national writing day (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

>
> Speaking against the resolution, however, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R.,
> Tenn.) attacked the National Writing Day for promoting socialism. As
> Alexander told a gathering at the Hoover Institution, "The
> Resolution's second whereas clearly states, 'Whereas the social nature
> of writing invites people of every age, profession, and walk of life
> to create meaning through composing.' That says it right there, the
> 'social nature of writing' -- writing is a socialist activity."
>


I notice that your linked "Web of Language" article replaces the direct
statement by Lamar Alexander in your email with a supposition:
" but Republicans refused to support the measure, maybe because the
Resolution praised "the social nature of writing" -- sounded too much
like socialism for them."

I tried to search the Hoover site as well as Google News and other
possibilities for the Alexander quote -- where did you get it?
(Alexander was the subject of my first "scholarly" paper -- while in
high school in 1980, I wrote a research paper about the Ray Blanton
pardon scandal, and Alexander's taking the Governor of Tennessee's
office 3 days early.  This incident, incidentally, lead to Fred
Thompson's acting career in a roundabout way.  At any rate, I've
followed Alexander's career since then and this doesn't sound like
something he would have said.)



Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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