On The Bibliophile Stalker
Without making any comments on The Bibliophile Stalker's post, the open letter to him, and his response to that open letter (because I've already emailed him my opinions on the matter, and that's a private exchange between him and I), I would like to remind folks of the work he has done over such a long span of time via his blog and those other sites he contributes to, and how he has worked so hard to share his thoughts and ideas on publishing (print as well as digital), and how he has promoted not just speculative fiction in general, not just reading, and writing, but speculative fiction by all writers, no matter their backgrounds. He has been a champion for fiction and openness in the same for such a long time, that I believe we mustn't lose sight of what he has done over the years to help and promote speculative fiction from around the world. All that he has done over this span of time counts for something quite substantial, in my book.
posted by pgenrestories at 10:56 PM
4 Comments:
Thanks Kenneth.
But when it comes to the discussion, my previous credentials are irrelevant. People are free to call me on what they perceive as an error as long as they can back up their argument.
Hey, Stalker.
I agree that your previous credentials are irrelevant when just that blog entry is being discussed (and for the most part, only the issues in the blog entry have been discussed).
What I disagree with are the other statements that judge you as a whole based solely on that blog entry, without taking into account that your actions and work on your blog and other sites speak volumes about where you stand with regard to speculative fiction and those who write/read speculative fiction.
Yes, perhaps that entry wasn't you at your best, but if actions speak louder than words, then the volume of work you have done over the years promoting spec fic by writers of all kinds, and readers of all kinds, should be taken into consideration also, even in light of what you have written. It would be unfair to judge you, as those few in the minority have, based on one blog entry, without also mentioning how "The Bibliophile Stalker" blog has been a valuable resource for spec fic readers and writers the world over.
Kung baga, hinusga ka ng buo ng mga ilan sa menorya base lang sa sinulat mo noong mga nakaraang araw, at sinasabi na nila na ikaw ay "ganito" o ikaw ay "ganoon", at 'di ka na nila rinerespeto, babasahin, o susundan, pero 'di naman nila binibigyang konsiderasyon o atensyon ang mas marami mong nagawang mabuti sa mga nakaraan mong blog entry. 'di naman ata balanse 'yan; 'di naman ata tama. Kaya ayun, napasulat ako ng ganitong blog entry. Kasi kung naiirita sila sa mga sinulat mo, naiirita din ako sa kanila sa kalawakang paghusga sa iyo na di naman nila pinapansin ang mga ginawa mo dati.
Pasensya na, pero sige, huling hirit ko na ito para tapos na. Sabagay, ayoko ding makigulo at makisawsaw sa paikot-ikot na diskusyon nila. Sa tingin ko, medyo walang panalo diyan.
In reference to the open letter,
*Heart of Darkness* is not only about the heart of a dark continent but also the heart of a dark European heart. That is why Marlowe refers to the Thames in the same way as the Congo river. There are more examples.
*Things Fall Apart* is not about the British people but the Igbo. The major irony in the story can be seen at the end, when Okonkwo discovers that the women and children of the tribe who are ruled by a paternalistic society become teachers and civil servants in a British-ruled colonial system, with the Igbo men now powerless. The novel is part of a trilogy where the hero's grandson tries to adapt to Western cultures.
In many ways, both examples actually support Charles' views.
Hi, Anonymous.
I appreciate what you shared here, but this entry of mine may not be the most appropriate one to share your views. I privately emailed my own opinions about Charles Tan's "No Foreigners Allowed" essay directly to him, of which the only public comment I made about it is saying that he wasn't exactly at his best in that post (which may give you a hint as to what my email contained). This entry of mine is mostly about the minority who have passed hasty judgment and generalizations on Tan based solely on this entry of his, without balancing their views by taking into account the work he has done over the years.
Since you're commenting directly about the open letter, it may be best to copy-and-paste your thoughts in the comment section there, to share with others who are discussing that entry. The link is in my own blog post.
You may also want to read ephemere's entry answering Tan's essay, which gives a solid opinion from the viewpoint of someone who lives in this country:
http://ephemere.dreamwidth.org/6827.html
Having said that, my thanks to you for taking the time to share your thoughts here. Regards, and there's no need to be anonymous; do leave your name next time you leave a comment so that readers here can put at least a name to your opinions. Thanks again.
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