I think we're all forgetting something here.  We all (or 99.9%) of us have an english degree.  Its just not an advanced degree, its not at masteral or bachelorate level but it is there.  Its called going to school both elementary and highschool.  There we are taught english each and every day.  Then for those of us who are 'self taught' we read voraciously in sci-fi, fantasy, fiction, etc.

American Idol, as was mentioned before, doesn't really compare because how many of us are taught to use a musical instrument for one class each and every grade from kinder to high-school?  Meanwhile we are all taught 'english' every year.

A different perspective is all.

Follow the dream, never give up and always remember you can get more out of one or two classes you really apply yourself to, than years of studying but not really caring what you're learning about.



The Deposed King

I know what you mean.  I have a friend who has a Masters in English, and one time she emailed me about how she was being a pre-madonna about some upcoming event.  Wrote her back saying I always thought of her more as a post-madonna.

Received a letter from Joshua yesterday.  He said he'd met GW and they were able to talk a bit.

Yee-ha!

I wouldn't say a degree in English (or anything, for that matter) is a must--some of the most stilted, unreadable writing, after all, is in doctoral theses--but a love of literature, language, and research into a variety of topics is most likely a given. Two of my favorites, PN Elrod and Elizabeth Peters, have degrees in theatre and archaeology, respectively. And as far as we know, Shakespeare never even went to university, but managed to do pretty well in his chosen field.