Professor Juan Cole is using his butterknife-like wit to verbally scrape at me because I spoke the truth about that carnival of souls the Egyptians call a theme park. Of my post he wrote: "Via one "Florida Cracker," whose home state theme park triumphalism smacks of ignorance, ethnocentric hubris and cultural nonrelativism."
I, however, will consider the insult's source and take as much notice of it as I would a Special Ed student pushing pieces of dinner roll up his nose. What is more, in the spirit of turning the other cheek, I'll make him a gift. Since he makes much of his soi-disant honorary Arabic title, I too shall bestow upon him a title -- a Southern one, but in the language of those he holds dear. Professor Cole, you are now "Yanqi sunnafha qum-guslein Hoor," which roughly translates as "Northern dignitary born of gentlewoman."
yes !
there you have it...the exciting "understated concrete box".
Posted by: csason at June 9, 2006 03:07 PMDonna, I love it! I cracked up reading this one.
I'll quote you what I said last year when James Wolcott insulted Gates of Vienna:
"One judges the cut of a man’s jib by the quality of his enemies.
"Therefore, I reckon we’re doing pretty well...
"We’ve arrived! James Wolcott despises us! O, frabjous day!
"...I was so tickled by this that I danced with glee. I tell you, I ambled up and down with shallow jesters and rash bavin wits!
"It’s too much.
"James, my dear fellow, the freight train is coming full speed down the track at you, but you’ve got your back to it.
"Choo choo!"
Posted by: Baron Bodissey at June 9, 2006 07:41 PMDonnah, I have to apologize for Perfesser Cole's attack on you; had I known that he would attack you so viciously, I never would have invited him to guest blog.
If it helps, I'm not entirely sure that his Arabic "honorific title" means what he thinks it means (http://www.notam02.no/~hcholm/altlang/ht/Arabic.1.html) ... I think some giddy sand folk have been practising mischief on the good doctor.
Well, at least your gentlewomanly southern title is a right Christian gesture. I salute you for it.
Posted by: Bill from INDC at June 9, 2006 08:14 PMI hear there's gonna be a remake of the Nutty Professor. Et tu, Juan? As an old school teacher of mine used to warn us: "a word to the wise is sufficient." Take heed, JC. You don't mess with crackers...period.
I'll put my money on Donnah.
Posted by: Trambo at June 9, 2006 08:25 PMJuan Who?
Posted by: Cindy at June 9, 2006 10:01 PM"I, however, will consider the insult's source and take as much notice of it as I would a Special Ed student pushing pieces of dinner roll up his nose."
That was juan cool putdown. You rock, girl.
Posted by: mike at June 10, 2006 10:11 PM