Max, thank you so much. That is a most gracious invitation. Given the current news cycle, I have begun to seriously consider some things.

Jennifer

There's a strange sort of illogic in the Warren story. If she claimed (falsely, apparently) a small amount of Indian blood to strengthen her chances at tenure and promotion, couldn't others with more legitimate bloodlines use those facts to even greater advantage? From my childhood in NC, I know that there was never any stigma attached to having Native-American heritage; indeed, most who did wore it as a mark of pride. It strikes me that a poet who has Native blood would have some clear advantages in the present climate of publishing.

I appreciate that, Sam -- sincerely. It seems odd to me, and I am not entirely convinced it is true, but a nice way of looking at it :o

That's not a fair "if" in Warren's case, since everyone on the tenure committee at Harvard has said that the question of her bloodline never came up. The committee included Charles Fried, arch-conservative solictor general of the US in Republican administrations. To indulge that "if" is simply to give credence to the lie invented by her political opponents. But yes, I suppose her family lore of Indian blood was lore the family was proud of.

Roger, perhaps I should retract the "if," but there are still a lot of things about Warren's story that don't quite add up, including this story, which must have come from some kind of documentation:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/19...ing-at-hls-pa/

Still, I've never met anyone who wasn't proud to claim Indian heritage, even if there's no proof beyond family lore that it exists. My sister-in-law had a DNA test done a couple of years ago that showed that she and my wife have no Native blood despite old family claims to the contrary.

I once, long ago, met an Argentinian to whom I boasted of my Indian ancestry. He said: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." An antipodean reaction.

John

John, you should have thrown in some German ancestry.

Yes, I could have.

Quite recently, I was at the hospital bedside of a dear family member. I had traveled long distances, to help take care of this lady.

The walloping drug doses had erased her inhibitions. At one point, I leaned in close to her face, when she began shaking her head back and forth upon the pillow, groaning faintly, You're Indian, you're Indian, you're Indian....

A family member. Yes. Really. These things are still quite present, and still quite painful.

Jennifer

I'm very sorry, Jennifer.

John