Sherman Alexie Laughs Last

2008 Teacher of the Year Mike Geisen from Prineville, Oregon

Sherman laughs last because newspapers and blogs keep talking about his masturbation references in his book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. In fact, Mr. Alexie is laughing all the way to the bank of best selling authors, who speak of masturbation and then enjoy endless amounts of free publicity.

Enter The Inlander, Spokane Washington’s only newspaper. The paper is playing catch up and attempts to remind us why scared white folks in rural Eastern Oregon, should indeed be ridiculed and laughed at. First, one could read The Inlander’s article on Sherman’s book, right here. Next, read my well timed “knee-jerk reaction,” to this attempted banning of masturbation in Prineville.

Folks in Prineville are understandably tired. Tired of talking about their discomfort with masturbating Indians and the almost banning of books. The best part of this masturbating Indian story that The Inlander missed? That would either be Lauren Dake of The Bend Bulletin and her under-appreciated sense of humor, or the lack of a decent editor at The Bend Bulletin.

Lauren wrote the article describing the whole goofy episode of scary, masturbating Indians, and titled it, “School yanks book…”  That’s just fucking awesome journalism! Check it out, right here. Also, take notice that Lauren…grasps that whole concept of getting a story out in a timely fashion, just a tad bit better than The Inlander. Knee-jerk reacting bloggers indeed.

So the question must now be asked, is this not great fodder for Alexie’s next novel? Here Sherman, I give you my humble attempt at a title for your next project…”Prineville Yanks.”  The semi-true story of a masturbating part time Indian, (from Prineville) who purchases the Sonics, returns them to Seattle, where the team is once again free to masturbate with wild abandon…while missing layups.

Yeah, I think Sherman is indeed laughing last.