Posted by Steven R. Harbin on March 14, 1999 at 06:37:53:
In Reply to: Re: Why I Think Farnham's Freehold Is Racist posted by Brooks A. Mick on March 13, 1999 at 13:12:03:
: As far as Heinlein's racism, I suspect he was one of the least racist people on the face of the Earth. Many of his heroes were non-caucasians
: I suspect that, contrary to being racist, this method of character establishment independent of race was Heinlein's way to preach against racism. As far as "Farnham's Freehold," Heinlein was simply pointing out that human beings are human beings, no matter what skin color. If some group has power over another, they will behave badly toward those in thralldom. Those who apparently believe that non-whites are incapable of evil behavior are the racists, unable to see the humanity of all races.
I agree totally with that assessment of both Heinlein and Vance. One of the few things that the two have in common is/was a view that looked at all people as individuals with the "free will/determination" to make their own decisions. See The Blue World for an example of Vance having his protagonist go against the grain of popular (politically correct?) thought in the society in which he lived. Farnham's Freehold is simply another version of that coin, showing that victims (i.e. the oppressed group in a society) can be and many times are guilty of the same oppressive behavior whenever said group has power. Vance and Heinlein's points are that people are responsible for their own individual sins and actions, but that each individual character/person is the decision maker, not some group/determinist force outside the individual. Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy showed his feelings against slavery and oppression, while Vance's Tschai-Planet of Adventure series with it's many multi-racial groups and cultures shows his acceptance of differences among groups. Note that in Tschai Adam Reith is able to help Traz and Anacho become loyal friends even though their respective races and cultures are suspicious and hateful of each other. It seems to me that anyone who thinks that The Grey Prince and Farnham's Freehold are racist needs to rethink their own personal definition of the term and it's true meaning.