so. But in addition to being an economicnflush whose value you consistentlynunderappreciate, this tidal flownreflects a force of human spirit sonpowerful that bedrock conservatives, ofnall people, ought to be daunted by thenprospect of outrightly resisting it.n— Tim W. FergusonnHermosa Beach, CAnOn ‘History’nForrest McDonald’s “On the Study ofnHistory” (February 1991) was stimulating.nHis quick survey of our nation’s illsnwas pinpoint bombing. I had trouble,nhowever, digesting McDonald’s “thenreason we cannot solve our social problemsnis precisely the reason we can putna man on the moon,” and his allegationnthat the scientific method “cannotntake a broad view.” Right on the heelsnof these charges, McDonald declaresnthat “the trouble with pragmatism isnthat it no longer works” and recommendsnthat “before it is too late” wen”cultivate instead a holistic view.”nThe social, political, and environmentalnproblems we face today appearnDispatches fnnn thf. SouthnJohn Sht-llon ]igf6nfbinniJ H/Eu^jt.’CmmMnWHISTLING DIXIEnDispatches fromnthe SouthnJohn Shelton ReednForeword bynEugene Genovesen”If you’re interested in the South specitically or provocativenwriting generally, you’ll find much in here tliat isninstructive and amusing. . . . Read Whistlinjj Dixie, andnyou will be too.”n—^lonathan Yardlcy^ The Washington Postn”Witty, cicN’cr, irreverent His snappy, sassy commentsnwill tickle vour car.”n—The Kansas City Starn264 pages, $19.95ninsurmountable, but pragmatic mindsnare at this moment using reason to getnto the nub of these problems and tongenerate solutions. If an approach isnfound to be too “narrow,” the truenman of science will “broaden” hisnscope. This is elementary.nMcDonald’s examples of our abilitynto escape the clutches of scientificnthinking — when we select appropriatengifts for loved ones or when we supplyn”proper” answers to a college professor—nare, in fact, examples of rudimentarynrational thinking. Simple logicnhelps us decide what kind of gift wouldnplease a friend, and simple logic enablesnus to determifie a professor’s bias,nlink good grades with parroting then”right” answers, and to thereby hoodwinknthe professor. It is illogical tonassume, as McDonald does, that innthese instances we perceive “with perceptualnapparatuses not our own” andnact “in accordance with the dictates ofnalien perceptual machinery.”nThe storm flag should be hoistednwhenever suggestions are made to dispensenwith reason. Reason is the onencommon language whereby all thendiverse peoples of the world can carrynon a meaningful dialogue. It can bendemonstrated in Timbuktu as well asnin Peoria that it’s not in man’s bestninterest to defecate upstream fromnwhere he drinks. Once we depart fromnthe scientific method, all hope fornharmony vanishes.n— Gene OwennHatfield, ARnOn ‘New Yorknvs.nNew York’nRegarding Bill KaufEman’s “New Yorknvs. New York,” in your January issue:nGIANTS BEAT THE BILLS! GLnANTS BEAT THE BILLS! NYAH-nNYAH! NYAH-NYAH! GIANTSnBEAT THE BILLS!n—A. NooyawkanDurham, NCnThe Editors Reply:nMr. Nooyawka has a point: we shouldnall tip our hats to the New JerseynGiants. •nORDERFORMnPlease send me copies of Whistling Dixie: Dispatchesnfrom the South at ttie list price of $19.95.nNamenAddressnCit)’nState _ ZipnDaytime Phone # _nMethod of Paymentnn MasterCard D Visa D check or money order enclosednAccount numbernSignaturenExpiration DatenSubtotal $n6.475% sales tax (MO residents) $nShipping and Handling Fee $nTOTAL SnFor faster service, credit card customers can call the tollfreennumber 1-800-828-1894. Shipping and Handlingnfee: $3.00 for the first book; $.50 for each additional booknordered. Send orders and payment to;nUniversity of Missouri Pressn2910 LcMone Boulevard • Columbia, MO 65201nnnMAY 1991/5n