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Dec. 27th, 2004 03:44 pmTaking a break from Sir's vest - doing cables on the cast-on row is very hard on the hands, compounded by the cold of the day.
Sir wrote an entry wondering why there was a lack of programming on race issues at a convention we'll be going to, especially considering the the guest of honor writes extensively on issues of race and other societal divisions. He also mused some on the lack of racial diversity in the visible aspects of science fiction fandom, especially the con-going population. 44 comments and counting. The usual suspects wrote well-considered, thoughtful responses, and some people I've not noticed in his journal did so as well. There was some of the expected knee-jerking, of course, but that was simply to be expected.
Some of the comments have gotten me thinking...There was some talk of what people would be interested in science fiction, and how people of a possibly lower economic status may not be a part of that...Dangerous statement, that. I know plenty of people who were born poor, and found relief from the soul-killing grind of poverty in books about far off worlds, or stories of kings and princesses. Any statement defining a group like that is always going to be challenged, and doesn't really add to the conversation much.
Another comment talked about doing away with the concept of race altogether, rejecting classifications other than 'human'. The sentiment is laudable, but I think it misses something. I'm reminded of Ursula LeGuin's _The Lathe of Heaven_, where a character dreams a world without racism, and wakes up to find all of humanity is grey. While I find a chilling despair in that result, it does indicate the problems inherent in trying to avoid/reject the question of race - there's a lot of value in diversity, and in honoring our varied heritages.
ETA: Der. I neglected to mention a couple of other obvious things in the above paragraph. A)Defining race is inherently problematic, as the definitions are fluid, and tend to be based on political expedience, rather than bio-reality. (my own mixed race, for example, is generally not understood by anyone who doesn't have a *lot* of experience with people of mixed races, or knows my family history. I 'pass' perfectly, with my blue eyes, freckled and pale skin, and hair color) Also, it is entirely too easy for the dominant race to talk about doing away with the concept, without taking into consideration the cultural experiences of someone of a non-dominant race.
( More personal musings on an unrelated topic. )
Sir wrote an entry wondering why there was a lack of programming on race issues at a convention we'll be going to, especially considering the the guest of honor writes extensively on issues of race and other societal divisions. He also mused some on the lack of racial diversity in the visible aspects of science fiction fandom, especially the con-going population. 44 comments and counting. The usual suspects wrote well-considered, thoughtful responses, and some people I've not noticed in his journal did so as well. There was some of the expected knee-jerking, of course, but that was simply to be expected.
Some of the comments have gotten me thinking...There was some talk of what people would be interested in science fiction, and how people of a possibly lower economic status may not be a part of that...Dangerous statement, that. I know plenty of people who were born poor, and found relief from the soul-killing grind of poverty in books about far off worlds, or stories of kings and princesses. Any statement defining a group like that is always going to be challenged, and doesn't really add to the conversation much.
Another comment talked about doing away with the concept of race altogether, rejecting classifications other than 'human'. The sentiment is laudable, but I think it misses something. I'm reminded of Ursula LeGuin's _The Lathe of Heaven_, where a character dreams a world without racism, and wakes up to find all of humanity is grey. While I find a chilling despair in that result, it does indicate the problems inherent in trying to avoid/reject the question of race - there's a lot of value in diversity, and in honoring our varied heritages.
ETA: Der. I neglected to mention a couple of other obvious things in the above paragraph. A)Defining race is inherently problematic, as the definitions are fluid, and tend to be based on political expedience, rather than bio-reality. (my own mixed race, for example, is generally not understood by anyone who doesn't have a *lot* of experience with people of mixed races, or knows my family history. I 'pass' perfectly, with my blue eyes, freckled and pale skin, and hair color) Also, it is entirely too easy for the dominant race to talk about doing away with the concept, without taking into consideration the cultural experiences of someone of a non-dominant race.
( More personal musings on an unrelated topic. )
