Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2005 19:00:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: dicconf <dicconf at radix.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: The end of a Washington mystery
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

On Thu, 2 Jun 2005, Keith F. Lynch wrote:

> MarkLFischer at aol.com wrote:
>
>> Guidelines on this subject are fairly clear.  Political expression,
>> even political expression that an enemy might like to hear, does
>> not qualify as treason.  "Aid and comfort" means *actual* aid and
>> comfort, not ego-stroking.
>
> Then why did Ezra Pound have to plead insanity to escape the hangman?

Because he had actually composed propaganda for Mussolini while the
hostilities were going on.

And IIRC Pound didn't originate the plea of insanity.  It was concocted by
a claque of his loyalists who just didn't think a Great Poet should suffer
merely for being a slimy traitor.  Google on him and you should be able to
find details of his happy days in St. Elizabeth's (mental hospital),
complete with the occasional visitation rights for prostitutes.

-- Dick Eney

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