Says spurperl:

Lisp's general model is functional.

It isn't.

it allows assignments and other side effects, but their usage is discouraged

Perhaps by you, but not by any serious Lisp programmers that I know. What do you think CLOS is for? Do you think that it was invented so that its use could be discouraged? I suggest you read Common Lisp: The Language by Steele or On Lisp by Graham, and perhaps revise your opinion.

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Mark Dominus
Perl Paraphernalia