous Post Number: 14 Registered: 08-2006 |
I noticed that everyone proclaiming their support for you, Mr. Longworth, and WPF are all obvious long standing supporters of this forum due to the number of post they have under their belts. I don’t’ know how many I have. I know it is under 20. So, with this said, it is not just the tried and true that support you and your decisions. Well said and well supported! I read the piece and my initial reaction was one of shock, but I figured very quickly that was the point. It was a very uncomfortable piece about a very ugly and small portion of a religion that is widely misunderstood. It sounds to me that too many people where quick to judge and missed the point, but I guess placing a label on the author is much easier then trying to decode the truth, or lack there of, in any given piece of art. Look on the bright side I am sure there is a poem, rant, or short story in there somewhere. (Message edited by anonymous on September 25, 2006) | ||
| Allen Itz
Intermediate Member Username: allenitz Post Number: 467 Registered: 08-2005 |
well done. I haven't read mr longworth's poem and I accept that it was satire and should be protected. but the point of free speach is that the work would deserve that same free speech protection even if he was dead serious about whatever he wrote. I worry sometimes that we will only stand up for free speech when the speech is something we can justify, thus the provisos above that the poem was satire and he didn't really mean it. true protection of free speech is when you protect it even though you despise it. assholes and saints, freedom protects the rights to speech of both equally. allen poetry, art, music - all available with the click of a mouse at www.7beats.com | ||
| michael julius sottak
Senior Member Username: julius Post Number: 3059 Registered: 12-2003 |
I was asked to read this poem. I felt nothing offensive in its content. I have spent six years in the Mid-East during my life time...nothing offensive whatsoever. If you care to quash free speech in defense of Islam, bring it on! I can tell you some stories, true stories! ... or maybe you'd prefer to wear a berka. | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 404 Registered: 05-2006 |
Michael, Allen, Chris & Andrew . . . thanks for your support. Fred | ||
| David Gettings
Member Username: swingofthesea Post Number: 82 Registered: 08-2006 |
You've got my vote. Even though I am on record as thinking the poem sucks, (as satire) I always support a person's right to write. DG (Message edited by swingofthesea on October 03, 2006) | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 413 Registered: 05-2006 |
David, read the poem by Lazarus on Biofeedback. I think it is a better poem than mine. Fred | ||
| Timothy Aaron Plaskiewicz
New member Username: tinytim Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2006 |
I like this post alot. I definatly agree people should have an open mind as possible when reading poetry. Afterall you wouldnt look at a painting and dismiss its artistic value just because you don't agree with the theme, or the way the painter paints their trees  Tim | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 495 Registered: 05-2006 |
Tim, There are some -- who ironically identify themselves as "liberal minded," as apostles of tolerance, as defenders of diversity and multi-fillintheblankism -- who would rip that painting off the wall because of some imagined insensitivity or bigotry it perpetrated, and would as just as easily send you to the Gulag for willfully admiring it. Fred | ||
| "A-Bear"
Senior Member Username: dane Post Number: 1895 Registered: 11-1998 |
Fred -just recently a school teacher was dismissed from her position because she took her students on a field trip to an art museum. They were showcasing a lot of the old masters, and of course, nudity prevailed in many of the paintings and statues they saw. One of the parents got angry, complained to the school board, and that’s all it took to toast the teacher. If they had their way completely, I’m certain they would burn everything. But what the heck, we’re only talking about old paintings here -lot’s of fresh one’s can be seen at those starving artist sales. And they are such a bargain. | ||
| Timothy Aaron Plaskiewicz
New member Username: tinytim Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2006 |
fred, It saddens me to hear things like that. Art is all about making someone feel something, whether it be a good or bad feeling. It almost disgust me that some people can't seperate themselves from a feeling and their own close minded ideas. I think anyone who even thinks about looking at something artistic whether it be music, poetry, a story, or a painting, they should be able to hold their own beliefs back, just for a minute, and look at it for what it really is. Even though thats what this whole discussion is about and basicly the jist of what M posted, I just find it outrages everytime i hear about it. I guess where im going with all this rambling, is thank you for putting up that poem of yours that got M to write about this. Anything to make people appriciate art for what it really is, and be less narrowminded when it comes to their own opinions and ideas is an excellent thing. Tim (Message edited by Tinytim on October 23, 2006) ~Practice makes perfect when practiced perfectly~ ~_I_-_I_~_I_-_I_~_I_-_I_~_I_-_I_~_I_-_I_~ ------------ _L_o_v_e_......--------------------- -----------------------------|Him~_U_~Her|-- | ||
| Ava South
Intermediate Member Username: avasouth Post Number: 606 Registered: 05-2006 |
I really can't comment properly, as I can't seem to find the poem, but that being said, I certainly support the right to post whatever we want here. We are Wild, aren't we? We are off the wall and sometimes on the ceiling. I see lots I like here and some things that are not to my liking. I have a choice. And that's a great thing. Usually I am averse to what I perceive as crude language, but still, if that is the poet's choice, who am I to say it's not right? As for bigotry, it's not right in my book, but I may decide to write as a bigot at any given time. I have written from the point of a soldier and I have never been in a foxhole. I write as a man sometimes, but it doesn't make me male. Writing is our outlet, our way to put words together to bring emotion to others and to ourselves. I would very much like to read the poem. Fred, there are times when I don't understand your poems, but you have a gift that I envy. It is only because I am not educated enough to understand your deep feelings and I am terrible with recognizing metaphor. I am too literal. I am sincere when I proclaim my thanks for all that is here, M. You are right to call this to our attention. Ava | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 504 Registered: 05-2006 |
Ava, what is most gratifying to me is the extraordinary freedom of expression that exists at WPF. This does not occur accidentally. It is created and sustained by ~M~, Steve, ljc and E -- and by a communitarian tolerance. The poem was in Biofeedback, until a cadre of al-Qaeda operatives snuck into the forum and snipped off the old end of the running list. Best, Fred |
