#3627: Pierre-Pierre comments on discussions

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From: sending mail <publisher@flashcom.net>

Corbettland has been a ghetto for a while. People are routinely scorned for
their views. Misunderstandings are rampant and people are posturing to show
who is smarter, like the recent Creole discussion, which has is probably in
its fifth incarnation. I got embroiled in one last year that was at once
comical and frustrating. That's a ghetto feeling.

cheers,

garry pierre-pierre

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Corbett" <bcorbett@netcom.com>
To: "Haiti mailing list" <haiti@lists.webster.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 9:23 AM
Subject: #3820: On DeGraff's (early) Retirement (fwd)


>
> From: Ednair Xavier <zantray@bellatlantic.net>
>
> I have just read post #3791 where DeGraff announces his retirement "on
> this one", i.e. the subject of (Haitian Creole) linguistic surrealism. I
> am not sure if that means exactly "on this one", but not other topics,
> or what? I am both surprised and disappointed. I am more concerned even
> that DeGraff is "sure that Bob will be relieved".
>
> I do not Bob from Michel/Michael, but both are needed in this town to
> help prevent it from becoming a ghetto. A ghetto is not just a place; it
> is also the reflection of attitudes, others might say platitudes, that
> people bring to it. Anybody can "act/be ghetto", if s/he does those
> things that are usually associated with a ghetto. In order to prevent
> the "ghettoization" of Corbettown, there are some residents that must
> not retire away from it. I feel DeGraff is one of them.
>
> As for the idea that "Bob will be relieved", perhaps DeGraff knows Bob
> and why this will be so. But I know there is no relief in ignorance,
> stubbornness, or indifference. DeGraff is not here to be appreciated or
> even understood; he is here to make an intellectual contribution. It is
> a difficult task for anyone in his position (I once read that "those who
> know have more problems than those who do not"), but that is what makes
> life engaging for some and useful to others. DeGraff does not know for
> sure what seed he has been planting and where.
>
> In any society, experts, intellectuals, thinkers and teachers are marked
> men. Their fate depends on the degree of the madness of the leaders and
> the governed alike. Let us remember what happened to most of those who
> came to enlighthten, help or save mankind from ignorance and poverty,
> they were killed. Yet, aren't we glad more disciples were made
> throughout history than teachers murdered. So, there is hope.
>