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http://snipr.com/1nbhn New York Times June 5, 2007 Nassau Rejects Poet Nominee Over Words About War in Iraq By BRUCE LAMBERT GARDEN CITY, N.Y., June 4 The news release announcing the designation of Maxwell Corydon Wheat Jr. as Nassau Countys first poet laureate had already been drafted. But it was not to be. After a lifetime devoted mostly to poetry and nature, Mr. Wheat on Monday found himself the focus and the legislative casualty of a passionate debate over United States soldiers in Iraq. Mr. Wheat, a Freeport resident who declined to give his age, had seemed to be a shoo-in. The County Legislature had appointed a six-member advisory panel of experts, which unanimously nominated him after reviewing 14 candidates. The panel enthusiastically cited Mr. Wheats accolades after decades of writing, teaching and promoting poetry, including the Long Island School of Poetry Award from the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association, and an award from the New York State Outdoor Education Association. He is also a naturalist who leads local tours, and many of his poems are about the flora and fauna of Long Island. But then there was his volume, titled Iraq and Other Killing Fields: Poetry for Peace (Sheraton Enterprises, 2004), which lamented the horrors of the current and past wars. His poem Torture features the subtitles Saddam Hussein Regime and George W. Bush Administration. Several poems were prefaced by President Bushs pre-invasion claim that Iraq had some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. >From Torture: Balance black-hooded prisoner, draped in make-shift poncho, on narrow box wire his out-stretched hands warn him he will be electrocuted if he falls The issue reached a critical point on Monday at a hearing before the County Legislatures Government Services Committee, a body not previously known as a literary or foreign policy forum. Members of the Republican minority quickly voiced outrage at the selection of Mr. Wheat, accusing him of attacking American soldiers, a charge he denied. He does not represent me, he does not represent veterans, said Legislator Dennis Dunne, a former marine. I wont put up with it. My son left just yesterday for Iraq. Paula Camacho, chairwoman of the panel that nominated Mr. Wheat, noted that he was also a former marine, but that did not mollify the critics. She was one of more than a dozen poetry fans at the hearing, who all spoke on Mr. Wheats behalf. Another Republican legislator, Norma Gonsalves, said she was not being political and was not taking a position on the war, but we want to support our troops. She said the Legislature wanted a poet to celebrate Long Islands beauty. Ms. Camacho said that 90 percent of Mr. Wheats poems are about nature and that while he opposes the war, he also supports the troops. What happened to freedom of speech? she asked. Mr. Dunne replied, He can say whatever he wants, but not to represent me. A Democratic legislator, David Denenberg, said that what had started as a feel-good law to have a poet laureate had lapsed into arguments, bickering and divisiveness. When Mr. Wheat himself rose to speak, he quoted from his prepared acceptance speech, saying he had intended to make Nassau County an open classroom for poetry to explore the meaning you feel, the meaning you find in the poem. Inadvertently, he suggested, that had already been accomplished, since there has been a very serious discussion of poetry at the hearing. In the end, the committee voted 6 to 1 against the designation. It is unclear what, if anything, the selection panel would do next, or whether the county would continue its search for a poet laureate. The only legislator to cast a supporting vote, Wayne Wink, a Democrat, said that although he did not agree with everything Mr. Wheat had written, he had been nominated fair and square. After all the turmoil, I apologize to poets everywhere, Mr. Wink said. Im beginning to appreciate why poets are not celebrated till after their deaths. _____________________________ Note: This message comes from the peace-justice-news e-mail mailing list of articles and commentaries about peace and social justice issues, activism, etc. If you do not regularly receive mailings from this list or have received this message as a forward from someone else and would like to be added to the list, send a blank e-mail with the subject "subscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or you can visit: http://lists.enabled.com/mailman/listinfo/peace-justice-news Go to that same web address to view the list's archives or to unsubscribe. E-mail accounts that become full, inactive or out of order for more than a few days will become disabled or deleted from this list. FAIR USE NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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