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Sunday, July 1, 2007

Is Dahlia Lithwick "a deeply frivolous person" and either "a liar or a fool"?

John Carney is strangely disturbed -- is he on drugs? -- by Lithwick's mockery of John Roberts' straightforward observation that "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" is a pro-drug message. Lithwick says:
In Morse, Roberts goes to great lengths to insert meaning into the silliness of the words on the student banner. He insists the phrase "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" can be read as "celebrating drug use"; indeed to get there he needed only insert the imaginary words, "bong hits [are a good thing]." When did we enter into the era of constitutional interpretation through inserting pretend words? The sign could have as easily been read to say "bong hits [will kill you]."
I completely disagree with Lithwick's conclusion here, but I think she finds interesting ways to make her arguments. Carney has not found an interesting way to write. I mean, if I were stoned I might be fascinated by the phrase "deeply frivolous," but I don't think Carney meant to divert us into contemplating an oxymoron. He's carelessly hurling insults. What's the point? If you want to take down Lithwick, try to write somewhere close to her level.

ADDED; My question for Carney, Lithwick, and the Chief: Is the next post -- above, with the flower -- a pro-drug message?

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