Anti-Gay Writer To Pen Superman

[Tjm86]

For me, the issue here is less about Card and more about DC.

Card's opinions are vile, bigoted and fringe-extremist. He says, for example, that 'many' gay people are made gay as the result of rape, molestation or 'disturbing seduction' and spend the rest of their lives wishing to be made un-gay (in the same article, he suggests that if gay people want the legal rights afforded by marriage then they should just marry a person of the opposite sex and pretend to be straight).

Card has translated his status as an author into creating an audience for his political views; these are not privately held views, he has created the link between his beliefs and his work and it is entirely fair to judge one in terms of the other.

My issue with him landing the Superman gig is this: if Card held and publicly voiced* similarly intolerant opinions about black or Jewish people, he simply would not have got the job. No question. DC's decision sends a message that intolerance of gay people is somehow less bad than racism or antisemitism.

It's not, and that's what DC needs to recognise.

Jim

*At the end of the day, many people are bigots in their own heads. If we're honest, we all are to some degree. It's natural to fear the different -- it's what we choose to do with those fears that matters.

Everything Jim said and as for the bible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWuXpfXSl5Y

I am not saying for a second that this negates centuries of church sponsored homophobia but here's a bit of a bomb dropped recently by a leading English evangelical.

http://www.redletterchristians.org/steve-chalke-drops-the-bomb-in-support-of-committed-faithful-same-sex-relationships-2/

I don't want this debate to turn all theological but just to highlight that there are divirgent opinions on this out there. I personally don't want to stone anyone though I did try to hit next doors dog with an onion once.

The big problem with a lot of the religious debate surrounding homosexuality is that it focuses on selective use of Scripture.  Far too often it tends to miss the parts that talk about forgiveness and focusing on personal shortcomings.  At the end of the day the negative comments about homosexuality in the Bible are actually few and far between and pale into comparison compared to the overarching message about man's relationship with God.  "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone ...."

With regard to Mr Card writing the character.  Personally it doesn't really bother me because it is a character that I have never really taken to in a big way and Mr Card has not produced anything I thought worth reading in a while. 

[Proudhuff]

[Tjm86]

 

[The Prodigal]

For me, the issue here is less about Card and more about DC.

Card's opinions are vile, bigoted and fringe-extremist. He says, for example, that 'many' gay people are made gay as the result of rape, molestation or 'disturbing seduction' and spend the rest of their lives wishing to be made un-gay (in the same article, he suggests that if gay people want the legal rights afforded by marriage then they should just marry a person of the opposite sex and pretend to be straight).

Card has translated his status as an author into creating an audience for his political views; these are not privately held views, he has created the link between his beliefs and his work and it is entirely fair to judge one in terms of the other.

My issue with him landing the Superman gig is this: if Card held and publicly voiced* similarly intolerant opinions about black or Jewish people, he simply would not have got the job. No question. DC's decision sends a message that intolerance of gay people is somehow less bad than racism or antisemitism.

It's not, and that's what DC needs to recognise.

Jim

*At the end of the day, many people are bigots in their own heads. If we're honest, we all are to some degree. It's natural to fear the different -- it's what we choose to do with those fears that matters.

Everything Jim said and as for the bible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWuXpfXSl5Y

I am not saying for a second that this negates centuries of church sponsored homophobia but here's a bit of a bomb dropped recently by a leading English evangelical.

http://www.redletterchristians.org/steve-chalke-drops-the-bomb-in-support-of-committed-faithful-same-sex-relationships-2/

I don't want this debate to turn all theological but just to highlight that there are divirgent opinions on this out there. I personally don't want to stone anyone though I did try to hit next doors dog with an onion once.

The big problem with a lot of the religious debate surrounding homosexuality is that it focuses on selective use of Scripture.  Far too often it tends to miss the parts that talk about forgiveness and focusing on personal shortcomings.  At the end of the day the negative comments about homosexuality in the Bible are actually few and far between and pale into comparison compared to the overarching message about man's relationship with God.  "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone ...."

With regard to Mr Card writing the character.  Personally it doesn't really bother me because it is a character that I have never really taken to in a big way and Mr Card has not produced anything I thought worth reading in a while.

For anyone who wants to take a squint at a theology that doesn't serve as a mandate for prejudice and that imho needs reading by every Christian that thinks despising people for their sexuality is ok:

http://www.soulforce.org/resources/what-the-bible-says-and-doesnt-say-about-homosexuality/


Maybe God doesn't hate gays after all.

[Richmond Clements]

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone ...."

That Jesus... always wanting to go first.

[TordelBack]

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone ...."

That Jesus... always wanting to go first.

Magnificent.

Anyway, I'm no theologian, but given that the best possible reading of this 'God' chap is as a reflection of our communal better natures (or vice versa, if you really must  ), I'd be damn sure He doesn't hate gays, or those of us who like Marmite, or even the films of John Candy.  Seems like He'd reserve His disapproval for those who hate their fellows for no good reason at all. 

[Frank]

I couldn't give a monkey's. I can read and enjoy Michel Houellebecq without subscribing to his opinions or sharing his worldview, and trying to get a writer fired from a gig because you find their politics and personal opinions intolerable was the shtick of senator Joseph McCarthy. Professor Thunders McLightning Bear's idea of buying something else you'd like instead seems like a more sane response.

I appreciate the irony of a rampant and obnoxious homophobe agreeing to write the campest character in popular fiction, but I won't be buying Card's Superman comic any more than I won't be buying any other Superman comic ever.

[JOE SOAP]

If it turned out Karl Urban was a homophobe, I wouldn't care.

[TordelBack]

...Trying to get a writer fired from a gig because you find their politics and personal opinions intolerable was the shtick of senator Joseph McCarthy.

Ah, but I suspect that if McCarthy had applied his odious methods in the fight against discrimination in all its forms, history would view him differently. 

If it turned out Karl Urban was a homophobe, I wouldn't care.

It's time for Richmond's photo again...

[Professor Bear]

If it turned out Karl Urban was a homophobe, I wouldn't care.

I used to think the same thing about Mad Max.

[Hawkmumbler]

If it turned out Karl Urban was a homophobe, I wouldn't care.

I would care that he was a homophobe, it wouldn't affect the way I view his acting skill's unless he moulded he abilities around his morals. That's when things get stickey.

[Richmond Clements]

It's time for Richmond's photo again...

[Frank]

Oh thanks a million, Rich. I'm only just out the shower, now I need to go clean myself up again.

[Richmond Clements]

Oh thanks a million, Rich. I'm only just out the shower, now I need to go clean myself up again.

That's just what Karl said.

[JOE SOAP]

If it turned out Karl Urban was a homophobe, I wouldn't care.

I used to think the same thing about Mad Max.

It would take a lot and I mean a lot to stifle my enjoyment of the Road Warrior.