# Harper Lee writes article for Oprah. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 27, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308 "2006-06-27T03:24:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/121 "2006-07-01T02:22:53Z")
Most impressive post, **Askia** --thank you for the evidential support and the eloquent statement. I see , daily this slow death of reading and have read writer’s laments of it. Kathleen Norris alludes to this phenomenom in one of her books, but unfortunately, I cannot recall if it is _Cloister Walk_ or _Amazing Grace_. She mentions a recording artist who uses poetry as an inspiration for her work. But the poetry is based on classic myths and scripture, something that the artist’s work does not seem to understand. Sorry that I can’t dredge more than that from my memory. It may seem a reach, since we were discussing books, but I use this as an example of the pervasiveness of the phenomenom. I have to be done with discussion, as interesting as it is–I have to work all weekend. I will certainly agree with the OP’s contention that not all hope is lost for reading and that Ms Lee has perhaps used a broad brush. But it remains that reading as outlined above is waning-and the world is poorer for it, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/122 "2006-07-01T02:38:07Z")
Aw. I hate you’re leaving the discussion just as I got sucked back into it, **eleanorigby.** I will also state that some of what we’ve been talking about here and what Harper Lee laments is talked about (to an extent) in E.D. Hirsch’s “Cultural Literacy” series. NOW – I don’t say this as a specific endorsement of Hirsch’s books, or his list as outlined in the original Cultural Literacy – I found that list a bit elitist and Eurocentric, but I haven’t read his more recent works yet – but I do recall parallels and more evidence of what we’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/123 "2006-07-01T03:06:40Z")
I think this thread crossed over into GD territory some time back, so I’ll move it there for ya’. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/124 "2006-07-01T03:22:50Z")
Where it will die, a slow, ignoble, malingering death as people trip over themselves to answer such GD conundrums as “I Hate Bush, Don’t You?” and the fiftieth permutation of “Is It Possible We’re Not Committed To Hating Bush More?” and send it crashing to the bottom of the page, malnourished and twitching… ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/125 "2006-07-01T05:02:45Z")
Rest assured I have quite a bit more to say on this matter, as I have read over the latest posts, and (cue the drums) I have actually read Lee’s letter in “O.” Picked it up today. Unfortunately, I am completely knackered, as the wife and I closed on our first home today, and I am currently 200 miles away from my home computer. We’re going to be moving some of our stuff from a different city to our new house this weekend. Don’t look for a whole lot of contribution from me over the next few days, but this thread is still very much in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/126 "2006-07-01T06:53:02Z")
I’m not a scholar in this area, but since developing an interest in Truman Capote’s writing some months back I’ve become peripherally interested in Harper Lee, thus I’ve tended to notice whenever I happened to come across mention of her anywhere. The impression I have of her is as someone who has a reputation among those in her hometown of being reclusive, testy, and more than a little disdainful of anyone with an interest in talking to her about Capote. My overall impression of her is that of a somewhat misanthropic person who is not particularly likable and who tends to have a rather condescending view of humanity in general. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/127 "2006-07-01T11:18:58Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Where it will die, a slow, ignoble, malingering death as people trip over themselves to answer such GD conundrums as “I Hate Bush, Don’t You?” and the fiftieth permutation of “Is It Possible We’re Not Committed To Hating Bush More?” and send it crashing to the bottom of the page, malnourished and twitching… Huh. As if. For me, it will wither away with the intimidation I feel every time I set foot in GD. I have no clue how to cite anything and no time to learn. It was fun while it lasted… ☹ Ms Lee may well be the town Curmudgeon (a position I am applying for upon retirement. Here’s a sample: get offa my lawn, damned kids!)–if so, that might explain alot. I remember from reading a reissue of her book that she hates fiction that has introductions. Not sure why that’s relevant, but I felt it needed to be shared. **Askia** -I agree with you re the Cultural Literacy series and thank you for the phrase (cultural literacy) which has been on the tip of my tongue for some time now, but I was unable to recall it. Off to be a nurse to people who don’t read (for the most part) and are proud of it (no, not the pts–although we get our share of them–I am talking of the staff!) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/128 "2006-07-01T11:40:45Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Off to be a nurse to people who don’t read (for the most part) and are proud of it (no, not the pts–although we get our share of them–I am talking of the staff!) Now, now…they’re taking their cues from President “I Don’t Like Intellectuals”. They’re doing their civic duty! ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/129 "2006-07-01T14:33:39Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Now, now…they’re taking their cues from President “I Don’t Like Intellectuals”. They’re doing their civic duty! I must have missed when he said that. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/130 "2006-07-01T14:39:39Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Rest assured I have quite a bit more to say on this matter, as I have read over the latest posts, and (cue the drums) I have actually read Lee’s letter in “O.” Picked it up today. Unfortunately, I am completely knackered, as the wife and I closed on our first home today, and I am currently 200 miles away from my home computer. We’re going to be moving some of our stuff from a different city to our new house this weekend. Don’t look for a whole lot of contribution from me over the next few days, but this thread is still very much in my mind. Congrats to you and your wife on the closing, good luck with the movem and thank you for the homework assignment. If you read the letter, I guess I have to quit surfing the 'net hoping for a link to the article shows up and get off my ass and actually do that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/131 "2006-07-01T15:38:43Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > I must have missed when he said that. Cite? I believe it was on 60 Minutes. The interview took place in the White House. The gist of it was that the president was proud of the fact that he wasn’t an intellectual, looked down his nose at them, and preferred to be a Good Ol’ Boy. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/132 "2006-07-01T15:46:26Z")
I’ll patiently wait for the quote where he says he doesn’t like intellectuals. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/133 "2006-07-01T16:22:59Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > I’ll patiently wait for the quote where he says he doesn’t like intellectuals. It’s not a quote, exactly. The quotes were used for emphasis. From here: [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/15/60minutes/main612067.shtml](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/15/60minutes/main612067.shtml) > [@](#): > > How deep a man is President George W. Bush? “He’s not an intellectual. He is not what I guess would be called a deep thinker,” says Woodward. “He chastised me at one point because I said people were concerned about the failure to find weapons of mass destruction. And he said, ‘Well you travel in elite circles.’ I think he feels there is an intellectual world and he’s indicated he’s not a part of it … the fancy pants intellectual world. What he calls the elite.” It’s widely accepted that he isn’t well-read or worldly. This isn’t news. And he makes no bones about it. > **[How Bush chose stupidity.](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2004/05/how-bush-chose-stupidity.html)** > > Adapted from the introduction to The Deluxe Election-Edition Bushisms, published by Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster. Reprinted with permission; ©... Even his own wife (a well-read woman) recognizes it publicly. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/134 "2006-07-01T16:39:04Z")
> **[Richard Cohen - Culture of Intellectual Corruption](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/03/08/BL2006030801844.html)** > > The Bush Administration's intellectual corruption holds that what works is what ought to work. It has cost Americans much more than the occasional crooked congressman or lobbyist. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/135 "2006-07-01T23:24:04Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > …as people trip over themselves to answer such GD conundrums as “I Hate Bush, Don’t You?” and the fiftieth permutation of “Is It Possible We’re Not Committed To Hating Bush More?” … And it only took 4 posts for this prediction to come true. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/136 "2006-07-02T02:01:02Z")
\ Well, who exactly does Bush like? \ Just popped in after to work to see things. Read an interesting article in the Aug issue of RN magazine–there is literacy and there is medical literacy. Even the most literate among us can be medically illiterate–IOW, unable to comprehend a prescribed regime/combo of meds/treatments etc. I thought it was tangentially related to this thread. The article also stated that most drug info is geared toward 11th grade reading level, but that alot of pts (that’s us) have comprehension levels at about 5-6th grade _for medical subjects_. I will look over the article again tomorrow (I left it at work) and double check my reading levels etc. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/137 "2006-07-02T14:05:44Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > And it only took 4 posts for this prediction to come true. > > :rolleyes: Hey…I was just interjecting a little anecdote (which was appropriate for this thread as far as I’m concerned). I’m not the one who took it off track. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/138 "2006-07-02T14:08:26Z")
I think we’re just killing time until **Ogre** comes back to oh-so-carefully dissect my arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/139 "2006-07-02T14:12:10Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > I think we’re just killing time until **Ogre** comes back to oh-so-carefully dissect my arguments. Oh…ok. So…what is everyone reading at the moment? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308/140 "2006-07-02T14:19:28Z")
I’m currently reading Middlesex, and just finished two Philip Roth novels: _Everyman_ and _Sabbath’s Theater_. I’m on a Philip Roth kick at the moment. _American Pastoral_ is one of the greatest books I’ve ever read. I’m also going to re-read _City of God_ by E.L. Doctorow. Awesome book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harper-lee-writes-article-for-oprah/362308.md?page=8)