Letters

The article about the acquisition of Flannery O’Connor’s writing (“Grace Notes,” winter 2015) is a fascinating story of perception and diligence on the part of Emory’s scholars and librarians. This story is well told. I have visited Andalusia and followed O’Connor and other Southern writers for a long time. Having told stories in print and on television, I congratulate you on this article. Perhaps it will inspire authors to delve into the mystery and marvel of O’Connor’s writings, which convey regional themes, language, and truths from decades before.

—Janet A. Martin Carmichael 66C, Keswick, Virginia

Charles McNair’s article in the winter 2015 issue contains a small error which I hesitate to even mention, but I will because I wish what he said had actually occurred. He says that, after Flannery O’Connor’s return to Milledgeville, “[d]espite frailty, she visited friends, Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell among them.” She certainly must have seen Robert Lowell from time to time, but Flannery O’Connor never at any time visited Elizabeth Bishop. They had some correspondence and one (or perhaps two) telephone calls, and that was it. Ms. Bishop spent almost all of her time from 1951 through 1965 in Brazil and, beyond that, she acknowledged in an article for the New York Review of Books (October 8, 1964) that she had “never met” Flannery O’Connor. Despite this trifling objection, I very much enjoyed Mr. McNair’s insightful article, and I thank you for publishing it.

—Thomas N. Thompson, Salt Lake City, Utah

Thank you so much for publishing the sad and successful article on Mr. Meng Lim (“On His Honor,” winter 2015). I will make sure to share this story with my other Cambodian American friends, our community, as well as others in Cambodia to acknowledge this story. I’m very proud of this man for his success, and I admire his determination. Today, I mentioned to my son, who is a junior at Emory, that he should read this touching story. He’s currently on the Emory men’s soccer team.

—Sokito Chan 16P, Laurel, Maryland

Wow! What a fascinating article concerning Emory’s Masonic connections (“The Secret History,” winter 2015). I read this with more than great interest as I attended Oxford College (1970–1972) and completed a BA in history at another outstanding Methodist college, Wofford, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where twenty-three years later, I petitioned a local Masonic Lodge and was raised as a Master Mason in November 1997. Several years later, while revisiting the Quad, I too noticed the Masonic connection with President Few. I look forward to more such articles! 

—Stephen M. Whitaker 72OX, Boiling Springs, South Carolina

Thank you for the tribute to Kenneth Murrah (“Tribute: Dedicated Alumnus and Philanthropist,” winter 2015). Ken was a loyal Emory alumnus and a loyal, supportive brother of Alpha Tau Omega’s Georgia Alpha Theta Chapter at Emory. However, your tribute was remiss in not mentioning Ken’s oldest son, Bert Murrah 81C, who both attended Emory from 1977 through 1981 and was president of the ATO chapter at Emory. Bert preceded Ken in death, leaving us in the 1990s. Bert was my fraternity brother at Emory and was beloved by many of his brothers and classmates. Thank you for correcting the complete record of the Murrah family’s many contributions to our fine university.

—David Cohen 80OX 82C, Madison, Wisconsin

Titling the photograph on page 3 (“Big Picture,” winter 2015) struck me as ironic, because the students clearly do not see the big picture. This “symbolic event” indicates how easily manipulated today’s Emory student is by the press, celebrities, and self-appointed spokesmen who fixated on the death of two men. These men did not deserve to die, but their innocence is not without question. The big picture is that members of black communities—as a result of black-on-black violence—die in far greater numbers than those who die as a result of police misconduct. The big picture is that black women account for 13 percent of the female population of childbearing age but have 36 percent of the abortions. If these students really believe “Black Lives Matter,” they should go out in the communities and really work to stop these daily attacks on black lives. 

—Kevin Grass 75C, Selma, Alabama

I was troubled, appalled really, to see the photo prominently displayed in your winter issue. The focus of my objection is not on the actions of the students, who can exercise their right to free speech as fecklessly as they wish, but on your editorial decision to provide prominent space to that activity. This is especially hypocritical because all lives DO matter, and yet Emory has not, to my knowledge, raised its voice to protest the killing of over 16 million African American preborn babies by abortion. Now why do you suppose that is?

—Robert P.  N. Shearin 75MR, Southhaven, Mississippi

I always look forward to receiving my copy of Emory Magazine. However, I find the picture a sad insertion. The courts have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions of police involved were lawful and, in fact, one may say justified. To post such a picture gives one the impression of a deep bias on the part of Emory and its magazine that is not based on facts. It tends to portray Emory as an instrument of a particular political bias rather than an institution of higher learning. I graduated in 1967 and always perceived it as a fine educational institution. Recent years have caused me to question its validity as such a place.