Sun Tzu said that “In war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.” This is often interpreted as “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.” You can debate the meaning, but it really says …
Month: April 2022
Nowakoski, “Love as Energy”: Tom Murphy’s Response to My Paper
I had agreed to submit my paper to Dr. Murphy as the other professional medievalist on the DePaul faculty because Dr. Kelly found it impossible to “provide an objective grade.” This is his evaluation, including the scanned original at the end with some editorial comments. Note the mis-spelling of my name in his title. Always …
TO: Dr. Ellin M. Kelly FROM: James A. Nowakowski
One week after I received Dr. Kelly’s comments, I returned to class with my own envelope. Inside was my original paper, and the following 6-page rebuttal to her charges. Before class began, walked up to her desk and handed her the envelope, saying “I don’t think you’ll be too happy with this.” The transcribed from …
TO: Mr. Nowakowski FROM: Dr. Ellen M. Kelly
These are the scanned pages of Dr. Kelly’s comments on my paper for your review. Her handwriting is legible, and it’s probably better your read it for yourself if you are interested. You can imagine perhaps what I was feeling as I read them while she taught that class and leveled her charges against me. …