Old men should write, not the young in their prime: their past's too shallow to enfranchise them. _______________
In response to the above lines from Michael Gilkes's "Old Men Should Write" (posted here), Andre (Intellectual Elite) asks, "what about young men with old souls?"
I don't know how Gilkes would answer that one...anybody wanna give it a try?
My best shot at answering Andre's question would be that although I happen to know a young man or two who'd definitely qualify (in my book) as sharp "old souls" with great stories, wit, and lots of insight to share, I find his (their) frequent disdain for history (not their lack of a deep and lengthy past) somewhat disheartening.
But, I'm also maddened by the sentiment I see in the lines. The bottom line suggestion that old age entitles enfranchisement (especially that it should entitle privileges in the literary arena) is one I completely abhor.
[More on Gilkes later]
