I don't mind if you tell me I'm out of line here, but - Edit 1
Before modification by nossy at 01/02/2012 12:24:52 AM
As for Tolkien, are his views any different than how many of us (or our family/friends) are when it comes to someone of a different ethnic/social background? That's the real issue, I suspect and I would answer "Not really." I have my own race/class-based prejudices to work on, so why is there such defensiveness when it comes to the fact that an author made some comments and wrote some characters that current readers may find to be objectionable? Best to work on removing those specks from our eyes, I think.
I really have only one question. If we're saying that we can see how some would find it racist/sexist (even having an interesting conversation on the various degrees of personal agreement or disagreement), and one of us is even devil's advocating for just that side, which specks would those be, precisely?
I suppose maybe I'm not allowed to comment on it, since I can be properly racist while she cannot.
(I'm not trying to be snarky, but I don't think you understand just how far this person has gotten under my skin. It's not about Tolkien, though I obviously have opinions there as well. It's about how racism does exist and how people OF ALL COLORS are working to change that. If anybody can work to help and try to illuminate the masses, we should all be able to be part of the conversation. I feel very strongly that the kind of crap that writer was spouting damages exactly what she might say she's trying to foster. As it is, I get the really strong vibe that she's fostering nothing but her own opinion of herself.)
edit for clarification again: I'm talking primarily about her twitter conversation, not only her blog entry about Tolkien.