In November, Kurt Vonnegut turned 80. He published his first novel, Player Piano, in 1952 at the age of 29. Since then he has written 13 others, including Slaughterhouse Five, which stands as one of the pre-eminent anti-war novels of the 20th century. As war against Iraq looms, I asked Vonnegut, a reader and supporter of this magazine, to weigh… return to article
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Reader Comments (948)Vonne-lover,
While you make an interesting point, we don’t want a C-student running the nation for the same reason that we don’t want a singer fixing our pipes. We want someone intelligent to do one of the most difficult jobs in the nation--the world. It is not elitist, it is just that, if we wanted a C-student, any of us could do it.
Posted by Harry Avery on Feb 11, 2004 at 9:32 PM Vonnegut is definitely one of the last living American writers worth reading. If American people read books like Earthquake, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, and Slaughterhouse 5 we aould live in a much safer world.
Posted by Andrey on Feb 14, 2004 at 7:43 PM It seems many people often do things in ‘societies’ interest, and end up hurting Humanity in general. I am glad that that distinction of groups is being acknowledged. Kurt Vonnegut, you are my hero.
Posted by David Yoss on Feb 26, 2004 at 8:20 PM Say what you want about Dubya. He’s got another four years coming.
Posted by Ike on Feb 27, 2004 at 12:01 PM We are saying what we like about Dubya. What you are saying applies to the US mentality in general. Thats why people fly planes into your buildings.
Posted by Baldric on Feb 29, 2004 at 6:09 PM I love Kurt Vonnegut, and everyting he said in this article. Some of it I may not agree with, but the way he says it is incredible, and almost makes me want to believe it. His views on the War on Iraq hit home, and make a great point that many people my age, may not have seen, or thought about.
Posted by Token on Mar 2, 2004 at 11:12 AM The C-Student, he is referring to would likely be a sudent at Yale, who was only average at best, and is leading a new world order in the name of Democracy. But that is just a guess.
I just wanted to share my all time favorite Bumper sticker.....
“Subvert the dominant Paridgm”These are scary times when your 88 year old ,Veteran of two wars, grandfather asks. “when will the people stand up and reclaim their freedoms from a growing fascist regime that supports such lies in the name of peace and democracy?”
Posted by TG on Mar 2, 2004 at 1:19 PM Thank you Kurt for saying it like it should be said.
Let’s give America back to whom she was intended, the people. I was a C-student but damn proud to be an American...peace
Posted by 4 **** man on Mar 4, 2004 at 3:26 AM I am very pleased to hear a voice of reason coming from america. I dread re-election of the dufus you have as a president.....make this paper available here in South Africa. It is not only American’s who fear, loathe and laugh at bush, but the entire, intelligent average human being.
I admire the voices of dissent, which manage to crawl and whizz past “what they would like us to know!”
Anaj Smith - Cape Town
Posted by Anaj on Mar 5, 2004 at 2:22 AM I am very pleased to hear a voice of reason coming from america. I dread re-election of the dufus you have as a president.....make this paper available here in South Africa. It is not only American’s who fear, loathe and laugh at bush, but the entire, intelligent average human being.
I admire the voices of dissent, which manage to crawl and whizz past “what they would like us to know!”
Anaj Smith - Cape Town
Posted by Anaj on Mar 5, 2004 at 2:23 AM I am very pleased to hear a voice of reason coming from america. I dread re-election of the dufus you have as a president.....make this paper available here in South Africa. It is not only American’s who fear, loathe and laugh at bush, but the entire, intelligent average human being.
I admire the voices of dissent, which manage to crawl and whizz past “what they would like us to know!”
Anaj Smith - Cape Town
Posted by Anaj on Mar 5, 2004 at 2:24 AM I am very pleased to hear a voice of reason coming from america. I dread re-election of the dufus you have as a president.....make this paper available here in South Africa. It is not only American’s who fear, loathe and laugh at bush, but the entire, intelligent average human being.
I admire the voices of dissent, which manage to crawl and whizz past “what they would like us to know!”
Anaj Smith - Cape Town
Posted by Anaj on Mar 5, 2004 at 2:26 AM I was once a student of Vonnegut’s at the U of Iowa. He was funnier then. So was the world. I am impressed by his PP theory. For some time I have have casually been pondering how it is that psychopathic murderers come to power in far away countries--in places like Cambodia and Iraq. Now I realize that that same process, whatever it is, has occurred here in the U.S. It must be haphazard because I don’t think that Clinton was a PP. Or Carter, Or Ford. By the way, one writer asks what a C student is--it’s a person whose religion primes his meglomania just as well as alcohol once did.
Posted by William Murdick on Mar 15, 2004 at 9:20 AM “All the great horrors of history were done in the name of an altruistic motive” Ayn Rand
Posted by Joshua on Mar 20, 2004 at 12:17 PM If only those in charge were more like Mr. Vonnegut, then perhaps humanity would be saved. We truely have “trashed this joint”.
Posted by Jane on Mar 22, 2004 at 10:11 AM I am currently working on a biography which allows me to put myself into Mr. Vonnegut’s shoes. I am to ‘be’ him and to write a biography for my Enriched English class.
I look around and I see tons of other students writing about Ramona Quimbly books and I’m proud to be 15 and not ignorant. I’m so happy I’ve had the opportunity to see what I’ve seen so that I’m not brain washed by this malice war of errorism going on right now.
I’m happy to see that I do not stand alone and that Mr. Vonnugut, one of my favorite authors stands there with me. I enjoyed this interview.A bit too sincere,
M. Love
Posted by Monster.Love on Mar 25, 2004 at 10:04 AM The entry above is a lesson to us all I think. Fine writing.
Posted by Baldric on Mar 25, 2004 at 6:30 PM Mr. Vonnegut,
In 1946-1948 the Americans and its allies tried, found guilty, and executed Japanese military and government officials for conducting a pre-emptive war against the United States and other countries. The indictments read “Crimes against peace.” I think Mr. Bush and his top advisors should be tried for this offense. If found guilty they should be imprisoned.
During the 19th Century the United States massacred its own inhabitants--Wounded Knee is one example.
During World War I the United States used poison gas.
Of course the United States is the only country to ever use nuclear weapons against other people--mostly defenseless civilians.
All nations have dirty hands. I am not apologizing for Saddam Hussein’s evil acts.Even if Iraq had so-called weapons of mass destruction--this was not a legal reason for war. Article 6, Section 2 of the United States Constitution makes all treaties part of U.S. law. The United Nations Charter is thus part of U.S. law and both the President and Congress are bound by it. (United States was one of the drafting parties. We can hardly object to its defects.) The Charter permits war to be made only if a country is attacked (or on the verge of attack) or if the Security Council makes a resolution granting permission to the attacking country. Neither of these conditions held. This war was illegal
Of course there were no weapons of mass destruction. They are the fiction of Mr. Bush’s dementia. If General Tommy Franks thought there were a serious threat of Iraqi chemical or biological weapons would he have allowed the massive build up in Kuwait where our soldiers made a perfect target for such weapons? I think not.
As you probably know the Iliad is a poem about the war between the early Greeks and the city state of Troy. Eventually the Greeks defeated the Trojans and sacked the city of Troy. When the Roman General Scipio the Younger, the conqueror of Carthage, read the Iliad he wept. When asked why he said he was weeping for Rome. He knew that some day, like Troy, Rome too would be sacked. So it was, nearly 600 years later in 410 A.D. I weep for America. Some day it too will fall. What kind of world will take its place? A world of justice and law? It is a principle law: he who asks for equity must give it. If we want justice we must be just. America must obey the law.
Harold Edwards
Posted by Harold Edwards on Mar 25, 2004 at 10:58 PM It seems a tragedy that Mr. Vonnegut doesn’t have the wherewithall to enjoy the world that “the greatest generation” has created. I suppose every generation has said that the one following was going to hellin a handbag but we are still here.
Posted by Jeffrey C. Hoover on Mar 26, 2004 at 12:56 AM As an English teacher on a U.S. military base in Seoul, South Korea, who has lived overseas for 15 years now and who is currently teaching Slaughterhouse Five to her wonderful seniors (who are loving it by the way), might I say. Kurt Vonnegut, I love you. At a very young age, because of you, I began to see an * in a totally different light. I can only hope I pass this on to the 100 bright young minds I influence every year. And may they make this a better place by stopping glaciers.
Posted by Michelle Pell on Mar 26, 2004 at 12:57 AM that’s dclearly the truth, earth’s falling apart by the day. and the C student is, sadly, leading us straight down that path.
Posted by Alex on Mar 26, 2004 at 9:16 PM Thank goodness for the accidents of synchronicity which led me to find this inspiring interview. As the pale of dark hoplessness looms forbodingly on the horizon,I nevertheless found a glimmer of light, a tiny but bright twinkle of a fire burning either going out, or as I prefer to see it, as a spark, enough to result in a conbustion sufficient to enlighten those like minded optimists who like me, refuse to believe in the inevitability of doom.
Posted by Bill Bradberry on Mar 27, 2004 at 10:02 AM thank you sooo much for what you do everyday. im only 13 years old. id like to voice my opinion but everyone at my school are assholes.though im sad your not writing anymore. I know its not easy work but, my favorite thing to do, the only relaksing thing i can do, is to sit down and tear into one of your books. I try to descuse its ideas but my familys all christian.
keep on doing that magic you do. never be merciful.
P.S. I’m an A-student
Posted by Andrew Selfridge on Mar 28, 2004 at 1:55 AM Bravo Mr. vonnegut,
i diddnt think anyone had balls anymore. this is the first time i’ve been here and i already decided to subscribe to in these times.I found your article “strange weather” very informing on our wonderful government.
I would also like to say I enjoyed Hocous Pocous very much,
almost as much as Hi Ho a slapstick. but i guess that is not here or now so farewell for now.
Posted by stephen on Mar 28, 2004 at 4:05 PM now i dont understand why some of you people have to be so damned hateful. this article was well written and, more importantly, it was thought provoking. we should applaud mr v for that instead of calling him a senile fool.
Posted by joe on Mar 29, 2004 at 10:30 PM Thought you might be interested in some of Vonnegut’s more recent writings.
Steve
Posted by Ryan Coffey on Mar 31, 2004 at 3:21 PM does “last of the literates” realize he writes like an illiterate?
Posted by critical of morons on Apr 9, 2004 at 8:56 PM cant explain all the feelings that you’re making me feel
my heart’s in over drive and you’re behind the steering wheel
touching you, touching me, touching you cause you’re touching me
i believe in a thing called love, just listen to the rythm of my heart
theres a chance we can make it now
we’ll be lookin till the sun goes down
i believe in a thing called love
ooooooh (huh!)i wanna kiss you every minute every hour everyday
you got me in a spin but everything is a oktouching you, touching me
touching you cause you’re touching me
i believe in a thing called love, just listen to the rythm of my heart
theres a chance we can make it now
we’ll be lookin till the sun goes down
i believe in a thing called love
Posted by bomber man on Apr 12, 2004 at 5:37 AM I also fought in a war, not exactly a ‘just’ one, and was called up to serve (I am no longer fit for front-line combat) in the current war. As a consequence, I am in desperate need of, and extremely grateful, for Mr. Vonnegut’s voice of reason and sanity. Thank you so much.
Posted by Dr. Harold Martin on Apr 12, 2004 at 10:13 AM You are all idiots. I guess we should all just sit back and let powerful people kill innocent people overseas, and eventually just let our enemies take over our country. You talk about humanity and peace and so on, thats exactly what we, as in the normal thinking Americans, are trying to protect. And you can not protect such things by sitting on your ass and hoping it goes away. Be thankful that our wonderful country has a “Yale C Student” (which I am sure most of you would struggle to achieve) in charge and willing to protect us, instead of a nimwit pacifist who would just sit back and let the death of our land take place. Tibet is made up of pacifists. Look how well that has worked out for them.
Posted by Russell on Apr 14, 2004 at 7:13 AM Oh yeah, and to add to my above comment. I do enjoy Kurt’s books, I love his writing style, and as an aspiring autor myself, would love to sit down with a cup of coffee or bottle of wine with Kurt and discuss his work, my work, and the world. I don’t disrespect the man, just some of his views.
Posted by Russell on Apr 14, 2004 at 7:23 AM Oh, and one more thing. I apologise about the “you are all idiots” thing. Thats was a little harsh. You’re not idiots, you’re just misguided.
Posted by Russell on Apr 14, 2004 at 7:33 AM Thank you for your words, Mr. Vonnegut.
What do we do now?
I didnít vote for this man, and he wasnít elected president by a majority vote of Americans, yet he is our president.
This is no simple matter.
Most of us didnít want him there, yet he is there.
How can you top that for magic?
Posted by izzy on Apr 18, 2004 at 8:41 AM he is the genius with his feet in the peoples mud. much like will rogers.
Posted by sru sturgis on Apr 24, 2004 at 10:26 PM I must say I respect the fact that Vonnegut says what he fells. So many people are afraid of the consequences of what they say or do that they are not really expressing themselves as individuals. I do not agree with Vonnegut in most cases but he is American and he does have the freedom to speak his opinion.
Posted by Derrick Truesdale on Apr 26, 2004 at 10:25 AM Dear Mr Vonnegut,
In my 10th grade english class we have been studying you and your writing. At this time we are reading Slaughet- HOuse- Five. This is one of my favorite books, i have read it twice, i know that doesnt seem like alot to someone who writes books for a living, but i am not much of a book person. The thing that has made me want to read this book again was the admiration for you. I admire you for not falling into the rut of many other authors throught time, but to stick by what you right originally and not change your style of writing simply becuase your books becomes banned by the narrow minded people. I have lerned that you are one of the most banned authors in history and i find it remarkable with all the books yuou have written to not change and i just wanted to say thankyou for showing all the narrow minded people in society the reality of the real world. Yes some of your bookes arent realistic, but the language is. there are narrow minded people in my class that dissagree with the way the book has been written, but you have opened my mind to reality and i just wanted to say thank you.sincerly,
George Sella
Posted by George Sella on Apr 27, 2004 at 12:08 PM I found this article useful with regards to a paper I was researching over Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five”. After reviewing the comments, I want to make it clear that out government is not as ‘corrupt’ as some think it is; we have become degraded, yes, but we still have a very powerful, amazing country. Stop bellyaching about how much better you could make it, or how crazy we were when we elected Bush. He is doing the best that he can, people! We got hit first, and took it like the great country we are; then we hit back. Harder. We should not doubt the actions of our governmental leaders; they obviously know much more than we do. The president is only human, and he’s answering to alot of other people. And he’s the only hypocrit? Immediatly following 9-11, America was 100% behind attacking those that hit us; now, we have renegged, and whine that ‘we had no say in this, this isn’t a democracy, Bush sucks’. Every president has made some mistakes, and considering the situation, Bush has done quite a bit better than others. I support whatever president is in the whitehouse, regardless of his party, because he obviously had the talent to get there. You think the president sucks? Then run for election, one up him. But for God’s sake, stop whining about how our country’s democracy is failing, or how the president has screwed us. That’s life; so it goes.
Posted by Marie on May 5, 2004 at 8:21 AM Kurt Vonnegut speaks the truth. It’s too bad, however, that things like this normally only reach people who agree. I look through the comments, and I bet not a single person came to read this that was a supporter of Bush. So, everyone, if you read my comment, don’t just send this story and others like it to friends who would enjoy it, send it to people that would probably disagree. Thank you!
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