... ... what to say about this, except that Alexandra Petri deserves all the ridicule she gets: Donald Hall and the Washington Post — not a pretty site. (The WaPo still has editors. right?)
But maybe the best thing is to just let Donald Hall speak for himself:
Hi Frank,
ReplyDeleteI've met Donald Hall twice at a book signing and once again in his hometown. He's a brilliant, kind man as you know, who is happy to share his gifts. He's one of the good ones, as they say, a remarkably good one.
But I am stumped, because he doesn't need me to defend him either. I am humbled as soon as I begin. I also don't feel appalled so much as I feel like crying that this would happen.
Yours,
Rus
Hall has earned the right to appear unkempt in public, certainly. He's earned far more than that. I am not an unflagging fan of Mr. Hall's work, but I have met the man, and he IS a gentleman, very generous with his time and energy, especially to students.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that this is all about unwarranted easy-target snark—let's be blunt, this was just snark directed at Mr. Hall, and nothing more than that—coming from a young columnist who not only doesn't have the savvy to respect her elders, she clearly doesn't have the savvy to keep herself out of trouble. Ageism, indeed.