This thread came around to the highest order of atrocities. You decide...
Re: Poetry and Political Activism
posted by EDDIE SLUSSER (you) , Oct 13, 2015, 6:11 AM
HI Kerry,
Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Justice Denied in Massachusetts" is a little challenging to follow even with the footnote. It seems to embody broken hope as seen in the last line "With a broken hoe". It is with this image that we can see the description of the rest of the poem. Only after the passing of generations can we begin to rebuild. The "[overwhelming] Evil" of the "Justice Denied" has broken hope for continuing to pursue the daily pursuit of life and happiness. It is very reminiscent of the outcries of injustice of these past few years. True justice can only be delivered with the pure truth. Even then, we are dependent upon men to be honest and impartial, not blinded by political expediency or public outcry. Justice can only be served when truth has preeminence. Unfortunately, when all we have for a legacy is the views of contemporaries, we have no guarantee that we know what was based on truth or what was based on the assumptions of truth. Herein lies another desperate conundrum of our society.
Words: 181
Comment on Oct 13, 2015, 8:38 AMDefault Avatar
Message expanded.Message readRe: Poetry and Political Activism
posted by Judy Billing , Oct 13, 2015, 8:38 AM
I agree with you about this being a challenging piece to follow. I found myself reading it line by line interpreting as I went. The footnote explaining what the poem meant helped me to interpret it. But as soon as I knew what it was supposed to be about, I was able to explain each line. I agree that the lack of truth in our political system is part of the problem. Our government has the same problems now as they did back in the twenties. If our representatives would work for the people, instead of the people who grease their palms, the system would probably fix itself. Millay's poem was a protest against the issues going on in the court system as well as the other issues taking place during that time.
Words: 133
Comment on Oct 13, 2015, 6:39 PMDefault Avatar
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posted by KERRY JONES , Oct 13, 2015, 6:39 PM
What is interesting in the poem, Eddie, is the position that Millay gives to the idea of "justice." The fact it was denied is what has caused the collapse of the natural order. This is an interesting poem for its time and marks a significant departure for American literature. While we see writers being part of the political scene - Twain is a good example - there was very little of the type of outcry that we find in this episode. Writers as diverse as Katherine Anne Porter, Sherwood Anderson and even John Dos Passos weighed in, along with such international names as Albert Einstein, to seek clemency for Sacco and Vanzetti. The case itself was somewhat questionable but it came to be a lightning rod for many of the anti-immigrant sentiments surfacing after WWI.
Kerry
Words: 134
Comment on Oct 15, 2015, 4:27 AMDefault Avatar
Message expanded.Message readRe: Poetry and Political Activism
posted by EDDIE SLUSSER (you) , Oct 15, 2015, 4:27 AM
Hi Kerry,
Thank you for bringing to light the connection with the breakdown of justice and the breakdown of natural order. It is almost reminiscent of the invasive influence of man. Are we actually outsiders destroying nature or are we simply fulfilling our destiny in the process of natural selection and survival of the fittest? This particular work makes so much more sense if one knows all the peripheral details. However, this does not have to be an isolated expression. The application can be made to any case of injustice. While "Injustice" has particular significance only to those contemporary with the particular case, we can all gain appreciation of its claims and principles once we understand all the facts. Furthermore, we see ourselves to have come so far since this time, but I would like to suggest that we are now under a far worse curse of injustice than ever imaginable in the early 20th century. Am I always so political to continually mention hot button topics? DO they not warrant discussion? How many millions pass from this life without so much as a single tear shed in the name of "women's health rights"? I know there is also too much to discuss on this topic. Simply, the two positions are the rights of women to live the lifestyle of their choice vs. the right of the unborn to live. To me the answer is clear and the injustice is ever before us. Perhaps we are no longer fittest for survival. Time will tell.
Words: 254
Re: Poetry and Political Activism
posted by EDDIE SLUSSER (you) , Oct 13, 2015, 6:11 AM
HI Kerry,
Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Justice Denied in Massachusetts" is a little challenging to follow even with the footnote. It seems to embody broken hope as seen in the last line "With a broken hoe". It is with this image that we can see the description of the rest of the poem. Only after the passing of generations can we begin to rebuild. The "[overwhelming] Evil" of the "Justice Denied" has broken hope for continuing to pursue the daily pursuit of life and happiness. It is very reminiscent of the outcries of injustice of these past few years. True justice can only be delivered with the pure truth. Even then, we are dependent upon men to be honest and impartial, not blinded by political expediency or public outcry. Justice can only be served when truth has preeminence. Unfortunately, when all we have for a legacy is the views of contemporaries, we have no guarantee that we know what was based on truth or what was based on the assumptions of truth. Herein lies another desperate conundrum of our society.
Words: 181
Comment on Oct 13, 2015, 8:38 AMDefault Avatar
Message expanded.Message readRe: Poetry and Political Activism
posted by Judy Billing , Oct 13, 2015, 8:38 AM
I agree with you about this being a challenging piece to follow. I found myself reading it line by line interpreting as I went. The footnote explaining what the poem meant helped me to interpret it. But as soon as I knew what it was supposed to be about, I was able to explain each line. I agree that the lack of truth in our political system is part of the problem. Our government has the same problems now as they did back in the twenties. If our representatives would work for the people, instead of the people who grease their palms, the system would probably fix itself. Millay's poem was a protest against the issues going on in the court system as well as the other issues taking place during that time.
Words: 133
Comment on Oct 13, 2015, 6:39 PMDefault Avatar
Message expanded.Message readRe: Poetry and Political Activism
posted by KERRY JONES , Oct 13, 2015, 6:39 PM
What is interesting in the poem, Eddie, is the position that Millay gives to the idea of "justice." The fact it was denied is what has caused the collapse of the natural order. This is an interesting poem for its time and marks a significant departure for American literature. While we see writers being part of the political scene - Twain is a good example - there was very little of the type of outcry that we find in this episode. Writers as diverse as Katherine Anne Porter, Sherwood Anderson and even John Dos Passos weighed in, along with such international names as Albert Einstein, to seek clemency for Sacco and Vanzetti. The case itself was somewhat questionable but it came to be a lightning rod for many of the anti-immigrant sentiments surfacing after WWI.
Kerry
Words: 134
Comment on Oct 15, 2015, 4:27 AMDefault Avatar
Message expanded.Message readRe: Poetry and Political Activism
posted by EDDIE SLUSSER (you) , Oct 15, 2015, 4:27 AM
Hi Kerry,
Thank you for bringing to light the connection with the breakdown of justice and the breakdown of natural order. It is almost reminiscent of the invasive influence of man. Are we actually outsiders destroying nature or are we simply fulfilling our destiny in the process of natural selection and survival of the fittest? This particular work makes so much more sense if one knows all the peripheral details. However, this does not have to be an isolated expression. The application can be made to any case of injustice. While "Injustice" has particular significance only to those contemporary with the particular case, we can all gain appreciation of its claims and principles once we understand all the facts. Furthermore, we see ourselves to have come so far since this time, but I would like to suggest that we are now under a far worse curse of injustice than ever imaginable in the early 20th century. Am I always so political to continually mention hot button topics? DO they not warrant discussion? How many millions pass from this life without so much as a single tear shed in the name of "women's health rights"? I know there is also too much to discuss on this topic. Simply, the two positions are the rights of women to live the lifestyle of their choice vs. the right of the unborn to live. To me the answer is clear and the injustice is ever before us. Perhaps we are no longer fittest for survival. Time will tell.
Words: 254
