What's in a Hiss?

Apparently quite a lot -- as was on display at last night's National Book Award finalist reading, where extra-textual political reverberations turned into fire-works. Former U.S. poet laureate Robert Hass kicked things off by commenting on how odd it was to have such an event without any mention of "this war," and how demoralized he was by living in a country where discussion means a "gingerly conversation about whether we should or should not torture our enemies." It wasn't completely off-topic question, given that the uncle of Edwidge Danticat -- the subject of her NBA finalist, "Brother, I'm Dying," -- died in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security due to the treatment he received upon entering the U.S. from Haiti seeking a political asylum visa. (It's worth noting this was a man in his 80s with a tracheotomy).

Hass' remarks earned applause, but also a follow-up from the next reader, Christopher Hitchens, who was "appalled" that this night could go on without mention of "our victory over the forces of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia," (an oddly retro-Biblical word for someone arguing against religion, but hey) which caused immediate boos and then hisses. "Do you know how you sound?" Hitchens asked the crowd when it increased. "It is the sound of mediocrity." Hitchens went on to add that he spent his Memorial Day honoring the people "who guard us while we sleep," that he was proud of the part he played in "bringing this off," which presumably meant the war, to which someone in the crowd inquired, "why don't you go over and fight them?" Now that he has citizenship, presumably that's an option.

After the dust had cleared Sherman Alexie approached the stage and said while he agreed with Hitchens' take on God, and did not believe in the Iraq War, he was unequivocal on hissing. "It always sounds to me like the sound of white liberal dreams escaping." Everyone laughed and applauded this definition -- what is the sound, then, of white liberal hands clapping? -- if not Lydia Davis, who followed him shaking her head. "I think maybe the National Book Award should maybe make time for everyone to make a political statement in their next reading?" Seems like that would turn a 3 hour event into a 6 hour one. Perhaps instead the NBA and the NBCC can jointly sponsor an event about writers on politics, that way we can leave the hissing for Cannes.