Dear editor,
Thank you for the story on the CCP’s First Friday Forum last week. I write to offer a clarification about a quote that was attributed to me. While I did, in fact, say “If you don’t get involved in your community, you’re just passing through,” I directly prefaced the sentence by noting that it was first uttered by one of my co-panelists, Mark Masselli, during his commencement address to graduating students at Middlesex Community College a few years ago.
While I would be delighted to be remembered as the author of such an inspiring comment, my instincts as an historian compel me to set the record straight. (And if my noble instincts weren’t enough, Masselli said he’d expose me as Wesleyan’s StephenAmbroseDorisKearnsGoodwin if I didn’t write this letter. [On the other hand, it also occurred to me that this might be what it takes to enter their snack bracket; so perhaps I should say, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” {which is actually not what Farragut said}])
Sincerely,
William (Vijay) Pinch
Professor of History
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