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In the Samizdat Tradition of Writing against the Machine |
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Student Comments on The American Dissident
2011 Jen Spanedda: I thought that American Dissent was incredibly powerful. I love the idea of having a punch-its-readers-in-the-face collection of work that reflects on today’s society and policies. The brutality of the opinions in the text is exactly what needs to be brought out in the world more. American Dissident This. Is. America. This is freedom of speech. This is freedom of press. This is enlightenment. This is the release of throttled throats and sock-stuffed mouthed and duct-taped lips. This is the blood of Patriots bubbling up under thick skin and bursting out. This is the remedy for tongues swollen with words unspoken and the vomiting of all the bullshit we have swallowed for so long... This. Is America. This is what we need. Sorry for that. I started writing my opening paragraph and all of a sudden just had to write a poem because long-sentence, proper paragraph form just wasn’t enough. And I think that in itself is exactly why continuing to publish American Dissident is so important. The government preaches that anyone can come to their state office and propose a bill, or sit in with a senator or representative… but there comes a point in time when one feels so passionately about something that it is no longer possible to write out a thoughtful and polite proposition. And there comes a time when the words just spill out, when thoughts bleed out through ink. The comics, poems, and brief rants within American Dissident are perfect. They are the boiling point. I love how reading it makes me slightly uncomfortable, but also empowered. The amount of vulgarity is overwhelming, but I get hyped up reading it. I can’t help it. Ironically, it makes me feel patriotic. Thinking back, maybe it’s not so ironic. This country was founded on people shaking their fists for change. We are referred to as “red-blooded Americans,” and it’s true. I feel like our population has lost its fire, and this collection of work is a fiery blue flame. The text in here is pure, and because of that, it is scalding. It is effective. It is something that many people are feeling but not many have dared to speak aloud. Small collections like these are exactly what America needs. As a further response, I wrote a poem with what I hope is the same kind of anger in American Dissident. It’s dedicated to myself, for falling into a small depression this past winter that I feel, hopefully, I’m coming out of now: Reflection Bitch-Out Pathetic. Yes, you. So pathetic. And weak. Oh, you are so weak. Stand up. Stand the hell up. Now. Get up off your knees. You have legs. Stand on them. Do it. Get your cheek off the cement – no, I don’t care if it’s bleeding. Get rid of those tears while you’re at it, wipe the water away with the blood. I never want to see you cry again. You disgust me. Look at you. God gave you arms, use them. Hold the door closed as the darkness barges in. When did you become so weak?
Tim Murphy: As far as specific things that we did in class go, I really enjoyed learning about G Tod Slone, reading some of his work and then having the pleasure of him coming to our class one day. It was very interesting and entertaining having G Tod Slone as a guest speaker. It was good to hear him talk about what inspires him and I was surprised with how open he was to others opinions. Although he is a man who challenges a lot of things and stays strong in what he believes in, he still understands where other people are coming from (for the most part) on debatable issues. I found him very persuasive and he had really logical points for everything that he talked about. One of the main things we ended up talking about in class was why people would write something anonymously. G Tod said these people should have a back bone and some courage to put their name on the things that they say. I definitely agree with him on this point. I think it is important for people to stand up for what they believe and say why they feel such a way.
Cat Flaherty: I didn't expect to enjoy G. Tod Slone as much as I did. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed having him come in to class. I thought he would have some very unreasonable opinions and that I would disagree with him most of the time. However, I found I understood most of his opinions, even if I totally disagreed with them. I found myself questioning him a lot, and in this process developing opinions that I may have not had before. I think this is really important. We need more people like G. Tod Slone to go against the popular opinion in order for people to develop their own opinions and feel passionate about them. Before I heard him speak, I didn’t really feel much one way or the other on freedom of speech, but now I have started to develop actual thoughts on the matter. I found myself asking, should there be a limit on freedom of speech? If it’s not constructive and it’s strictly offensive or angry, then should it be allowed? But who are we as people to say that another person can’t say what’s on their mind? Maybe we have become too sensitive. If we don’t like someone’s opinion, then maybe we shouldn’t hang around him or her. But at the same time, where’s the sense in allowing a group of people to openly hate another group of people for what they think? Maybe it is better we keep our thoughts to ourselves if they have potential for hurting others. I was disappointed to have such a short time for discussion and would absolutely not be opposed to having G. Tod Slone come back to our classroom. It is pretty crazy to me that people are so opposed to what he has to say that they simply deny him his right to speak. Why deny him, why not try and argue with him? Wouldn’t that be more constructive? Denying him his right of speech won’t make his opinions go away. Allowing him to speak in a setting where people could counter his argument, and perhaps change his mind seems far more constructive to me; and it gets the brain flowing, and thinking, and then people can actually become passionate about something. I feel that
passion is deteriorating from our society. I have a close friend who’s
passionate about women’s equality, and every time she speaks her mind jaws
drop. People shouldn’t be so scared of hearing opinions, and right now that’s
what our society is headed for. Everyone’s scared to speak his or her mind.
Maybe one day we’ll just stop speaking all together.
Jibrael Younis: To begin I must say that G. Tod Slone is a unique individual. He reminded me so much of a famous actor that I cannot think of at this moment, however if I were to make a film and G. was a character I would most definitely cast this actor to portray him, though I cannot think of who it is. It may be Christian Slater combined with Michael Douglas if I had my way. Though neither of them with their acting skills combined could truly capture the essence of this man G. I really wanted to ask him what the G. stood for but did not find an opportunity to. Upon seeing him I did not even recognize him from the picture we were shown because he has seemed to age a little, and as he said, lost 30 pounds. He was a particular man. He moved about almost not able to support himself. He was very witty and comical and had very energetic personality about him. I could tell that from his behavior that this guy not only questions people, government and society for the pure reason of skepticism and hopes of a better alternative, however I could tell that he likes to question people just to get under their skin and get a rise out of them. I think he likes to stir up trouble. I think there is a part of him that likes to agitate and likes to offend. Enjoying the tension created by magnifying hypocrisy and injustice is most likely something that he is innately attribute with because why would he subject himself to it if he did not enjoy it? I am not saying that we should not point out the corrupt or the unjust or the ignorant, but that the ignorant, corrupt and unjust are the ones in power who have been and always will be creating an army of irrational and uneducated fanatics that are already seething with hate and contempt for their own life situation, and in turn they are just looking for someone to blame or to crucify so, the corrupt elite will always use them as pawns and will falsely direct their anger towards people like G. who pose a threat to the system because they question the hypocrisy of the elitists. This is basically what we talked about when we discussed the imams putting death warrants out on journalists and editors of comics or whatever it was. I liked how G. stuck to his guns. Some people tried to falsify his claims or question him, which I’m sure he wants, but he did not waiver in his beliefs, but I sense he still considered what was being asked to him unlike many who would not consider alternatives because they always think they are right. G. seemed to be a very open minded individual. I agreed with most of the things he said. I share many of the same philosophies as he does. I also am very fascinated by the universe and do not believe in a god who is sitting on some throne in heaven weighing my sins. I believe there is something going on much greater than us in the universe and when you think about it rationally we are no more than a mistake or by product of something larger. We are so insignificant when you think about it. I guess our greatest ‘blessing’ and most prolific attribute is our ability to think and use pure and practical reasoning. I don’t know what the hell is going on up in the cosmos with God or Jesus, Allah or Bugs Bunny, and neither does anyone else. I think that when people turn away from reason they are easily lead to do something stupid or to be used by whoever is controlling them whether it be a king, priest, imam, president, father or mother or teacher. I think ‘thinking’ and using reason and questioning even that reasoning is the most beautiful and productive thing one can do, and it are those in power who do want this because knowledge is power, so they will spoon feed you that ignorance is bliss. I appreciate G. coming in because now I know that Bill Maher and I are not the only ones who feel and think this way. I just need to get the hair like they have to become an official member.
Ian Chandler:
Greetings: My name's Ian Chandler and I was in Prof.
Sklar's class that you spoke to today. I just wanted to say I very much enjoyed
your visit and I'd like to submit a response and a couple poems for your
journal. Today you came to class and I was ready to dazzle and amaze with a slew of prepared questions to ask you. I had some real beauties ranging from: “What's the “G” in your name stand for?” to, “Is your dick as big as your giant testicles?” but I didn't ask any of them because the tone of the discussion was so serious and political. When it comes to politics I'm mostly indifferent towards the subject in general. I don't care who throws us under the bus, because it will inevitably be one elected official or the other. In fact I generally just pick the ugliest one because I feel they're more deserving. This gets me a great deal of flack from some people I associate with (my mother mostly), but you discussed a great deal about how the modern college environment is stifling our ability to speak our minds and question authority and I feel like that's a loaded statement. I came to a college with my own conceptions and political affiliations and, though the past several years have shown me countless opposing views to my own, I don't think the environment has stifled me as much as it has encouraged me to listen. Sitting idly by is one thing and I can't deny I do my share of idle sitting, but I feel more compelled to listen and discuss a topic being in a college environment then I do elsewhere. At home it's just grunting and pancakes, but here there's this competitive energy that drives me to get vocal, flip tables, and be the change. Today even: I saw some guys scaring the ducks so I ran towards them screaming and flailing and I scared them. It's something about the college environment that brings this out in me, when I would normally care less, and because of this I feel like blaming the school for my occasional apathy would be illegitimate. I do, however, think that our school's president should stop buying mansions for himself- and you can send that to him with my name in BOLD. Similar Metamorphosis The urge to sit by, while nobody cares. Just watching the coffee boil.
In a jungle of loose-meat sandwiches, wouldn't it be easier to eat this bagel out of the trash? Yes, it would.
The captain is charging a dollar and fifty so I'll walk, it's nice outside, it's rainy outside, it's blue outside,
but the bill-board's different again and this time about: “tests all males should have!”
“Maybe next week I'll pass them when I'm up to it, when my get my pants cleaned,” but nobody heard that.
I like monotony, the non-thinking aspects actually, if you can believe it.
“My names Phil!” and it's: “How may I help you!” until closing.
Until it's time to pull up the covers and slink into a think slab of solitude and think about the past.
“I'd like a world where it's all green: like a big meadow without toll booths and tooth decay,”
Yet I emerge from the vacuum breathless, voiceless, and not saying much at all.
Against the Man, Against Myself Fuck all of this horse shit, let's make the glue out of our human hands! Let's be the splinter in the wooden planks, congealed, moldy, and stuck to the cement and traditions long since pondered on.
Let's take the plow out from underneath our stacks of window-washed corporate jobs, eat a 10-piece bucket of something really satisfying, and burn our way down to the malted-milk ball factory with riots in our eyes.
We approach with death as a certainty. But how can we curb the pollution without adding to it? We stand with the burning bottle ready. But is there a way to make waves without making ourselves the martyr? We throw without looking back, our conviction as justice. Are we cogs in this clock? Or are we just cognizant douche bags?
I remember our mentality: “fire brings change,” and yet so does the resolve that fights it.
Ashley Vitale: G.Tod Slone was definitely one of the most unique people I have ever come across in my life. His whole demeanor was just so different. When I had envisioned “G.Tod Slone” that morning before I met him, I pictured a very professional looking man with glasses, who had a big belly and a sweater on. That was not the case when I met him. As he started talking, I realized this look was definitely him. I liked how he wanted as many questions as possible, and that he wasn’t set on a strict “agenda” for the class. I also liked how he went in depth about his personal career paths.
G.Tod Slone’s
professional career veered away from the norm, and that’s what I liked. He
didn’t care what “authority” said and he wasn’t afraid to state his
opinion…about anything. It’s hard to find people like that in today’s world. Everyone either
says things people want to hear, or doesn’t say things because people don’t want
to hear them. I like how he stands up for his beliefs and preaches his students
to do the same. I also like how he isn’t afraid to “get in trouble” or more
so be criticized for his work. He believes in the first amendment strongly
and doesn’t back down from it. I think G.Tod Slone is a role model and should be
recognized more for his work.
Anne Wilcox: I thought G. Tod Slone was interesting. I enjoyed hearing all about the different schools that he taught at. He ended up answering a bunch of the questions that I had for him just in talking. I found it interesting that he taught in France and that he was able to speak French. I always think it is so beneficial to be able to be fluent in another language and it gives you an edge in the world. I think that it would be really fun to live and teach in France. I know he taught other places as well and I think that probably helped to make him a rounded person and gave him all the perspectives that he has on the world and on life. I thought it was interesting to hear his take on how he thought of students at the other schools that he taught and the problems he ran into for just being himself. The fact that he was not afraid to print all that he has to say and not care about what other people think of it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and they should speak out about it. He has been a very outspoken person and I give him a lot of credit for not seeming to worry about what anyone else has to say on what he has to say.
Another thing he discussed was the Phelps family and overall he said he would agree with the judge’s decision about their free speech rights. I agree with that in a sense because I do feel as though everyone should have the right to freedom of speech. However, I disagree with the way they demonstrate it. I do not believe someone having the freedom of speech justifies them from ruining a families closure at a funeral of a fallen soldier. Although one
thing we talked about got me thinking, and that was about other countries rights
and lack of rights. We talked a lot about Fatwa and people beginning
assassinated for their writing and works of art. Even though it has happened
here in the US I feel as though it is a great thing that our country has an
amendment protecting our citizens from this kind of behavior. Because although
we may not agree with something somebody says, they do have the right to say
it. If we all were censored in what we say our country would be very corrupt
and essentially overtake the public. This is why our freedom of speech is such
a valuable right to every
US
citizen.
Matt DeOliveira:
When I saw you walking in with him, the first thought that came to my mind was
how he looked like the crazy scientist from back to the future. I would have
never pictured him to look like that. In a way though, his image fits his
character once I heard him speak so it works well with him. He can definitely be
an awkward guy if you don't give him something to speak about, but once you do
he will go off on the topic and branch onto other topics. I respect G. Tod Slone
just because of his attitude towards authority. He basically has none. His
attitude reflects on his thoughts put into words and like he said, everybody has
a freedom to speech so why not seize the opportunity to use that freedom. Allison Forgues: I really enjoyed G Tod Slone. He is a guy who is not afraid to say what is on his mind. He crosses the lines, but knows how to do it in the right way. He reminds me a lot of a few teachers I have had. While a lot of people would think the way he acts towards students is inappropriate, it is the exactly opposite. Slone lets people in and becomes their friend, and then he talks about what he believes in. He publishes foul language and controversial topics, but he delivers his message and when someone leaves his discussion he or she is more informed. People today don’t learn by sticking to the books and the rules, they learn by the way they act. People let others in when they speak on the same level. Slone also has been fired, has had his writings banned, and has gotten into trouble in many other ways. But he doesn’t boast about this, he shows that being whom you are and saying what you believe in may not always be acceptable, but eventually it will get you to where you want to be and you will feel better about yourself. If there’s one thing I wish I always knew, it is you should always let people know the real you. Open the doors and let people in. Know sometimes you lose and sometimes you win. You’re not always right, but it doesn’t mean you’re the only one left. But to change your ways is a sign of theft. Don’t rob yourself or anyone else. Live by this and you’ll feel better than you have ever felt. Michael Weil I think G Tod Slone’s point of view on the first amendment “hit the nail on the head” as people say. I agree with Slone’s ideas and opinions on how even though America is considered “a free” country, freedom of speech is restricted. I don’t think that this will ever change, unfortunately. I think everyone should have the option of expressing their own point of view even if it contradicts or challenges other view points; everyone should have a right to their own thoughts and expression. Isn’t that what freedom of speech is really all about? Apparently after listening to the critics of Slone’s work this is not the case. I cannot believe that Slone was thrown out of work for expressing how he felt. It doesn’t make sense to me that our country allows this to happen. After listening to him talk, I thought a lot about what America stands for and what people believe America represents. I think a lot of the things that America is portrayed as is a stretch of the truth. If freedom of speech was the case, Slone or other poets and writers similar to him would not be looked down upon by authority figures. But I guess that the real answer lies within the fact that people, especially the government does not like to be questioned about their actions and additionally people are a notion within their minds that there is only one way to think and act: there way. Opposition to the “popular” viewpoint is looked down upon.
The handout that was given out in class stated that “In Europe and
Canada, one can be brought before a court of law for merely criticizing Islam
(and other religions) even if what one says is TRUTH.” I think that facts that
are true and based on evidence should be allowed to be expressed no matter where
you are around the world. This idea of contradicting ideas that may be offensive
to other people who believe in other things should not be discouraged. Its
challenging people’s view points and beliefs which in turn enables growth and
for people to potentially not be so narrow minded.
Bailey Marquis: I was intimidated, empowered and confused by G. Tod Slone. He waltzed into the room, telling us how Sklar was the only professor who invited him to speak in a classroom. And to that, I say thank you to Professor Sklar. It is important and interesting to hear multiple differing and extreme viewpoints, and those who wish to close their eyes and ears to other opinions are ignorant. I disagreed with some of Slone’s ideas, thinking they were too extreme. But I really respected him for being open to dialogue and conflict. I think it’s more frustrating to have a disagreement and not be able to get across my viewpoint to a person who refuses to listen than it is to have a back and forth of conflicting opinions. I would rather my opponent listen to what I have to say and then give me their opinion, than for them to just write me off, closing their mind to what I think. I am a pretty level headed person, though, and usually end up compromising in these back and forth situations. From the impression I got from Slone, it seems that he wouldn’t compromise as easily or often as I would. I don’t think he’s stubborn because he wants to hear the opposition’s argument, but he has very strong opinions that he won’t compromise so easily on. One obvious subject that Slone is passionate and opinionated about is free speech. On this subject, I disagreed with him only in some circumstances. Free speech is a difficult subject for me because when I first think about it I think, of course there shouldn’t be limitations on free speech; people should be able to say what they want when they want. But, especially from minoring in communications I have learned that it really isn’t that simple. You have to consider the security of others, be able to sympathize with people and protect certain information. I disagreed with what Slone said in reference to the protests of gay soldiers at their funeral, saying he’d agree with the judge’s decision that it was okay. I think these protests are completely disrespectful and ignorant. If these protestors wanted to start a dialogue like those that Slone supports, they would’ve chosen a different time and place to express their views. Clearly relatives and friends of the soldier who died would not be responsive to these protests, not even responding to what they had to stay, just hurt by it. It’s a tough call, because technically they’re just exercising their right to free speech. It was constitutionally sound but not morally. Anyway, I disagree with Slone in that way, believing there are some limits to free speech. I didn’t exercise my right to free speech in class by expressing my opposition because I’m a pretty quiet person, afraid to speak up usually because I can’t articulate myself verbally as well as I can on paper. Also, I get nervous with confrontation. Another thing that Slone said that struck me was how only one college newspaper would publish his material and one college president put the school newspaper on freeze while he was employed there. I think that’s sad and stupid. Also the fact that a college wouldn’t print the story of him getting kicked out of his office was frustrating to me. If it’s factual and related to the school why wouldn’t they print it? It frustrates me even more because I know Endicott wouldn’t publish a story like this, or articles/cartoons by Slone. Our newspaper is a lot fluff. I enjoy writing for it, but I feel like there aren’t enough real or hard hitting articles. Editors admit that they can’t put Endicott or faculty in a hard light because they are the biggest supporters of the publication.
At
the end of class though, Slone inspired me to voice my opinions more often and
actually made me want to write some angry essays. Nick Bouchard: This was not the first time that I have been in your class when G. Tod Slone came to visit and talk to us. I thought compared to the other time I had seen him he was much less controversial and radical. I think it’s because he was trying to read his poems with Zen qualities and nature, so I guess in a way we got to see how his Zen poems are much more peaceful and contradict his normal nature. Just like before I thought he was very entertaining and I like how he has his own point of view that he thinks is right and isn’t afraid to voice it. Many people will not say what they are thinking if they aren’t part of the majority or if what they have to say isn’t popular. He isn’t like that and although I don’t agree with everything he has to say I respect his courage and ability to stand up and say what he believes. I don’t really think of him as a Zen poet. His poems do at times have qualities of a Zen poem and he did write a Haiku that he read, but I still don’t think his poetry fits the category. It is definitely interesting to hear him talk and listen to his writing. I would have liked to hear him read more of his controversial writing when he came to visit.
Emily Braile: Ending A Friendship I saw the wood decay, the nails protrude and catch our threadbare facades. So I lit the ship on fire and watched it burn into the sea. I stand braced for the hidden cat o’ nine tails, unaware that the pain has always been self-inflicted.
Jamie D'Amaral: I personally respected Mr. Slone's philosophy. I liked how he was himself and did not conform just to please his peers. He was an interesting man with some good outlooks on life. I also liked his work. It was different from stuff that I have heard in the past. It had a nice unique quality to it. Both his work and his personality had an appeal to it. I cannot describe what exactly it was but it was inviting.
2009 Lauren: Why is it that the famous poets write about buttons, roads less traveled, or love that kills, What about the ways of the world and the people who made it that way, Through silence they tell you don’t be an individual, don’t voice opinions, or question authorities, Don’t write about challenging topics or controversies, or harsh visions, even, For they are “circular, sloppy”, they make you an idiot. Those who don’t get it, don’t get it, but they need to be accepted, Its free speech, individualism, reality. Instead of being whipped, being held on a leash but the world that won’t allow harsh criticism, Rather they tell you what to think, and how to be, They think they have the upper power, OPEN YOUR EYES, to those who have them closed, Voices speak, so speak it.
Katie M.: Jacques: I thought that Mr. Slone lead a very interesting discussion. He seems like a man who embraces controversy and one willing to share an opinion even when it contradicts his own. I like his views on establishments and how they should always be challenged and agree that there is not enough of that in today's world.
Marcia:
Jess: Abolish the Canon What makes one person’s writing more important than another’s? Why is it that the world of literature only includes some works in the “canon?” If you ask me, all writing is important. Maybe to our professors, writing filled with emotion and passion doesn’t matter, for all they seem to care about is grammar and sentence style, but to me, to a real human, to the reader, emotion and passion are all that matter. The canon should not be exclusive. Is it a party for the rich? A resort for the wealthy? A homeless person will never be in the canon. A prisoner will never be in the canon. Why? Because they aren’t part of the “extremely literate world,” the world where people are accepted in the canon. The canon shouldn’t be what the heads of the literature world think is best- for who chooses who chooses what’s in the canon? Why can’t I help choose what’s in the canon? The canon should be an accumulation of all different types of things- not a collection of the same old crap. I want variety in the canon- it’s all too often that I am reading the same things. In the end, the canon is full of shit that seems like duplicates. I want it to be a broad spectrum, a rainbow of information that could give you an understanding of the world- about many subjects and many eras. Why does the canon even exist? It’s like, I’m reading a book that I enjoy, and I get a dirty look because it’s “not part of the canon”, so it must be bad or something. No, actually, I enjoy reading about emotion. Also, when are things added to the canon? When does a piece reach the point that it’s “accepted” into the almighty canon? Is that like, a goal of writers these days? If you ask me, I feel it’s an unreachable one. In order to get into the canon, your writing would have to be the same old shit that has been in there for decades. Talk about cliché. You know what else, most of the crap I’ve read from the canon is all about the same stuff. No sex, no politics, no religion, no drug abuse, no alcoholism, no naming names, no racism or sexism, no greed, no sins, and nothing against political correctness. Nothing in the canon represents the real world… so why do we idolize it? Shouldn’t we idolize the poem written by the suicidal single mother? Or story by the homeless man whose kids won’t talk to him? Or the essay written by the college student who sees corruption in the government? Where is the opinion in this canon? All it does is represent nothing but an empty fantasy world that will never exist. I think that all writing is acceptable, interesting, and right. There’s no way to “write wrong.” As long as the words come out, and as long as they come from a human, as long as someone writes them, they say something. They may look like little black spots on a page, but to at least one person in the world, they mean something. Shouldn’t that be enough?
Nick: Seeing G. Tod Slone is a great experience. I am and always have been a fan of people willing to go against the grain. It takes a lot of courage and love of what you do to not care what other people think and I admire that a lot. In class I enjoyed seeing his open attitude to what everyone had to say. He asked if anyone wanted to disagree and said we were entitled to our opinion and he was just giving us his. No matter who you are not everyone is going to like you, he just has more than most people but he embraces it and that is an extremely respectable quality. There aren’t many places you can go, or people you can talk to who are willing to give it to you straight or say it how it is, but he does that and I wish more people would. Holding grudges and keeping things to yourself does nothing and solves no problems. If someone truly stands for something that you disagree with, they will stand against you. Unfortunately it always seems as though the people who don’t respond are the ones with the power, leaving the argumentative powerless and looking stupid. That is what people want to make of G. Tod Slone, but somehow he has always found a way to persevere. I don’t always agree with everything he says, but I agree with the way he goes about his life and handles his business. As Coach Orion in Mighty Ducks D3 says “don’t be careless, but don’t be too careful either. You cannot be afraid to lose!” I believe that is the way G. Tod Slone lives his life and I admire that very much.
Katie L.
Kim:
I enjoyed G.
Tod Slone's visit to our class. I may not agree with EVERYTHING
he has to say, but I can certainly see where he is coming from. I think the
idea that I most agree with is the ridiculous and immature use of ad hominem
in an argument. I know that I am a young adult and that I don't understand
everything in this world. I especially don't know a lot about the
government, but I do understand respect. I find it appalling that some of
Emily: G Tod Slone is someone who cannot help but to speak his mind in public. Why that is looked upon so often as a bad thing is beyond me. He’s a harmless man who strives for truth and openness within our corrupt society. It baffles him, the way society crafts us, the youth, to be so close-minded. We are taught to engulf anything we are told without questioning or disagreeing with it. Chaos is a bad thing and quarrels are negative also. We take what is taught unconsciously and do not explore what information is being given to us, we accept it even if we do not completely agree with it because disagreement has become such a negative concept. One could claim they don’t just conform to society’s ways but if you are honest with yourself, we all do it. We all bite our tongue to disregard the reckless argument it may spark up. G Tod Slone looks at these arguments in a positive light. He has the guts to come out and say what he’s thinking, a trait others should envy. We live together in this world no matter what, if we can agree to disagree with each other life would still be civil. It’s being fake to one another that seems to be corrupting us. We give fake smiles, agree when we know that we don’t, and go along with certain things that give us a bad feeling inside. We all do it and letting go of these bad habits could help us regain our freedom because society in itself seems to be imprisoning us with its norms. G Tod Slone is so open to his opinions because he believes one should share their thoughts and not be looked at differently for them or cut out of the group we call society. Even though criticizing often has led him to give a lot up, he still sticks to his theory of challenging everything and never keeping quiet if you disagree. This theory could be used in a small conversation among friends or a complete rant about why our government is corrupt. As a creative writing major I see it all the time, the slow demise of creativity among college students. We are robots designed to regurgitate information. I am lucky enough to say that Professor Sklar was the one English Professor to “allow” Tod Slone to speak at one of our classes. This is the second time I have heard him speak here at Endicott and his theory on life and writing, which go hand and hand with each other, naturally sparks creativity. Questioning everything allows exploration to occur inside our growing minds, that’s important. I take this theory and apply it to my writing. It is sad to think that other colleges are filled with students writing things that they think there professor wants them to write instead of writing from an idea that came from an exploration of their own minds. Exploration seems to be banned in colleges; Close mindedness seems to be becoming more of a glorified characteristic. G Tod Slone is a man who sticks to his passion and I feel if education remains the way it has been that no one will follow their passions and instead stick to things others expect of them, they’ll simply conform to the expectations of others. ...............................................
Erika: G. Tod Slone’s class presentation, although different from what I expected, was very refreshing. Before his arrival, I imagined a wild-haired, ranting, and boisterous man who did nothing but complain about society and the lack of dissent in today’s academics. However, he was very calm upon arrival and answered all questions in a collective manner. His answers were genuine and true to himself, and he was very relatable. When he spoke, he targeted the young audience and didn’t try to overwhelm us with a large and unknown vocabulary. From listening to him speak, you would never guess he was a poet, but it’s nice to see that poets do not always have to be mysterious and intellectual. Poetry is written for expression, and G. Tod Slone certainly knows to express himself. Christina: After attending college for almost four years and having to deal with the politics and strict policies of a private institution of higher education (Endicott) it was refreshing to listen to someone who challenges board members, trustees and tenured professors. Before even coming to college, I was constantly receiving mail and having to go to orientations about how perfect and amazing the colleges I was applying to were. Obviously, there are flaws everywhere. I appreciate that G Tod Slone, a professor himself, has the courage to actively criticize colleges, even the ones he is invited to speak at. His words inspire me to be more critical of the world I live in. Andy: G, as I would like to refer to him as was not what I expected at all. I was expecting a cold, dark man who wanted nothing to do with the people in our class that were going to be asking him questions. Instead, what walked through that door was a man who believed in what he was doing and wanted to share with us what he was doing. He actually wanted to talk to us, not just push us off. He seems like a very interesting guy, someone who might have some great views on the way our world is running and being ruled. I especially like the way he read his poetry, he added that tone and persona to it that is just not there when read by a second party. He added something to it, I can’t quite describe it, but it almost seemed like it came to life. You could definitely feel his passion in the poem he read about the dead crow he came across while walking in the woods. This also allowed us to see a softer side of what was most likely a hard shelled man who doesn’t let many people into where he keeps his feelings. He actually felt for this crow and was upset that it had passed for whatever reason. He had feelings and I think that is something that drove him to write about it. After all, G would probably want us to feel for the crow as well, he seems like an activist of nature and I think that’s why he was so passionate about this bird.
Nicola:
I think too many Americans are concerned with being perceived as anti- America,
and their fear gets in the way of true democracy. I think everyone needs to
start taking more and more risks. I lived in London recently and while I was
there I did the whole backpacking thing in Europe and it was funny cause when we
were in the hostels people would ask me and friend where we were from and we
would usually say London instead of saying the U.S. We didn’t want to say we
were American cause of the negative connotation associated with being an
American. The way America is perceived is a big problem. I’m also disappointed
in politicians, I don’t vote and its seems such a big deal that I don’t vote
because I’m not expressing my democratic right, but there’s honestly never been
a candidate that I’ve been really interested in and would be excited about
voting for.
Margie: After looking at the American Dissident website it is evident that G. Tod Slone has a very open and free outlook on what he thinks about not only writing poetry but also the idea that people should have the freedom to say what they want. The website voices an opinion that I think is a good one. It says that everyone should be allowed to say what he or she wants about whatever they want. He also makes the point that people are afraid to voice their opinions because they don’t know how others will take what they believe is true. G Tod doesn’t understand the logic in freedom of speech when people are afraid to say how they feel. The website American Dissident is a place where people are free to say how they really feel, which I think is a good idea because if others see that people are voicing their opinion they will be less afraid to say how they feel.
Nicole: “I really enjoyed the
presentation by G. Tod Sloan. I had a bias against him at first from the
thoughts and feelings people were saying about him prior to his arrival at
Endicott. I didn't think I was going to like him. I pictured this old, grey
haired man that talked slow and barely made sense. I guess this is why you can't
always judge before you meet someone. I ended up really liking him. He has a
good sense of humor and his way of writing is unique and interesting. I like how
he continuously read little poems he had written and made comments here and
there. Usually I am not intrigued at presentations but he had my attention. I
enjoyed it. I'd like to hear him present again. He's interesting. He's unique. I
liked it.”
2008 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 Dear G. Tod Slone, Thank you for taking the time to come to our Fiction and Poetry class to talk about your writing and answer our questions. You mentioned that people always say that you are not what they expect, and this is true for me as well. I pictured you, the creator of such an honest and controversial magazine to be mean or scornful, but you were not at all, instead, you were very nice, humble and almost, slightly, timid. You gave us some great advice, you told us to write when you have an idea, not when you are forced. I agree with this, as a college student, writing has become somewhat of a chore for me. I am forced to write essays about topics that I have no interest in. I almost dread sitting down at my computer, opening up Microsoft word and typing whatever thoughts come into my head. I think that as adults, paying for our own education, we should be able to write whatever we want, whenever we want and not be forced to write what bores us. I think that school has taken the pleasure out of writing and it is dangerous because writing is a powerful tool that should be enjoyed. I am studying to be an elementary school teacher and one of my goals is to make writing enjoyable for my students. Thank you for all of your advice. Meghan Dischinger
Mr. Slone,
One thing that I
really enjoyed was how he kept talking about getting "the boot", and the way he
said "boot" and how he kicked his foot out a little every time he said it.
I find your honesty and remarks to be fascinating. I think that most people are afraid to speak their minds and only talk about things that society defines as acceptable. It’s interesting that you would rather speak your mind than keep your job! You questioned the prayer tradition and they did not like you speaking against it. I think this is funny because it’s something I have always thought about and didn’t understand. If you are at school, why are you praying? I feel as though some people take religion to a whole new level. I, for one, would not have the courage to say something about it to authority figures, but I admire your nerve to do so! After reading your magazine, I realized that it’s okay to be completely honest. After all, you are writing what you want to and it makes you happy. One thing you said will always stick with me. It was something along the lines of, “you shouldn’t have to force yourself to write something, it should come naturally.” I agree with this, and as an aspiring writer I know that I will have to find a career that I find interesting and suitable for myself. If I don’t, I will probably have writers block every day of my life. You remind me of Bukowski, as he is also very honest and tells it the way it is. I like that you have humor in your pieces. It’s always nice to read something funny to brighten up your day. Thank you for coming to speak to our class! Jessica S.
Dear G. Tod Slone,
First of all,
thanks for visiting at Endicott. It was interesting to meet the person behind
The American Dissident (you were humbler than I expected, to be honest), and I
do feel like I learned something. It made professor Sklar’s day, that’s for
sure. He was so excited you were coming! So I’m looking at The American Dissident, at a story you published by Ed Galing from Hatboro, PA, “A Poet at 90”, and I’m wondering why you chose to print this particular piece. I mean, I admire this man for his blunt honesty. He did just what you said an honest writer should do; he wrote about all the depressing thoughts old people with breaking bodies think. We don’t often get the chance to hear such opinions because we would rather put the elderly in homes with pudding and arts and crafts (not that one shouldn’t enjoy arts and crafts and pudding- they are the luxuries of this overdeveloped society). But Ed put his un-sugar coated thoughts on paper and you published them in The American Dissident because they are honest and unfiltered, right? It’s the truth, and you want us all to hear the true (completely reasonable) and borderline suicidal thoughts of a lonely old man who can barely manage to go grocery shopping without killing himself (hmm two meanings there I think). And upon reading it, most of us sympathize and furrow sad eyebrows just like the clerks at the supermarket in his story, because watching such suffering induces helplessness and that can be worse than being the one who is suffering (although Ed might disagree there). But aren’t Ed’s comments the antithesis of your entire movement here? Ed is old, he says he has no one; he can’t buy liters of soda or canned goods because they are too heavy for his brittle knees. He tells us in his bio that being published, winning awards, living, suffering, dying… it doesn’t matter (“So what, eh?”). If nothing matters, I wonder why we should write to the Man, complain about the Man, challenge anything or anyone ever if the bottom line is that some people will die crying, hating the healthy and the happy, head buried in weak arms at a kitchen table with heavy melting ice cream in a paper bag at their feet. Ah, what’s the point? I want to give Ed a hug, but that won’t help. He needs new knees, or according to him, he should just die, because no one will care or notice. What a horrible notion. I suppose that a lonely person sees pen and paper as their best friend (not that surrounded people don’t too). Ed wants someone to know what he’s thinking, so that someday, he will die and we’ll be either sad to lose an honest man or relieved that his suffering is over. With that or anything else in mind, he submitted “A Poet at 90” to The American Dissident, and you published it. To me it’s so ironic… the message I hear is “Write and work to change the world you live in, but keep in mind that eventually, we all die.” And by the way, I didn’t get the chance to ask you my other question when you visited Endicott. It was “Do you consider yourself an optimist, a pessimist, or neither, and how does this affect your writing?” Well, I think I know Ed’s answer…. Thanks again, Kara Mazzotta
Hi Prof. Sklar! I wanted to say thank you for getting us those books. I really like the poems in there; they're really different, and daring. It’s like reading a dark side to something we ignore, and pretend its not there because we're scared that if we go there we'll lose control, lose balance, and disconnect from the strong binding that society has on us. The minute I came back to my room I wrote a poem, and…I've never written anything like it before. It’s a little scary, and after I read it to myself out loud I felt like someone else was saying exactly what I was thinking. This new idea of putting ourselves out there without boundaries and closing our eyes and jumping forward brings out unexpected things. There are some issues with language in the poem. I really don't even know where it came from. I'm a little annoyed with myself for trying to defend myself and want to change it, but I don't think I should. It’s a harsh poem, and it makes me feel uneasy. But for some reason, I can't bring myself to find what I could change, or if I should change it at all? Anyways, I wanted to ask when I could stop by your office and share the poem with you. I'd really like your opinion on it. And, Thanks again for Today's class, I think it was the best one out of all my classes, all semester! –Andie
notes:
marcy lombard Sara Peterson Creative Writing 10/17/08 Having G. Tod Slone visit our classroom was a very interesting and informative experience. I changed my opinion of him after meeting him personally rather than keeping the opinion I had of him after just reading his work. He really didn’t have much to say about himself personally because he was expecting to be bombarded with questions. I thought he would walk into the room and immediately begin a discussion about The American Dissident. Instead, he waited for us and our questions. This very different form of lecture is something that made me respect him more because I realized that he is not trying to force feed us his opinions. I thought his opinions, overall were interesting and I liked that he was open to criticism.
Cortney McKinnon I thought G. Tod Slone was an interesting character. He seems to have a lot of strong opinions about America. I thought it was interesting that he said “If I had the right to live elsewhere and work elsewhere I would.” It seems that it wouldn’t be that hard for him to be able to do that though, I wonder if he has ever actually given serious thought to it. I liked his comment that “politicians are puppets” and how we are not really a democracy because we basically just get to vote every four years and then the president makes all of the decisions after that. I never really thought about that but I think he has a really interesting point. I agree with his idea that one should question and challenge everything that goes on, however I find myself as one who just tends to go along with things. I think it is interesting that G. Tod Slone thinks one of the ways that America can improve is through its colleges and universities. This is so contradictive to what many people think is one of the stronger aspects of America. Most people pride on an education at a college or university in America. I liked his idea that a professor should be trying to build confidence in the students and the students should be questioning and criticizing the president and professor but I think it is important that the criticism and questioning goes both ways. Another interesting point that G. Tod Slone mentioned was that America is the number 17th best country to live in, and that we should question why we aren’t number 1. Although this is high up the list considering how many countries there are in the world, I was rather surprised by this fact. I thought we would have been in the top five or ten at least.
G. Tod Slone had a lot of
interesting things to say at his visit. I was surprised that he said he is very
sensitive to others opinions of him when he so strongly expresses his opinion. I
was surprised by this because I think I am very sensitive to others opinions of
me which tends to make me hold back my opinions more I think. It was interesting
to hear that Bukowski was G. Tod Slone’s inspiration to write and that he gets
his ideas for writing from conflict. Kerry Taylor 10/16/08
ENG 108 I really enjoyed having G. Tod Slone come to talk with our class. It was interesting to get his perspective on the “American Dissident” after reading it for class. I think that he is an interesting character that is just trying to express himself and his opinions. He is by no means an angry person, in fact he is quite sensitive, and I think it was nice of him to open up to our class to share this quality about himself. I feel that G. Tod Slone’s work is meant to question today’s society and standards to ultimately exercise our right to free speech. I found his opinions about the U.S. government to be interesting. I liked when he said, “We are now like the Roman Empire – on our way down.” In reference to the current financial crisis and the economy, I agree that this is true. It’s sad, but true. What a remarkable connection though, I would have never thought to connect our country’s position to the Romans. I also agree with his comment that criticism is discouraged in business and the government. Being a business major, I know that it’s best to keep your mouth shut if you have nothing nice to say. I do not necessarily agree with all of G. Tod Slone’s opinions, but I understand where he is coming from. For example, I am not crazy about either Presidential candidate – they both have their flaws- however, I think it is very important for everyone to vote. Just as we have the right to free speech, we also have the right to vote. G. Tod Slone said, “Patriotism is questioning and criticism.” I agree with this statement because if you care about your country you will question it to make it better and to make improvements. One way to do this is to express your opinion through voting! I believe that voting is patriotic and that whether we are bridge builders or bridge burners we should all take a stance and vote for our country’s future. response
to G. Tod. Slone Hey Dr. Sklar- I'm not sure if this is the assignment but I'm hoping this is correct. In response to the "American Dissident" and viewing G Tod Slone, I thought it was a very interesting event. He has a very unique point of view and it shows in the pieces of poetry that he chooses for the "American Dissident". The fact that he said that he was more of a bridge burner then a bridge builder was interesting to me. Resting Aging Bones was my favorite poem from the dissident and I enjoyed reading it. G Tod Slone seemed very into what he was doing and that's ultimately all you can ask from a professor. Although some of the views that he has I may not necessarily agree with, I do agree with how he views the government. He definitely hit the nail on the head when he said that whoever is president is really just a puppet. The people who make the real decisions are faceless people. I agree. I really enjoyed the presentation on Wednesday. Mr. Slone was a very interesting man to have present to our class. His views on the role that government plays in our lives seemed a bit radical to me, but I still respect his opinion, and to some extent I very much agreed with this. One of the things I that really liked and admired about him was the fact that he responded in a positive way to any skepticism regarding his ideas. One example of this was when he was asked by one of the students what he might have to offer as a solution to the problems he so directly points out in our society. Rather than taking the defensive, or being rude, he actually did offer some answers. Not only this, he acknowledged and seemed to understand skepticism to his theories. However, I definitely agreed with him about the importance of continually questioning the establishment, event he one from which were getting our education. I also agree with the comments he had on the way were learned to be in order to get ahead. It is definitely a negative mark of our society that people have learned to keep their mouths shut in order to propel themselves forward on the career ladder. This was an excellent point He definitely opened my eyes to things I never really thought about before.
Meagan Hillengas Assignment #28 16-10-08
Reaction to G. Tod Slone However, I enjoyed my time listening to Slone answer our classes’ questions. Although I found him to be very opinionated, which is a good thing, he never pushed his opinions on to us. I was very intrigued by his demeanor and how he talked. I can’t figure out why but I liked it. I quite liked how we got to talk about his aspirations to start a new class based upon the American Dissident at Tufts University. I thought it was great that we as a class generated the conversation. By having us ask the questions and answering what we wanted to hear made the presentation so much more interesting.
Casey Ward October 17, 2008 G. Tod Slone After reading the American Dissident, I had no idea what to expect from the man who put it together. When Professor Sklar told us that he had invited G. Tod Slone to speak to us in class, I was expecting a pessimistic speech, trying to convince us that what we had been learning forever was false, that our country is run by buffoons, and that we should all be anti-government. However, what we received was much different than this. G. Tod Slone opened us up to his own ideas on what is going on with our country. I have never sat back and really thought about our most important constitutional right, the freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is to be able to speak freely with no censorship or limitation. G. Tod Slone challenged us to do just that. He encouraged us to question what is brought forth to us rather than just live with it. Without this, are we really considered a free country? Do we really have a chance of improvement (especially in times like today)? I had never really thought about the fact that we do have the ability to do this, and without this freedom we are not, in fact, a democracy. Every question brought forth to G. Tod Slone was answered fully and to the point. He has his viewpoints and in no way was he trying to instill them into our mind. However, he made us question what we thought to be true with what he thought about different situations. When reading his work, it angered me that we live in a society that people would not allow him to publish his work, ESPECIALLY after commemorating it. What an idiotic, hypocritical thing to do. No body wants to be challenged anymore. No body wants to have their “perfect society” portrayed as imperfection. No body wants to think that we have opportunities out there to be better than we are. Although there were limited suggestions G. Tod Slone had to improve upon what is going wrong, I commend him for standing up and saying that our country has problems and they stem from the highest political positions. Continue to criticize, to question, and conflict what is being done, because after listening to the way people react to his work, it looks like few people will.
Ben Killoren Creative Writing Prof. Sklar October 17, 2008 Speech Summary When we were listening to G Tod Slone speak I had a few mixed feelings. I agreed with him when he was talking about the democracy and how the rich people run the world because it is true. If people have enough money that they can use it to their advantage then it only helps out them and not the people who are middle class or lower class. In our society today the richer get richer and the poor get poorer and it just is not fair. I don’t understand how a government could be corrupt that they don’t really care about the people who are struggling. I also agreed with him that there are no candidates for president that strike my interest. I like the way Obama is approaching the people but there is no many people who like the idea of a black president and McCain just I don’t even know how to explain it besides old. If he is in there who know how long he will be in office isn’t that guy like 70 years old? As for my other thoughts, if you don’t like the United State why do you live here. I understand that you say there are things in the U.S. you do not agree with then why don’t you move to Europe where their health care and stuff is more for the people? Or go to Asia or Russia since you say that those countries are good places to live. I just don’t see why you don’t like the United States so much. I know there are things that people don’t agree with but no matter where you live there will always be something wrong that you or other people do not agree with. I also know you say you don’t go looking for arguments or conflict. If you don’t go looking then why do you criticize everything? I know the United States is not perfect but if people are also was saying what is wrong then it show that people don’t like the United States. No place is perfect and no government is the right way to run a country. With every plus there are negatives. You need to take the dice and just roll with them. If they go your way then good, if they don’t then just smile and roll again not much you can do.
2007 Dear G. Tod Slone I really enjoyed your visit to our class the other day, and I have loved reading the American Dissident. You presented me with a new perspective on how to view the world. Before hand I never realized how snooty the academic world could be, and that you didn’t have to just be a part of it, you could resist it. The quote from Thoreau you mentioned, “Let your life be a counter friction to the machine” really stuck with me and hopefully I can try and live my life in a counter friction way. It made me realize that I don’t question things as much as I should and I think that the more I question things the better my writing will become. Your ideas about self-censorship also stuck with me, I never realized how much I do censor myself and the extent to which people around me censor themselves or others, its almost constant. I hope to write more freely and without constraints; before I took this class I was scared of poetry. I thought about poetry as being done by all those snobby academic people and that it was really hard to understand, but being in this poetry class and being exposed to your work and those in the American Dissident made me realize that poetry is supposed to be scary but free flowing and about what you want it to be about. I really enjoy poetry now instead of fearing it, and I want to continue to write poetry to my own accord. Nicola Houston
Thoughts on G. Tod Slone: I think he should go speak in my English class that I took my sophomore year in high school, Honors American Lit, with the devil woman teacher, Petullo. Petullo was pretty much in love with Henry David Thoreau and everything he wrote and anything that was related to him and his existence, including the Thoreau Society. We even had a 10x15 foot square on the classroom floor marked off with masking tape to represent, you guessed it…the dimensions of Thoreau’s cabin. Which was fine, until we started having some classes with all 20 of us students squished cross-legged into the tiny square. (Not an optimal learning environment let me tell you). Yes, Petullo’s obsession was to the utmost extreme, and if anyone had any thoughts on Thoreau that differed from her own, she basically loathed the student and didn’t promote them to Honors Brit Lit for junior year. No, she dropped them down a level. I never quite bought into the whole “Thoreau is God” theme that dominated her classroom, yet I felt too small and insignificant and conformed to act against Petullo. Sure, us students would gripe about it amongst ourselves over lunch in the cafeteria, but that is about as far as it ever went…..If only I had known about G. Tod Slone while I was taking this narrow-minded course, I would have realized that there is more than one perspective on Thoreau, as well as anything in life for that matter, and I wouldn’t have let the devil woman teacher drill biased thoughts into my fellow classmates and I. If G. Tod Slone is looking for conflict to feed off for a good experience-based writing idea, then I highly suggest he have a chit-chat with Anna Petullo, English teacher at Billerica Memorial High School. -Michelle Hallee P.S. She is a feisty one.
Although everyone may not agree with G. Tod Slone's sentiments, everyone should listen to what he has to say. In a world of conformity and unoriginality, Slone isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. His agenda is so effective because he does not simply call names, he uses genuine arguments and facts as reason. Individuals are quick to state their love of the First Amendment, but how many are so quick to defend it? Citizens of the United States are lucky to have an envelope pusher like Slone, this is what makes our nation free. He does not simply preach about going against the system, he advocates writing from personal experience and feeling. Too often people forget to write like that. Honest writing often times is the best writing there is. -Christina D'Auria
Dear G. Todd Slone, When I first heard of you coming to Endicott to speak to our class, I thought, wow what an abnormal name. Who has their first name as simply G.? This must be a very unique person, and man was I right. I could not have been more surprised that you were not the typical guest speaker every teacher has coming into their class. You did not change your ideas to what we as students "should" know and hear. It was refreshing that you did not speak of the typical "cookie cutter" ideas on school, democracy, and others in general. I may not always have agreed with what you were saying, however "agree to disagree" is sometimes my motto. I guess you caught me on a good day. It was also refreshing to know that you take no side but your own. I liked this idea of "your own side" as opposed to the liberal attitudes and ideas always impressed upon us here at Endicott. I like how you thought for yourself, made your own decisions, and formed your own opinions about the subjects at hand. Your stories of adventure and controversy kept me on the edge of my seat, reeling me in from one story to the next. You gave me hope that, for once, I finally see not everyone is the same. Not everyone will conform. Thank God. Overall, you made a great impression on me, even though I still think the "G." is abnormal. I guess I should have asked you about that. Thank you for your time! Sincerely, Kelly
Dillon G! I really thought you would be different than you were—meaner, cockier, more condescending. In reality though you were more laid back and not at all mean seeming. I enjoyed your stories, especially all the ones regarding your experiences teaching, but most especially the one about Thoreau and Walden State Park and the Concord Museum. I want to go there with a stack of your poem “The Travesty” and post them all over the place, then watch as they go around angrily disposing of them! While I sit here, still enjoying to read and write love poems and mushy poems about generic feelings, I must fully and whole-heartedly thank you for telling me—as a young writer—that it’s okay to write about anything, especially if it pisses people off! Thank you, M They deem him their worst enemy who tells them the truth. -Plato, philosopher (427-347 BCE)
Tue, 9 Oct 2007 He made me think about what it is that I am doing here. I would not say I am Endicott's biggest cheerleader and I think that there are so many things that are corrupt with the system here. For example, not having textbooks in the library because the library is "supporting the bookstore". What?! He made me want to visit Walden Pond just to see the statue and laugh because these people who want to praise Thoreau don't even know much about him. That is the true American way of thinking. They don't even care enough about Thoreau, it is all about what they want and how they can spend their pretentious money. I am very glad he came. Thank you G. Tod Slone. --Meghan Hall
The information provided was very well presented. G Todd answered all of our questions very thoroughly and with great detail. He was very open and honest with his answers which were very interesting to me. I also enjoyed the stories he told dealing with the colleges he either was "dismissed" from or resigned from. He is a very interesting man who feeds off conflict. I thought that he was going to be a little tougher, but I sensed a softer side to him. He seems to be a very genuine man with a lot of interesting life experiences. --Melissa Hicks
Dear G. Tod Slone, I truly respected your confidence the other day when you came to our class. It was admirable to see someone who believes in what they are doing. You are confident in yourself as a teacher, and you believe that you exemplify what is to be "good teaching." Regardless of the fact that you left several colleges and universities because of students, faculty and/or administration disagreeing with your teaching methods, your confidence in your teaching never diminished. The way that you still carry your confidence in what you do after many people have told you otherwise is inspiring. I related this to my college life with my professors. However, by me looking at it from a student's point of view, I should carry enough confidence in my work so that no professor's grade or criticism can alter what I think of my own projects. I realized that having confidence in me and the work I produce is so important, and no grade by a professor should make me feel worse or indifferent about it. --Danielle Boisse
Erin MacPherson Professor Sklar Ideas on G. Tod Slone He was a lot less intimidating than I thought he was going to be. He looked a little crazy at first (no offense!) so I was scared to say the wrong thing, but he turned out to be a nice guy. He doesn’t just create confrontation with everyone he meets as I thought he might, but he capitalizes on those moments of confrontation and uses those as inspiration. He was almost Dead Poet Society-esque (if that makes any sense). He challenges society and is not a victim of self-censorship which he feels we all do too much. You know what I say to that? You go and keep doing your thing! I’m behind you 100 percent! And I really truly am. He doesn’t act like he’s better than anyone else or has a big head about his work. I really give him credit. I love his letter to Thoreau, it’s really truthful and written like its spoken - I love it. Come speak at Endicott – to the whole school, to all the English teachers that have ever existed – show them that all these famous poets and writers, they’re all HACKS!! Writing in such a pretentious, hoity-toity manner, thinking they’re so much better than the rest of us, thinking their ideas are the best ideas ever and they are revealing the most profound ideas ever heard to mankind and nothing that anyone will ever write or has written in the past will ever compare. THAT’S HORSE SHIT! All these poets writing about old themes and the same old clichés and things that have already been said, SHUT UP!! They are no better than me or you, they are posing. Trying to make themselves feel important and intellectual – get your own ideas! All those English teachers out there, worshipping famous writers as though they were Gods …give me a break!! Stop conforming to the machine! It’s all bullshit!!
Dear G Tod Slone, Thank you for you visit at Endicott, it was a refreshing breath of air to have you as a guest in our poetry class. Your personal experiences are very amusing and I think that your poetry reflects it. Your lack of self-censorship is great; you are almost like a child who acts upon instincts only, an amazing and dangerous way to live. Thank you for not being a yawn-generating speaker! Luz Pedrero
Thu, 11 Oct 2007 My thoughts and feeling about G. Tod Slone After I read your work in the American Dissident, I wasn't sure if I was going to like who I met in person. There was a lot of criticism in your poems towards other writers and people, so I thought that was how you would be towards our class. I now understand more now that you explained where your poetry and thoughts come from. You are just expressing whatever is on your mind, and that's what writers should do. I liked how you talked about writer's block and that you never get it because if you can't think of anything then you just don't write. I thought that was a good concept. I also like how you said that all you're poetry comes from personal experience. That is what I like to write about as well, because it’s showing your reality and what you are feeling at the time. I think it was brave to come into our classroom knowing that our class had just read your work and was probably thinking “who is this mean man and why would we want to meet him”. At first I thought the things you wrote about the other writers were harsh but you're intension was not to bring them down. Your honesty showed a great deal about yourself and it shows that you are straightforward and don't care what others think about you and your work, and that it definitely a good quality to have. Thank you for taking the time to come to our classroom!
--Katelyn Arnone
Hey professor sklar this is my letter, sorry it took so long to get to you my computer got wine spilled on it.
I really liked the entire discussion. I enjoyed his sense of fire and furry. The way he seemed to have a command on his life and not cared what others thought about that. He had no boundaries and was just himself and doesn’t seem to let others shape him. He was a bold and proud and a bit outspoken man. But he was diffidently cool and even though i may not have agreed with everything that was said i accepted what he said because he was not scared to show the exact person he was. I thought it was very cool how he upfront he was with us and did not hold back. He wasn’t a phony or a fraud however, from his book and what we had heard about him I was kind of disappointed that he wasn’t a little angrier and wasn’t more of a spit fire. All in all I thought he was a legit guy and a cool guy. brittany nolan
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