Doris Lessing & September 11: Not Politically Correct At All

by Mondoreb

Nobel prize-winning author Doris Lessing was her non-PC self in her recent quotes. Praised for her "scepticism, fire and visionary power", it was all on display in a recent interview. From the Telegraph:

Doris Lessing, the Nobel Prize-winning British author, has called the attacks on New York on Sept 11, 2001, "not that terrible", compared to the campaign of terror waged by the IRA in the UK.


"September 11 was terrible, but if one goes back over the history of the IRA, what happened to the Americans wasn't that terrible,” she told Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Lessing explained and added a bit of history. She also included a little bit of an observation about Americans that's sure to rankle.

"Some Americans will think I'm crazy. Many people died, two prominent buildings fell, but it was neither as terrible nor as extraordinary as they think. They're a very naive people, or they pretend to be," she said of the Americans.

"Do you know what people forget? That the IRA attacked with bombs against our Government.”

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Sept 11 attacks of 2001. More than 3,500 died and thousands more were injured in more than 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland.

The loss of life was concentrated into one horrific incident in the United States. The loss of life in Great Britain was no less horrific, though spread out over a much longer period. Those who quarrel about the details are missing the big picture: Doris Lessing thought both occurrences were horrible. She just wasn't politically correct about in stating it. That's a right you gain when you've lived 88 years on this rock.

Let he who is without sin, cast the first bomb.

Also from DBKP:
Doris Lessing: 9/11 Attacks Not So Bad, Doris Not So PC



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Doris Lessing:"9/11 Attacks Not Bad" : Nobel Winner Speaks Her Non-PC Mind

[photo:chrissaunders]
by Little Baby Ginn & Mondoreb

Doris Lessing, Nobel Literature Prize winner is a candid speaker. Usually it's Al Gore, then it was James Watson, now it's Doris Lessing. What is it about winning a Nobel Prize that almost forces the winner into inserting his/her foot into their mouth? It's a question some aspiring future winner in the Medicine or Physics categories might consider taking up.
From the AP:

Nobel laureate Doris Lessing said the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States were "not that terrible" when compared to attacks by the IRA in Britain.

"September 11 was terrible, but if one goes back over the history of the IRA, what happened to the Americans wasn't that terrible," the Nobel Literature Prize winner told the leading Spanish daily El Pais.

"Some Americans will think I'm crazy. Many people died, two prominent buildings fell, but it was neither as terrible nor as extraordinary as they think. They're a very naive people, or they pretend to be," she said in an interview published Sunday.

At least Doris Lessing is a colorful speaker. She had plenty to say and said it. And she was an equal opportunity basher, offending both Left and Right. On the subject of Iran:

I hate Iran, I hate the Iranian government, it's a cruel and evil government," she was quoted as saying.

"Look what happened to its president in New York, they called him evil and cruel in Colombia University. Marvelous! They should have said more to him! Nobody criticizes him, because of oil."

Nobody criticizes Ahmadinejad? The British media must be more controlled than we're led to believe. On the subject of Tony Blair:

"I always hated Tony Blair, from the beginning," El Pais quoted Lessing as saying. "Many of us hated Tony Blair, I think he has been a disaster for Britain and we have suffered him for many years. I said it when he was elected: This man is a little showman who is going to cause us problems and he did."

And she didn't leave out President Bush:

"As for Bush, he's a world calamity," added Lessing. "Everyone is tired of this man. Either he is stupid or he is very clever, although you have to remember he is a member of a social class which has profited from wars."

All in all, it was a breath-taking interview for the Nobel Literature prize winner.

And despite all the condemnation she's sure to gather, maybe some plaudits should go out in these times of Political Correctness for someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind. Whether you agree with her or not.



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