Plagiarism in Politics
* Re “Unoriginal Sins of the Candidates’ Speeches,” Oct. 19: As a university English teacher, I am appalled that The Times takes such a cavalier attitude toward plagiarism. Each term, I am required by the university to read aloud and distribute the policy regarding plagiarism: If a student is caught, he or she is failed from the course--no appeal.
After 20 years of teaching, I continue to wonder how students can believe that plagiarism isn’t wrong. (I’ve even caught some students plagiarizing from one of my own publications!) Now I understand--as in sexual harassment and older statesmen/young interns in “sexual situations,” plagiarism is OK as long as politicians and the media say it’s OK. What a concept! Morality by position of power and popularity instead of by an objective standard to which we all must conform. I think I’ll quit teaching and turn to politics. After all, I’ve got 20 years of plagiarized examples to craft my campaign speeches from!
GRETCHEN PASSANTINO
Costa Mesa
* You credited the John Kennedy quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you . . .” to an 1884 speech by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. In 63 BC, Marcus Tullius Cicero said in a speech, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather, what you can do for your country.” So much for plagiarism.
LOY BAXTER
Los Angeles
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
