Sweet girl graduates
Sir: Would that Mr Jackson's perception equalled the vigour of his rhetoric (Letters 16 May). Despite the entrancement of his shrill sarcasm, let us, if I may trespass once more upon the hospitality of your columns, go through a few simple points, which I hardly thought would require reiteration.
Firstly, the issue he obscured is whether as a general principle minorities which do not bow to the norm in affairs of morality should be tolerated. My criticism was that Mr Jackson argued from a particular and special ground, which suggested to me a possible lack of appre- ciation of the wider issue. Of course, his point is sensible, but he did not tackle the wider prob- lem which is surely implicit in the case he makes for the universities. For the 'obscurity' which words of more than two syllables apparently involve Mr Jackson, my apologies. Secondly. as to Plato, and my 'amazing per- ceptions.' That the main trend of Plato's thought was a contradiction of Mr Jackson's position I offered both as a suggestion which I thought of interest (I am possibly well rebuked) and secondly as a natural way in which to fol- low the main cbjection which I raised, as to the manner and use of the allusion. I objected to a throwaway allusion doing duty as a (quite gratuitous, proof. If proof was wanted, drag- ging Plato into the argument did not provide it. If proof was not wanted, then why bother? In- tellectual snobbery, desire to drop a name? Come, Mr Jackson, to be possessed and con- victed of so petty a foible is hardly ground for so vituperative a response. It is worth one round of powder and shot; I doubt that it will support more.
Finally (I hope) of course Mr Jackson need not seize any writer to his bosom in fo(o, but he must not complain if on the ODC hand the manner of his allusion is attacked, or on the other further reference is made to the same writer for illustrative purpose, nor lastly, for the want of a third hand, should he let his sense of either humour or proportion escape him. Men and women will still sleep together what- ever anyone says about it; that is the ODO in- eluctable fact in all this genial diversion.
King's College, Cambridge
P.,?. Wide
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