In a March 12, 2011 issue of The New York Times, in a column by Maureen Dowd entitled “In Search of Monsters,” Ms. Dowd comments on the suitability of Donald Rumsfeld giving current foreign policy advice: “You would think that [he] would have the good manners to shut up and take up horticulture.”
Politics aside, I just can’t get over Ms. Dowd’s back-handed slap at horticulture.
Mr. Rumsfeld, coming to a community garden near you.
Like horticulture doesn’t have enough issues, that we need him in our corner! Such a comment also implies something about Dpwd’s feelings regarding horticulture as being away from the thick of things…I hope no one pulls out a chair for her when it comes to eating the fruits of horticulture’s labors.
Rachel, that’s what I got from the comment, like Dowd was equating hort. to the most innocuous, useless pursuit.
the horror!
Torn here between feeling marginalized and glad I work in something away from the world that Ms. Dowd occupies.
As Dorothy Parker said, you can lead a hor t’ culture , but you can’t make her think.