In the following, dwanthny cut too much of my quote, so I put it back and bolded for proper context...
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwanthny
Quote:
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Originally Posted by EatingPie
Heinlein is a scumbag for even suggesting such a number, and I think it's made all the worse by doing so through a female character. I personally believe the only reason we discuss this as possibly legitimate is that Heinlein is a well-loved writer, and Stranger in a Strange Land is considered a cultural classic. It's easy to test this theory. Just imagine George W. Bush saying the exact same statement from the Presidential podium. How's that quote sound now!?!
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A quote from, say about 1959 (when he was writing), taken out of context and said by a politician in 2009...
...maybe while were at it good old George could say a few things to his friend Colin Powell just the way Huck talked to Jim. On 2nd thought let's not because it proves nothing!
You weren't even comparing apples to oranges. The theory is not so easily tested after all.
Good Luck with your studies. |
As I said, you cut too much. My assertion at this point was about holding RAH in reverence, and that influencing how we view this particular work/statement. Then testing that assertion by putting his words into someone whose mouth many people
don't revere.
So in case you think cultural context is at play here, let my change my quote to more a contemporary of Heinlein.
I personally believe the only reason we discuss this as possibly legitimate is that Heinlein is a well-loved writer, and Stranger in a Strange Land is considered a cultural classic. It's easy to test this theory. Just imagine
Richard Nixon or
Joseph McCarthy saying the exact same statement from the podium.
So I ask again, how's that quote sound now?
-Pie
PS I'm playing catch-up, so I will read other posts I might have missed or overlooked later (I see Radius made another reply I didn't read).