There’s been controvery over the past few days following DC’s decision to hire Orson Scott Card, a pioneer in contemporary homophobia, as one of the writers on a new digital-first Superman anthology series. And although the internet has been going back and forth on the subject for the past few days, the first active step towards boycotting the book happened in Dallas today, as shop owner (and Eisner award-winner) Richard Neal has announced his shop will not be stocking the book once it comes to print.
This begins a movement which the internet has been trying to get moving for the past few days to boycott the book, with a petition already online asking for his removal. But this is the first move which will actively see sales and money taken away from DC as a result of the hiring, rather than empty words on an internet page.
Not just a homophobe, Card is one of the board members of the National Organization of Marriage, which openly seeks to prevent anybody from getting married apart from a male-female pairing. It’s not simply the case that Card has personal politics which are shameful – and they are SHAMEFUL – but that he works tirelessly to dismiss and degrade LGBT rights as part of a hate group.
He has included his personal views in several of his works, including one particular piece in which he rewrote Hamlet in order to include more gay characters who were also paedophiles. There were previous movements a few years ago when he was hired by Marvel, but this is the first time that we’ve seen that momentum carry through into something tangible.
The main problem here has been that DC have been actively trying to court an LGBT audience over the last few months… but have now for some reason decided to give up on that by hiring one of the most prominent homophobes in literature to write their single most heroic and admirable character. Several creators have already spoken out against the hiring, and comic critics have roundly condemned the decision.
Writing on his facebook page, Zeus Comics owner Neal states:
Card sits on the board of the National Organization of Marriage which fights against marriage equality. His essays advocate the destruction of my relationship, that I am born of rape or abuse and that I am equated with pedophilia. These themes appear in his fiction as well. It is shocking DC Comics would hire him to write Superman, a character whose ideals represent all of us.
Which is very well said.
UPDATE: When pressed for comment on the issue, DC have released the following statement:
As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that — personal views — and not those of the company itself
You’re all welcome to say what you like in the comments, but I will be watching them. If anybody posts lies or abuse, their comments will be deleted. I RESERVE OBLITERATION RIGHTS
If the guy was a real genius in comics writing, why not hire him? (Superman still has an editor, right, so his job would be to proofread OSC scripts).
But why hire him in the first place? Where is this comics piece of writing he would have done that would grant him such a high position as a genius? Where?
Another poorly planned decision from the DC office… And yeah, the message sent to LGBT people by doing this isn’t very positive…
Don’t ask for his removal (hehas the right to work), just don’t buy the sh.t, this is the only thing the DC offices will understand….drop in sales.
If this is the standard, then no Mormon, obedient Catholic, Muslim, or Conservative Christian can ever be hired by DC. In fact, Obama couldn’t have worked there until a year ago. Maybe the CBLDF will step in… Ha!
I think doing both, expressing concern and contacting DC to let them know via a petition or other method, and not buying the comic would be a good approach. If they are trying to bring in more LGBT readers then this sort of thing sends exactly the wrong kind of message. It’s extremely worrying that they would hire someone who speaks out about this so much in public and online. Given the opportunity, and if the story allows, I am sure he would try to express his views in the comic. Again, this might be nixed by the editor, but things can slip through and it would be awful to have Superman say something very offensive and upsetting. Imagine if a very young reader saw it? What kind of a message would DC be sending to young fans?
Card’s organization has directly harmed a couple of my family members by denying them their equal rights here in California. As a result, I refuse to help support the man financially, as that money he earns may be used to further injure my loved ones. I can only hope that others follow suit, but I cannot compel them to do so. This is not an act of hate on my part. It is me acting to protect those who Card would injure if given the chance. The right thing to do against bullies like him is to stand up to them.
Tis dignified, regal prose
Roger Stern is a great Superman writer and seems to be unemployed right now. Why doesn’t DC hire him instead?
As usual, people who advocate such unlimited tolerance about everything all the time are the most intolerant of all, if someone’s opinion doesn’t agree with theirs. Card is standing up for his beliefs, not causing someone physical harm. Isn’t that his right? Why must he be called a bully and far worse because he is doing something you disagree with? If you don’t want to buy his stories, then don’t. Vote with your wallet, I fully support that. But I don’t believe the man is a monster. Some folks want to deprive others of their livelihoods because of their religious beliefs. How tolerant is that? Intelligent people can disagree about some subjects.
If you don’t want to support him, I would suggest sending a note to DC letting them know you won’t be purchasing the comic because of him, letting your retailer know why you won’t be buying it, and then not buying it.
Key will be letting DC know; otherwise they may think low sales are due to the lack of interest in Superman
“But why hire him in the first place?”
Probably some what influenced with this:
Awards
1978 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer from the World Science Fiction Convention
1981 Songmaster: Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award, 1981
1984 Saints: Book of the Year by the Association for Mormon Letters[40]
1985 Ender’s Game: Nebula Award, 1985;[6] Hugo Award, 1986;[4] Hamilton-Brackett Award, 1986; SF Chronicle Readers Poll, 1986
1986 Speaker for the Dead; Nebula Award, 1986,[4] Hugo Award, 1987;[5] Locus Award, 1987;[4] SF Chronicle Readers Poll Award 87
1987 “Eye for Eye”: Hugo Award, 1988; “Japanese Hugo”. 1989
1987 “Hatrack River”: Nebula nominee, 1986, Hugo nominee, 1987, World Fantasy Award winner, 1987
1988 Seventh Son: Hugo and WFA nominee, 1988;[41] Mythopoeic Society Award 1988; Locus Award winner, 1988[41]
1989 Red Prophet: Hugo nominee, 1988;[41] Nebula Nominee, 1989;[42] Locus winner, 1989[42]
1991 How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Writer’s Digest Books, 90): Hugo Award
1995 Alvin Journeyman: Locus Award winner, 1996[43]
2008 YALSA Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Contribution to Young Adult Literature; for Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow
2008 Whitney Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award[44]
and also that he has a movie based on his works coming out this year based on his book starring Harrison Ford.
I don’t remember any of this outrage coming when he was working quite prolifically with Marvel a few years ago. To say that DC shouldn’t hire Card to work is saying that they likely shouldn’t hire most anybody in the LDS faith as many of them hold the same beliefs. The difference with Card is his success and money have allowed him to fund his beliefs. Should LGBT people be able to be boycotted from writing DC comics because people of the LDS church have a difference in beliefs (no matter how wrong or misguided that belief may seem?)
All that being said, as a personal choice I will not be supporting this story by him and will not be purchasing it. Not buying the issue should be enough of a message. People overshooting with wholesale boycotts and petitions has the danger of hurting more then it will help the cause.,
If I decided not to buy any comics by creators whose personal political or religious beliefs differed from mine, I probably wouldn’t buy ANY comic books. If I extended that to other products (clothing, gasoline, food), I wouldn’t be able to buy ANYTHING.
As such, I will reserve my decision on whether to buy this comic until after publication and I can determine if the story reeks of “homophobia” or not. (BTW, it’s pretty good guess that at least one of the other creators on that book is homosexual.)
Anyone who wants to play the freedom of expression card in defense of Card and is still outraged about this retailer or the petitioners feeling free to express themselves is being hypocritical. Just saying.
All that of course aside from the fact that Card is not just expressing his opinion, but actively fighting to enforce his twisted ideas en oppress a minority. I commend Richard Neal and am not touching anything that would support Card either.
Jerry Smith, this is the ONE item those that see this as intolerance by the tolerant seem to constantly miss: “It’s not simply the case that Card has personal politics which are shameful… but that he works tirelessly to dismiss and degrade LGBT rights as part of a hate group.” If you have an opinion, and want to live our your life based on that opinion, more power to you. BUT, the moment you ACTIVELY decide to work (especially with larger organizations) to take away other people’s rights, etc. you’ve taken it to the next level.
This is the same problem with Dan Cathy and Chick-Fil-A (for example only.) Hey, you’re a Conservative Christian and you don’t feel gays deserve equal rights, marriage, etc. fine. That’s your opinion, and we’ve all got one. But then you take large amounts of money and funnel them into groups actively working to deny others their rights, you just lost big time. And THAT’S when the ones who’s rights you’re trying to take away fight back.
I’ll buy two copies.
“Card is standing up for his beliefs, not causing someone physical harm. Isn’t that his right? Why must he be called a bully and far worse because he is doing something you disagree with?”
Because Card has already taken his beliefs to the next level, and is actively trying to enforce his beliefs on others. So as a result, he already IS “causing someone physical harm”. It’s like hiring the Ku Klux Klan to rewrite Roots.
@jerry smith – gotta love your quote “people who advocate such unlimited tolerance about everything all the time are the most intolerant of all”. really , should we be tolerant of bigots that hate black people , or jewish people, or asians, or latinos or even white people? how about sexist that believe that women do not deserve equal pay for equal work or would like to control their contraceptive choices? how about bigots that hate muslims or christians, should we be tolerant of them? how about bigots that hate gays and lesbians and do not want to give equal marriage rights to gays and lesbians. how about bigots that hide behind their religion to further their agendas? should we tolerate them? now these folks can believe what ever that want (wrong as they are), the fact of the matter is that people like this do affect the lives of others around them through words and actions. considering that people like Card will do everything in his power to deny a certain group of people their rights, he is a bully and a bigot. also gotta love the whole persecution of “religious belief” reasoning. so let me get this straight, you’re saying that people are being bigoted because they won’t let a religious person be a bigot? now i’m not saying this guy should be denied a living, i’m sure there are many employment opportunities he can explore that do not involve having to suffer through his bigotry in one form or another. and you are right, intelligent people can disagree, but when people’s lives are being affected, and rights denied, a line has to be drawn and action taken. there is nothing wrong with folks contacting dc to voice their displeasure of the hiring of this fellow. i also agree that one can vote with their wallet, but why stop at one book. discontinue collecting all dc books until they get the message. will that work, who knows? but at least one does get the satisfaction of not giving money to a company that would hire a person who’s views one disagress with.
Nathan, I doubt Card thinks–nor do I–that he is part of a “hate” group. Why do they “hate” in your mind? Questioning “rights” no one has ever had because of religious reasons is not the same as wanting people arrested and put in internment camps. I don’t think “hate” is involved, they are just trying to preserve the status quo for a variety of reasons. I know you don’t agree and that’s fine. But to decry Card as a monster or bigot who is part of a hate group is wrong, in my opinion.
I’m very upset by this article.
If Richard Neal is a homosexual, as I infer from the Facebook quote, and/or some of his employees are homosexuals, then I understand his decision to not stock the book…or any book he feels is demeaning to any of his personal beliefs/ways of life. I support that decision from *anyone*. If a board member of the National Organization of Marriage owned a comic store and didn’t want to stock books they felt supports LGBT marriage, I would support their right to do that, too.
Everyone has opinions and beliefs they hold sacred and can live any way they want as long as they’re not directly causing harm to another. We’re never going to get anywhere by pointing fingers at people and saying their opinions are “shameful.” The battle that needs to be fought is figuring out how we can all live in the same world together. Certainly there is enough room to have comic shops that boycott the works by any author they find to hold horrific beliefs, but there isn’t much room if we pick those beliefs for them.
Nathan Aaron is on the money. Bill Willingham has conservative views and slips in things I find reprehensible. But (beyond being a good writer) he has every right to. Without differing viewpoints the world would be dull and monotonous.
OSC is an activist. When you give him money, you are actively paying into opression.
“It’s like hiring the Ku Klux Klan to rewrite Roots.”
No, it’s really not. The KKK has killed many, many people in its past. That’s not an association they’re pulling away from any time soon. It’s reasonable to assume they still might be killing people. Card and his group likely aren’t killing anyone, they’re just saying and funding things we find objectionable.
“should we be tolerant of bigots that hate….”
Yes, I think we, as a society, should be. I also believe we, as individuals, don’t have to be. If you want to boycott a book you find objectionable or boycot stores you find objectionable, knock yourself out. If you want to run a business and boycott products you find to be made by objectionable people, go for it.
“Because Card has already taken his beliefs to the next level, and is actively trying to enforce his beliefs on others”
Isn’t that the same thing that LGBT activists are doing? Aren’t they also trying to enforce their beliefs on others?
@jonboy: “BTW, it’s pretty good guess that at least one of the other creators on that book is homosexual.”
Why is that a good guess? I’m not familiar with all the names listed on this project, but I don’t recognize any of them as being acknowledged LGBT creators.
“Isn’t that the same thing that LGBT activists are doing? Aren’t they also trying to enforce their beliefs on others?”
No. No.
No it’s not.
Trying to have equal rights is not the same as “forcing your beliefs on others.
Jesus. People with their false equivalencies. Jesus.
DC have been actively trying to court an LGBT audience over the last few months… but have now for some reason decided to give up on that by hiring one
>>
Geez .. I guess it couldn’t be that they really don’t believe in anything ?
“No, it’s really not. The KKK has killed many, many people in its past… Card and his group likely aren’t killing anyone, they’re just saying and funding things we find objectionable. ” – ANYONE who thinks being an active, vocal anti-gay supporter does NOT result in the killing of gays (either by others, or by their own hands) is simply being ignorant. Do you not watch/read the news? It happens all the time, every day. Even today. Sure, it might not be literally by their own hands, but none the less, it is a result of their actions.
I won’t change any viewpoints on here, but what I’ve learned from the past is these types of people are always on the wrong side of history when all is said and done.
jonboy said: “isn’t that the same thing that LBGT activist are doing? aren’t they also trying to enforce their beliefs on others? no, what they are doing is trying to obtain the same marriage rights as hetrosexual married couples have. the LBGT community is not saying you have to marry a person of the same sex, or like the fact that gays and lesbians are getting married. this is about equality, this is about a group of people looking for rights enjoyed by the majority for centuries, this is about a group of people that do not want to hide in the shadows anymore, do not want to be treated like second class citizens because of their sexual orientation. there are still folks out their that are against interracial and interfaith marriages and they can believe that such unions are an act against god all they want, but should those people be given the power to stop such marriages, affecting all those lives, causing all that pain. if not, why are we as a society letting people have that kind of power over the LGBT community?
Well I don’t believe in his views but if DC give in to pressure and fire him I will never buy a DC book again.
It’s typical of liberals that they are outraged at any suggestion of boycotts organised by by groups that hold views they don’t but are quite happy to use those tactics when it suits them.
If we never allowed a platform for those with differing views we would never have the liberal society we have now. After all go back 50 years and it would be the pro-gay lobby views that would be considered shameful.
If we are saying companies should not employ anyone with anti-gay views does that mean Muslims should never be employed? Because all the Muslims I know and work with would be quite happy for gays to be stoned to death. Maybe there are some gay/pro-gay muslims but I’ve never met one yet. All the Muslims I know(and I live in area with a high muslim population) dont hold any view other than its an abomination(this isn’t an anti muslim it’s just the only non-secular people I know are muslims).
A quick aside–Sabin, you say “Bill Willingham has conservative views and slips in things I find reprehensible.” In comics, a liberal writer (99% of comic writers) can’t help but bloviate about every liberal cause under the sun in their fiction. With Conservative writers, most of the time you can’t tell their political persuasion either way, they just write stories. For the life of me, even with my radar up and knowing Willingham is on the fiscally conservative side, I can’t think of a thing in his writing that is overtly conservative or “reprehensible.” And I have followed his writing for almost 30 years. Can you explain that? Just curious.
I don’t agree at all with Card’s views on gay marriage or other political views but I got to admit Ender’s Game was a pretty good book. Ironically, that book also has a fight scene with multiple nude boys in the shower, if my memory serves me correctly.
Glad to see these comments are going SUPER-SWIMMINGLY, you guys!
As a note – please don’t damn other cultures with the idea that “blocking anti-gay writers” means “Muslims would all be blocked”, or etc. To be Muslim isn’t to be anti-gay. As with anything, generalisations get you nowhere. There are plenty of Muslim writers who DON’T think gay people should be stoned on sight!
You know (Nico), it’s ALWAYS the loudest person that usually has the most to hide. It’s been proven time and time again (example: just close your eyes and throw a dart at any conservative Republican who’s been vehemently against gay rights, marriage, etc. They usually end up coming out or caught in a situation sooner or later.) ;)
I think this is getting off track, so let me try to re-rail the train: Can OSC write an award quality Superman story WITHOUT overtones of homophobia? He probably can because he’s a good writer. Whether he WILL or not, is the question – and if he does not, will DC scotch it? We can see – and if we don’t like the product, we don’t buy it. That sends a clear message.
Does OSC have a right to spend his paycheck on what he likes, including his “hate” group? Sure. Just like the rest of us. I don’t have to agree with him, but that’s his money, his time, and his decision. I can deplore it as misdirected, a waste of time and money, and a lot of other things. But it’s not my decision, so I’m wasting my time.
As far as the issue of “rights” – you can’t legislate rights, they’re a given – that’s why they call them “rights” (thank you Ellen Degeneres). But getting recognition for them, making people understand they ARE rights and not “options under the law” is the trick. That’s where the money’s going on both sides. Personally, I’d spend my time and money hunting down sympathetic lawmakers, getting the laws to apply equally, and use the energy that generates hate mail (snail or e-) to assume those rights and hold governments at all levels accountable.
People can’t change other people’s minds, but once in a while, if the discussion is respectful and well-articulated, new ideas and expanded space slip into the brains and begin their work. No instant gratification there, but eventually social stability and respect for everyone. That’s the goal – even if it takes a lifetime.
I think this is getting off track, so let me try to re-rail the train: Can OSC write an award quality Superman story WITHOUT overtones of homophobia? He probably can because he’s a good writer. Whether he WILL or not, is the question – and if he does not, will DC scotch it? We can see – and if we don’t like the product, we don’t buy it. That sends a clear message.
Does OSC have a right to spend his paycheck on what he likes, including his “hate” group? Sure. Just like the rest of us. I don’t have to agree with him, but that’s his money, his time, and his decision. I can deplore it as misdirected, a waste of time and money, and a lot of other things. But it’s not my decision, so I’m wasting my time.
As far as the issue of “rights” – you can’t legislate rights, they’re a given – that’s why they call them “rights” (thank you Ellen Degeneres). But getting recognition for them, making people understand they ARE rights and not “options under the law” is the trick. That’s where the money’s going on both sides. Personally, I’d spend my time and money hunting down sympathetic lawmakers, getting the laws to apply equally, and use the energy that generates hate mail (snail or e-) to assume those rights and hold governments at all levels accountable.
People can’t change other people’s minds, but once in a while, if the discussion is respectful and well-articulated, new ideas and expanded space slip into the brains and begin their work. No instant gratification there, but eventually social stability and respect for everyone. That’s the goal – even if it takes a lifetime.
It is so interesting as I have less and less to do with fandom to watch the way fans twist themselves into pretzels trying to close ranks and justify evil. I just gave a quote in the mainstream press about Ed Kramer and discussed the circling the wagons phenomenon.
A hideous person wants to deny rights to his fellow human beings and fans reply along the lines of “well he’s allowed to “. Sure he is and we are allowed to boycott his work.
I think many of the posters are third graders the way they don’t understand “Freedom of Speech.” It applies only to the government and doesn’t mean freedom FROM speech.
@DaveRichards
My wife and I are Muslims and we believe strongly in equal rights for LGBT people including gay marriage and any other right enjoyed by us. We seem to be in the minority, but we do have many, many Muslims friends and family members who share our beliefs. So, we’re out there…but point taken.
I agree with your point 100%. Only by having respect for one another’s views are we going to get anywhere. My wife and I are an inter-racial couple and we have certainly been subject to some ugliness. But I’m learning fighting fire with fire only leads to destruction.
People should be allowed to boycott whatever they want including any business that associates with me due to my religion and my marriage. In turn, I can boycott any business those people are involved with. Only through tolerance will there ever be peace.
People often get confused on what freedom of speech is as guarenteed in the US Constitution. It means the United States government is not allowed to tell you what you can and can’t say. They do, of course, and, of course, it’s unconstitutional. But our government being run and corrupted by certain power mad groups is a separate discussion from this one.
That said, this Dallas retailer is a private entity, not a government agency or rep, and so their decision to not carry this book on their own moral grounds violates no one’s freedom of speech or expression. Anyone who would force them to carry a product they object to would actually be trampling on this store’s freedoms.
jonboy: LGBT activists want equal rights to marriage. They are not trying to deny heterosexual couples the right to marry, or to force them to marry someone of the same sex. A gay couple having access to equal rights does not deny anyone else of their rights or “enforce their beliefs on others,” just as the right to purchase alcohol in this country does not infringe on the rights of recovering alcoholics.
There are so many talented writers in comics who’d love to write Superman..
There are so many talented writers outside of comics who’d love to write Superman…
And DC picks someone as politically polarizing and controversial as Card?
Stupid strategy. Make your job (sales) easier, not harder.
Look at it this way. OSC might offer DC an opportunity to give Kryptonians their own island of “highly advanced Gays” right there next to “Vathlo”Island.”
Silly But True
I question that, if only because it’s fairly easy to write about a superman in SF. If someone chooses to write about Superman, can he say something about him that hasn’t already been said? How much creative freedom will he have? I’d guess that the number of professional writers who have any interest in writing Superman is pretty small.
It’s possible that DC picked Card because he’s controversial; it’s also possible that Card has something original to say about Superman.
SRS
So what, judge the comic on it’s own merits before you boycott it. how do you know his view are going to be expressed? I roll my eyes once I see/hear the word shame and often say “slow down Jonathan Edwards.”. this is less activism and more rabble-rousing
I Loathe Tyler Perry and his minstrel theater crap he calls film-making, but if i ran a DVD store I would still carry it. Despite it’s abysmal quality and , the church-going Chitlin Circuit theater loving African Americans eat it up. Not carrying a Superman Anthology over one writer is stupid capitalism.
I think the “but the comic won’t have homophobic themes” meme here is missing the point. No one is upset that DC is publishing a homophobic comic book. They’re upset that DC has hired a homophobic individual to represent the company’s (nay, the country’s!) most recognizable symbol of justice, equality, fairness, and rightness.
I’m actually surprised by DC’s comment about personal views being “just” personal views. Many big companies, and I bet DC is one of them, have a “behave yourself in public” clause of the employee handbook. It governs your actions on Facebook, Twitter, and other areas where your personal views could reasonably be confused with the company’s views, even if you say, “These aren’t my company’s views” before it. Some employment litigation actually hinges on these clauses. This is why, to use everyone’s more extreme examples, a company wouldn’t hire someone from the KKK to handle their press relations, etc.
“Orson Scott Card, a pioneer in contemporary homophobia”
This is the best single phrase I have read since this whole thing began.
Wow. What we learned today is that once again, fanboys and trolls will support anyone in the industry/fan genre that they love over a moral or ethical real-life issue. Issues like our evolving ideas of what a free and ethical society is, our social mores, who deserves equal rights and representation, correcting past discrimination, changing our notions of right and wrong- all that is not as important apparently as what sci-fi/fantasy/”x” insular self-interested industry award you receive; that justifies support of an author. I know that I’ll be received with disdain, trolling and retort from those I describe- but I couldn’t and those who see the reality of this problem couldn’t either. You want to disguise your racism, your sexism, your homophobia or whatever else discrimination to the other- backward philosophy- good for you. Have at it and live your life in exclusion. The rest of the society that moves forward- you can settle into the “Archie Bunker”. Yes, you who defend OSC, promoting racial equality, gender equality and GLBT equality IS trying “enforce their beliefs on others “. YES- guess what? Sometimes the ethical or moral belief system has to push back against the belief system that is wrong, unethical, incorrect. In Selma, Alabama- those with a belief system that included equal rights for Blacks had to enforce their beliefs on others who wanted them to do as they were told, not be able to vote or use the same water fountain! Yes,when we come to our collective senses and realize we as a society are doing it wrong- WE CORRECT THE WRONG BEHAVIOR. Women’s suffrage, the right to protest, the right to organize labor, the right to one’s religion, due process, Habeas Corpus- and now it’s about who you love, marry and fuck. If you think that GLBT rights and representation is a non-issue, look back at all the other alleged non-issues and attempt to empathize. History and society has proven it to be just as important.
This business of who writes a Superman story is a tiny ultra-specific battle line. Those who think OSC represents a way of thinking that cannot be endorsed or is harmful VS those who believe that what he believes and pushes has no bearing on whether you support him as an author. Boycott is a major tool in bringing attention to an issue and in the specific, stopping the sanctioning of a behavior or action that we are against. Divestiture has always been a good way to dis-empower those who benefit from their antisocial and destructive behaviors. Apartheid South Africa never really altered their policy until financial divestment was engaged, for example.
It is again too much to ask fanboys(not a gender specific term any longer) to take on a side that while ethical, will get in the way of their idol-worship. That is one of many reasons we in fandom are rejected as foolish and dismissable and infantile. Defense of the indefensible, (in this case- those like OSC who would by their own organizations objectives inhibit the rights of a group and engage in odious tactics to curtail same) is not a virtue.
…Or I suppose the other side of the coin is rounding up all of the homophobes put them on their own Kryptonian island of “highly advanced homophobes.” Again, it will also be right there next to Vathlo Island, further down from the island full of highly advanced latinos and catty corner from the island full of highly advanced Alaskan islanders.
But, then, I suppose the joke’s on us.
Since the most advanced island of all is one that accepts everyone and tolerates all beliefs without demogogery or persecution. Sadly, that’s one that’s not even found in a fiction of infinite universes.
Silly but True
I like the image of a writer drawn as a Las Vegas pickpocket working a Freemont Street crowd as he slips something into your story. That’s not how story-telling works.
DC will give work to whoever they think can make them money. They published Frank Miller’s anti-Muslim propaganda. So why not hire Card?
I am a store manager for a comic book store in West Hollywood, CA. I do all the ordering from previews each and every month. After reading this article I have decide that my store will not be stocking this book ether. I hope DC Comics realizes how much the hiring of Orson Scott Card will hurt them.
Just like with the Chick Fill-A guy, it’s not so much that he believes this shit. I’m sure tons of guys whose work I follow believe that. But the money he makes goes directly to funding hate groups which means the money I spend is going directly to fund his hate groups and I’m just not cool with that.
You know, I used to really like Card. I picked up the original Ender trilogy, FairyTale, the Alvin Maker series, the Homecoming series… a lot of stuff. Enjoyed it all. Didn’t pick up on any objectionable themes or anything like that. The guy is a talented writer.
But it can be hard to separate the artist from the art. A few years ago I found out about Card’s religious & political views and activist work. And it bugged me. A lot.
Now, I don’t intentionally go around investigating people who create the artistic works I consume. But in this case, I found out something I couldn’t stomach. I respect the man as an artist. His talent is undeniable. I still have fond memories of his books… although they’re somewhat tainted now by knowing what sort of worldview he has.
But I can’t support the guy in any way. I won’t buy any of his books. I won’t even borrow his books from a library, as that encourages the library to purchase his works.
I don’t care about the content of the story. NOM is a hate group, Card is a prominent member, and I won’t support anything he does. I dismiss the puerile argument that not tolerating intolerance is another brand of intolerance. His ideas are hideous and dehumanizing, and by hiring him DC not only kicks all non-het persons between the legs, but their employees too. Their response is typical and totally predictable, as are the fanboys and girls doing “free speech” backflips to devil’s advocate. I AM A GAY MAN, I consider him harmful in the extreme.
Did OSC get this much of a reaction, when he was writing Ultimate Iron Man and his Enders Game comics at Marvel?
wall of text
gay
@joey
Maybe DC is hoping to pick up new readers from the same crowds that swarmed to support Chik-Fil-A.
What’s the name of your store, Santiago? If we follow up to this piece, I’ll be sure to include a link to your site
“You’re all welcome to say what you like in the comments, but I will be watching them. If anybody posts lies or abuse, their comments will be deleted. I RESERVE OBLITERATION RIGHTS’
Why do more news items on The Beat begin the comments with messages like this? Are you afraid of someone disagreeing with you?
Political topics tend to bring about more aggressive comments. Consider it a pre-emptive strike to make sure nobody takes things too far.
A lot of straw arguments, and straw comparisons here. He’s entitled to a different opinion, and entitled to support whatever causes he wishes. I obviously disagree with Card’s views, but he has a right to them, and LGBT backlash is hypocritical and over the top (like you queens know we can be) “He doesn’t like us, make him suffer! Make him unable to work so he dies of starvation!” And yes that is what you are saying, after all what happens if a person can’t work? Your actions are worse than his, at least he still thinks you should be able to work without harassment. Remember the word “Tolerance”? We asked for it but refuse to give it?
Card LAWL.
When you look at all these comments, you see why DC hired him. DC will get plenty of free publicity and maybe a net sales increase from civilians to see what this is all about.
Billy Joel once said that the people who paid for his tickets didn’t want to know what his political views were, nor did they want him to tell him who to vote for. They just wanted to be entertained.
I wish some of the more vociferous comics creators out there would take a cue from the Piano Man.
*them
by the way a marriage should only be between a man and a woman like superman and wonderwoman not the hulk and the thing
this is gay
I’m torn as I remember Card as a pretty cool writer from OMNI magazine back in the day, but also because on the whole gay people are pretty cool and seeing them getting married and stuff is kind of an equal rights issue. That said, I think Card should be able to support whatever group he wants and his list of awards suggests he can be a pretty good writer when he wants to be. Ideally both parties would get what they want – Card writes an awesome Superman book and all the poofters get to marry whoever they want to. Such conundrums here.
Mr. Morris,
wow, haven’t heard “homophob” bandied about since the ninties. I see how tolerance works for you: Label, attack, denigrate and deny basic rights to anyone who disagrees with you or whom you find offensive in their beliefs. Tolerance is by definition being able to live with those who you disagreee with. You are asking the non gay communitty or the religious right or whomever that they tolerate homosexual lifestyles and in fact demand it, yet you are not willing to operate under the same ethics. Imagine of a writer were being boycotted for being gay? I support OSC in believing whatever he wants. I will be buying TWO of the series just to fight “big brother.”
will read superman if moar butt secks involved
I’ve been alive long enough that right-wing intolerance no longer shocks me when it comes from comics people or science fiction people. So Card’s comments, while disgusting, are not surprising. I’ve gotten used to fans drooling over the military culture of “Star Trek” and the worship of wealthy businessmen in books by Ayn Rand and Robert A. Heinlein.
speak your mind ,but if they don’t like it they will delete it
The Gay groups has taken over DC Comics. They now are purging their ranks of any non-believers. The Gay pressure groups are more hateful than any conservative groups. You never heard conservatives demanding Frank Miller or John Byrne be fired for their personal beliefs. These Gay groups are going to destroy DC Comics by alienating children and traditional families. I stopped buying DC Comics about 2 years ago after 40 years of collecting because of the pro-Gay DC Comics policy. The post by ABC is totally wrong. No one is against gay people, just people who choose to use that as a weapon against others. Being Gay is a choice, and you can’t expect everyone to support your choice. You can expect respect, but not endorsement. You should worry more about if the author of a Superman story is creative, than his personal beliefs. What next, no Christians or Republicans can write, draw, or work at the printing presses at DC?
Being gay isn’t a choice, Joe!
“You never heard conservatives demanding Frank Miller or John Byrne be fired for their personal beliefs.”
Of course not. Miller and Byrne’s personal beliefs ARE conservative — and Miller seems to have moved to the right of Limbaugh and Beck, based on some of his comments over the last few years.
I count at least 15 in this thread that refuse to buy his comic because “his opinion is different than mine, so therefore he is a ______” (feel free to insert your own degrading label here)
meh, looks like i will be buying 14 more of this issue and just handing them out to whomever wants to read a great story.
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