At 11:43 PM 11/13/00 -0400, Gord wrote:
>[as a small side note, and not this is not an attack, but a question of my
>own curiosity: I'm surprised you actually read SF, John. How is it that you
>enjoy reading literature that fundamentally confronts you with the "other"
>and with the transience and inevitable erosion of what it seems is
>everything you value as a conservative? That is something I've scratched my
>head about several times but never gotten to the point of asking. Honestly
>I am curious!]
I guess that people see in science fiction what they want to see.
First of all, I take strong exception to the idea that I wouldn't like
being confronted with "the other." I'd like to think that I have
consistently sought out "the other" in my life, from reading _National
Geographic_ to becoming an avid player in Model U.N. (where not only do I
have to learn about foreigners, but actually have to *become* a foreigner
as much as possible, be it a communist, a Muslim, or a Canadian.)
Secondly, I don't have the first clue as to what you mean by "the
transience and inevitable erosion of what it seems is everything you value
as a conservative", so I will live that without comment.
Suffice to say, though, that I am overwhelming concerned with "The Big
Picture." That's why I went to work for the US Government, despite my
conservative politics. I just can't find much joy in earning money in
private business for the sake of earning money. I want to do something
that will benefit my civilization. In other words, I feel a strong calling
to public service. By the same token, it is science fiction that explores
the issues of not just individuals, but of concerns that face out entire
civilization.
JDG
_______________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
"Now is not the Time for Third Chances,
It is a Time for New Beginnings."
- George W. Bush 8/3/00
******************VOTE BUSH / CHENEY 2000 *******************
