Jane Smiley and projection
An essay on Slate by novelist Jane Smiley is getting a lot of attention today. Entitled, "Why Americans Hate Democrats — A Dialogue," it is an incredibly vitriol-filled diatribe against everyone who voted for George W. Bush, especially southerners.

It's telling, I think, that she accuses her political opponents of hating her when her essay makes it abundantly clear it is she who is overflowing with hatred and contempt for them. If I recall, this is called projection, ascribing to others what one does or feels oneself.

Her essay is so incoherent and fact free that it really isn't worth fisking, and would be a waste of time anyway. Novelist Roger Simon did respond, however, by pointing out that Jane has invented her own private reality. I demur because reality, private or not, has no contact with Jane's essay.

by Donald Sensing, 11/5/2004 01:26:36 PM. Permalink |