The title of this one has a purely seminal relationship to the essay---something about the contrast between your use of Elgar's wonderful Pomp and Circumstance No 1 for a rather whimpy graduation and ours, with the words "Land of Hope and Glory" as a (now officially deprecated) anthem of nationalistic fervour, provided the seed and then got edited out.
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Early January 2006 Oh dear! I rather got myself into trouble with the NRA over this essay!
And so a nice man from the NRA warned me off in the nicest terms:
> In one of your recent "tirades" I stumbled across on the internet you ranted
> about baseball being from rounders which is correct. However, rounders is not
> played just by little schoolgirls but also by women of all ages in organised
> leagues (there are mixed leagues also). In addition international matches are
> played between England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. In addition foreign tours
> have been undertaken to the Caribbean, Toronto and Florida in the past.I am
> sure you won't correct your previous rant but you will now be better informed
> if you get on to the subject another time.You can also see our
website for
> more knowledge.
> Terry Woolhouse - National Rounders Association
And I of course replied:
Dear Mr Woolhouse,
let me apologise unreservedly for denigrating rounders. As a
resident in the US (and something of a Liberal), there is
nothing I can imagine that is more terrifying to me than getting
in the sights of the NRA.
In my defence may I point out that my target was the less-than-hemanliness of
American sport and my description of rounders was tailored to that end: also I
have myself played the game back home in England (as, I'm afraid, quite the
littlest and whimpiest of infants). However, in my role as advocatus diaboli,
I must add that I had actually checked (perhaps even at your site) the history
and standing of rounders and did know, even then, of its less than lowly
state.
Since the piece in question was broadcast last May, and since the arrow of
time is pretty definite in these matters, I can't undo the slight on air;
however, if you would like, I would be happy to add your rebuttal to the
essay---and if you want to add to it or change it in view of its slightly more
general distribution, please send me any changes. I can add a link to the NRA
too.
Again, I did not intend to harm rounders in any way, and I'm sorry that you
were collaterally damaged
yours
rhb