Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Allen Ginsberg's "Newt Gingrich Declares War on McGovernik Counterculture" is a satirical and critical response to conservative political rhetoric that seeks to suppress or marginalize cultural expressions and lifestyles deemed nonconforming or subversive. Ginsberg, renowned for his role in the Beat Generation and as an advocate for free expression, crafts a poem that questions the implications and absurdities of such a war on counterculture.

The poem opens with a series of rhetorical questions that challenge the notion of targeting individuals based on their personal adornments and lifestyle choices. Ginsberg's references to "every boy with more than one earring on the same ear" and "every girl with a belly button ring" immediately set the tone of the poem, highlighting the superficial and arbitrary nature of cultural judgments. The inclusion of "nose piercing" and "a diamond in right nostril" further emphasizes the personal and harmless nature of these choices, mocking the idea that they could be considered threats.

Ginsberg then expands the scope of his critique to include music and popular culture, questioning whether the proposed war on counterculture would extend to beloved and influential figures and movements. The mention of "plainclothesmen high on LSD at Dead concerts" evokes the long history of law enforcement's antagonistic relationship with countercultural gatherings, particularly those associated with the Grateful Dead. The poet's inclusion of "MTV," "Michael Jackson," "Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues," and "Yoko & John no more Give Peace a Chance" underscores the broad and diverse nature of cultural expression that could be affected. These references serve as a reminder of the significant impact these artists and their messages have had on society.

The poem continues by questioning the fate of various subcultures and musical genres: "Punk, Generation X, the Voidoids, Slackers, Grunge? Blues, Jazz, Bebop, Rocknroll?" Ginsberg's enumeration of these categories reflects the rich tapestry of American cultural history and its evolution through different eras and styles. By asking "Where did it get countercultural?" he points to the fluid and often arbitrary definitions of what is considered mainstream versus counterculture.

Ginsberg's critique extends to broader social and cultural issues, such as drug use and its criminalization: "No more grass on college campuses, Mushrooms stomped to death by the Elephant Party?" Here, he highlights the ongoing debates around drug policy and the cultural significance of substances like marijuana and psychedelics within certain communities.

The poet then addresses racial and ethnic diversity, questioning whether African-American culture and its contributions would also be targeted: "What about African-Americans? That’s a terrific Counterculture, & what about the Yellow Peril, Chinese restaurants?" By invoking these questions, Ginsberg underscores the cultural richness and complexity that would be undermined by such a war.

Further, Ginsberg humorously challenges the potential condemnation of Eastern practices and philosophies: "New Age Cooking? is Japanese Sushi too much Zen? Sitting meditation, that be frowned satanic in Congress?" This critique extends to martial arts, ballet, and opera, questioning whether these, too, would be considered countercultural and thus subject to suppression.

The poem's climax arrives with Ginsberg addressing sexual orientation and historical figures, asking whether celebrated artists and thinkers like "Sappho, Socrates, Da Vinci, Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Proust" would be excluded from the cultural canon due to their sexuality or nonconformity. The provocative mention of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI further underscores the poem's satirical tone, questioning whether even deeply ingrained institutions and their leaders would be subject to this cultural purge.

In its conclusion, Ginsberg poses rhetorical questions about poetry, ecology, and scientific inquiry: "Is poetry countercultural, like a Third Party? Is ecology pro or counter culture? Astronomy determining the Universe’s age & size? Long hair, relativity, is Einstein countercultural?" These questions serve to highlight the absurdity and far-reaching implications of attempting to suppress diverse cultural expressions and intellectual pursuits.

"Newt Gingrich Declares War on McGovernik Counterculture" ultimately serves as a passionate defense of cultural diversity and freedom of expression. Ginsberg's use of humor, irony, and rhetorical questioning exposes the irrationality and potential destructiveness of attempts to homogenize and control cultural life. Through his poem, Ginsberg reaffirms the value of embracing and celebrating the myriad forms of human creativity and thought.

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