Posted by Terry on February 09, 1999 at 10:04:05:
In Reply to: Re: Why I Think Farnham's Freehold Is Racist posted by Rohan on February 08, 1999 at 22:19:18:
: Are you saying that you are uneasy if the villains are any color but white? That seems like very narrow thinking
No, not even close. I'm made uneasy when writers (or anyone) slip into stereotypical viewpoints where people of other races are made to appear inferior: Blacks being made to appear stupid, lazy, oversexed, ... Orientals appear crafty, underhanded, grasping, ... Jews avaricious, devious, ..., Indians viscious, stupid, ... You know what I'm talking about.
I cannot let a writer such as Heinlein escape by saying, "Well, this is a case of fiction where the shoe being on the other foot and what would happen if white people were the underclass?".
It is not a coincidence that a writer's prejudice and unconcious (to give them the benefit of the doubt) come through in their writing. I do, however expect them to be aware enough to realize that their views are possibly tainted and edit prejudice out.
My views are certainly prejudiced and it's not just PC thinking that makes me carefully consider my remarks to people of other cultures and races in light of that knowledge. They deserve it because of our common humanity.
Terry