Poul Anderson, Operation Luna (New York, 1999).
Can you:
summarize the views of a politician or a clergyman that you disagree with;
avoid quoting his exact words;
make it perfectly clear that and why you disagree with him;
do this humorously?
It is called satire and Poul Anderson's Steve Matuchek does it effectively. According to Matuchek, Congressman Blather thinks that taxes:
"...ought to subsidize inefficient Wisconsin dairies, mismanaged New York banks, obsolete Texas oil refineries, foreign tobacco sales, and military bases in his district." (8, p. 86)
Imagine if someone with a poor grasp either of English or of politics thought that that was a direct quote from worthy citizen Blather!
The Reverend Blither decries:
"...our utter lack of compassion for panhandlers, drug dealers, muggers, burglars, prostitutes, pimps and, above all, his admirers." (p. 87)
Blither is even more inspiring than Blather!!
When I helped to catch a thief in Lancaster, I did wonder whether some of my political contacts might reproach me for favoring the petite bourgeoisie and persecuting a poor working class boy who only wanted to steal some money!!! But, fortunately, the incident passed without publicity except on this blog.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I remember those bits of satire you quoted from OPERATION LUNA, and was amused by them! Too bad don't hear from the Honorable Dither! (Smiles)
Ad astra! Sean
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