Bioneers 2004 Archives
Ten days ago, author and naturalist Terry Tempest Williams (Refuge, The Open Space of Democracy), a writer I’ve always found more thoughtful and gentle than threatening, was disinvited to speak at Florida Gulf Coast University on the grounds that she'd be too critical of the Bush administration's environmental policies. The president of the university, a Bush donor named William Merwin (“not to be confused with the poet,” said Tempest Williams), said she was a threat to the pre-election balance of information at institutions of higher learning.
This morning she told this story:
Merwin explained it like this: “If a hurricane threatens my university, I’m going to shut it down.”
And I said, “What if it’s only a tempest?”
Tempest Williams’ father, a Utah Republican pipeline contractor with a shrine to Ronald Reagan in his home, offered to go back to the school with his daughter. “Tell them you’re bringing a Republican who’s voting for Bush,” he told her.
A few days later, the phone at her father’s home was ringing off the hook. “People are outraged,” he said.
“Why?” said Tempest Williams. “About me?”
“No,” he said. “Because I’m voting for Bush.”
“Are you?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he said.
[Big applause]
(I think I got that sort of right.)
Terry Tempest Williams is a “downwinder”: She grew up in southern Utah and has lost many people in her family to cancer.
--------
Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Slideshows
Air Apparent: Photos from China's Most Polluted Province
In Shanxi Province, the pollution problem is even worse than you thought
F Yeah Fest Fundraiser with Crystal Antlers, Brother Reade
The Antlers raise some bucks for the fest downtown on August 12, 2008
Earlez Grille on Crenshaw
Everyone ends up at Earlez
• Advertisement •
Recent Posts
Archives
Summer Concert Guide
Find the hottest concerts and festivals this summer in the LA Weekly's Summer Concert Guide.
Opportunity Rocks Career Fair
Be the first to hear about the latest career opportunities. Click here to find your dream job!
Little Sexy Black Book
Bring sexy back with LA Weekly's guide to the sexiest spots in Los Angeles.
Living Quarters
Get the real story on LA real estate. Whether you're a renter, a buyer or a seller, Living Quarters is your guide to LA living.
Education Guide
From online learning to 4-year colleges, LA Weekly's Education Guide '08 has answers to all your education questions.
Blank Blankly
Speak Freely at LA Weekly with your own Blank Blankly slogan. Consider Thoroughly, then Create Adverbially only at LA Weekly.
Digital Jukebox
Be. Hear. Now. Listen to the hottest bands and stay on the leading edge of LA's music scene with free streaming music from LA Weekly.
Hook Me Up
Want FREE stuff? Sign up for this week's contests and get the hook-up from LA Weekly.
Insiders
Get Inside with LA Weekly. LA Weekly Insiders has the what to do and where to go in LA. Sign up and we'll deliver Insiders right to your inbox!
Jonathan Gold Text Alerts
Get Jonathan Gold's restaurant picks sent right to your phone and never miss another great meal!
