Elmore Leonard: "The Next Pope, A Cool Black Nun"
That above was the headline -- "The Next Pope, A Cool Black Nun" -- but somebody at the NYT apparently had a case of the PC something-or-others, and now Elmore's fun op-ed piece is titled something he NEVER would have approved, "For Pope: A Dude Like Dad." Bleh.
An excerpt from Elmore's piece -- which, thankfully, didn't get deballed like the headline:
WHEN I was a boy, around the time Pope Pius XI died, in 1939, I remember my dad saying he could be the next pope if he got the votes. He said there were no rules saying the pope had to come out of the cardinal pool, or be a bishop or priest of some kind; he only had to be a Catholic -- male, of course -- of good standing in the church, to be elected.My mother, Flora, normally a kind soul, would tell Elmore Sr., "Shush, you could never in the world be the pope." It was the only subject I remember them arguing about.
I grew up Catholic, went to Mass every day in grade school and high school; was taught by the Jesuits; spent two and a half years in the Navy during the war; returned, and was graduated from another Jesuit school, the University of Detroit. I even taught catechism in the '60s, although I just told stories for the most part.
My dad might have been qualified to be pope. He worked for General Motors.
...The Vatican is an old boys' club. Tradition going all the way back to Peter says it's a man's job. But wouldn't a woman, one who isn't the least bit timid, be interesting in the role? Like a cool black nun who comes to the throne after 30 years doing God's work with little recognition. She'd be the first pope in heels. Maybe from the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, in Harlem -- the real Sister Act. Get a singing, swinging sister to jazz up St. Peter's Basilica. I guarantee people would tune in.
P.S. You can still see Elmore's title in the URL:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/opinion/sunday/the-next-pope-a-cool-black-nun.html?_r=0
And here's a copy with a slightly different version of the "cool black nun" from the NYT online from last night:
Probably fears by those at the NYT of being racist or being called racist were behind this change, but the ridiculous thing is, what really reflects racial bias is having a group of people who, by virtue of their race, we aren't allowed to joke about or even comment on (at least, not in a very out-there way).
Dont authors have veto rights over changes made to their articles?
I realize the paper belongs to someone, but the article and its title belong to the author, right?
lujlp at February 23, 2013 8:54 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/02/23/elmore_leonard_1.html#comment-3620764">comment from lujlpDont authors have veto rights over changes made to their articles?
Papers just change stuff and you can stuff it if you don't like it. So do magazines, which is one reason I HATE writing for them. I have a sound to my writing and people who don't get it just ham-handedly change it to make things "right." As Elmore says, "When proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go."
When I make intentional grammatical "errors" in my column, I'll sometimes send that out so nimrods won't change things to make the column "right" and in turn, less readable or funny.
Amy Alkon at February 23, 2013 9:10 AM
I realize the paper belongs to someone, but the article and its title belong to the author, right?
Authors rarely get to write their own headlines. With newspapers and magazines, editors can make whatever changes they like.
The downside is what Amy mentioned. The upside is that writers can often be whiny little bitches about their work, and sometimes things really need to be changed.
MonicaP at February 23, 2013 12:05 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/02/23/elmore_leonard_1.html#comment-3620888">comment from MonicaPAs a writer, I actually seek criticism -- not from just anyone, but from people whose minds and literary judgment I respect.
It's really, really important to discern which editors are worth listening to. If you do this, editors will help you make your writing clearer and better. I pay a woman to do this for me part-time every week.
My copy editor, David Yontz, I call SuperDave because he's so great at what he does. Here's his grammar podcast:
http://www.alphabroadcast.com/shows/view/stop-grammar-time.html
And I have weekly moments of gratitude for the wisdom of my new book editor!
Amy Alkon at February 23, 2013 12:13 PM
Writers like you are are fun to work with. When I was a newspaper/magazine editor, I looked forward to working with writers who could accept criticism.
Then there were the others, who would fight me on everything. I remember one guy whose first language was French. He would write the most tortured sentences I'd ever read, then fight all changes because the sentences were technically correct from a grammatical standpoint. Never mind that they made me want to stab myself in the eyes.
MonicaP at February 23, 2013 12:47 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/02/23/elmore_leonard_1.html#comment-3620927">comment from MonicaPMonicaP, I bet you're an editor writers like and respect. Every one I had really likes me. I will fight for things, but I am so, so grateful for criticism, because it helps me improve.
I would wade through flaming pig shit to save Dave, his wife, his baby, that's how grateful I am to him. He makes my column better every single week, makes me better at grammar, and saves my ass. And also is fun as hell to talk to all the while. (I have to make myself get off Skype so I don't eat too much of his day.) If you listen to his podcasts, you'll get a sense of what a great person he is. I'm trying to convince him to write a grammar book.
Amy Alkon at February 23, 2013 1:28 PM
Just from a marketing viewpoint, the headline "The next Pope: A Cool Black nun" is certainly better at grabbing my interest.
Nothing wrong with dads (and mine was the best!)But, a "dude like dad"? really? Trying too hard to be catchy or hip - yawn.
Charles at February 23, 2013 8:59 PM
Reminds me of the cartoon character Speedy Gonzales. Mexicans love him, but a couple of white and a few Mexican Americans complained and he was banned.
But Speedy is loved loved loved by the majority of Mexicans here in the US (kinda like a subculture thing) and in Mexico. Tweety too.
I've seen disclaimers now put when his cartoon airs.
Ppen at February 24, 2013 12:51 PM
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