[photo from Britannica’s entry for Porto] At my request, João sent me questions to prepare for our livestreaming conversation on 9/18/23, at 9AM, Portuguese time, at this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@institutodeliteraturacompa9632 . It’s a part of the University of Porto’s “Poets Talk Politics” series. Please note all the questions had substantial input from João’s students.
Linh's analysis and description/explanation of Affirmative Action is the best I have ever read. Linh speaks the absolute truth about what affirmative action really is and what it amounts to.
Thank you, Linh, for speaking out the truth of it.
Linh's interviewer began a question "Do you not agree...". That was, whether the interviewer desired it or not, an attempt to place Linh (by the questioner's definition) within a boundary - if you disagree, you are outside what "good" people believe. It was also interesting that the interviewer stated that Linh "suggests" that blacks in the US are jailed in proportions greatly exceeding their population statistics. That is most certainly true. I will paraphrase a statement from an Unz contributor: if you look at most any college or university's faculty and students in the hard sciences - math, physics, chemistry, etc., you will see a lot of Asians. If you go to that city's jail, you will see a lot of blacks.
Very nice. Very interesting. Everyone will find their own pearl of meaning in the interview. I found two. One was this: "Obscured Americans. It’s a series of long interviews of the most ordinary people. All their stories, though, are astounding and often harrowing." Indeed. Life is staggering.
Remembering back to 60s/70s there was American slang "eat me" and "eat it raw". Both have dropped from common parlance, but the interview brought them to mind. Women didn't utter much vulgarity in those days; so I can't remember any occasion on which I heard them use it. (Altho the change in context from male to female would certainly have softened the harshness of intent.) So, it was a male thing and probably would be considered sexist or homophobic nowadays.
João Guimaraes interviewing Linh Dinh (part 1)
Linh's analysis and description/explanation of Affirmative Action is the best I have ever read. Linh speaks the absolute truth about what affirmative action really is and what it amounts to.
Thank you, Linh, for speaking out the truth of it.
Hi PhilH,
He's a professor at the University of Porto in Portugal.
Linh
Glad you are once again beginning to get the recognition you deserve so that your true voice, which we need,can be heard.
Was it not Jesus who said, "Man does not live by bread alone..." He (or she) needs ideas that resonate.
Linh's interviewer began a question "Do you not agree...". That was, whether the interviewer desired it or not, an attempt to place Linh (by the questioner's definition) within a boundary - if you disagree, you are outside what "good" people believe. It was also interesting that the interviewer stated that Linh "suggests" that blacks in the US are jailed in proportions greatly exceeding their population statistics. That is most certainly true. I will paraphrase a statement from an Unz contributor: if you look at most any college or university's faculty and students in the hard sciences - math, physics, chemistry, etc., you will see a lot of Asians. If you go to that city's jail, you will see a lot of blacks.
Very nice. Very interesting. Everyone will find their own pearl of meaning in the interview. I found two. One was this: "Obscured Americans. It’s a series of long interviews of the most ordinary people. All their stories, though, are astounding and often harrowing." Indeed. Life is staggering.
Thank you, Linh, for sharing your insights and life experiences. Your prose is manna.
Which João Guimaraes is this? I am assuming not the dead writer nor the football player?
Linh, I found these postings of The Obscured American:
https://www.unz.com/author/linh-dinh/topic/obscured-american/
Is this the best place to read this work? Did you get any remuneration from Unz for your work?
I read this and was enthralled by your I suspected but didn't know you are also a poet
I is "was" a poet, but try to write longer subjects now
as it is I have to check my pace maker on that date I wish you well
Remembering back to 60s/70s there was American slang "eat me" and "eat it raw". Both have dropped from common parlance, but the interview brought them to mind. Women didn't utter much vulgarity in those days; so I can't remember any occasion on which I heard them use it. (Altho the change in context from male to female would certainly have softened the harshness of intent.) So, it was a male thing and probably would be considered sexist or homophobic nowadays.