Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 19:35:30 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: Colleen Cahill <ccah at earthlink.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: FW: Lee Strong
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

I agree with Lee that Republicans are made to feel unwelcome by some at the
meetings.  There have also been times when I have heard statements made
about certain religious groups, especially Christians, that are
negative.  It would be good to remember we are a group made up of many
views and tolerance for all of them is a good policy.  If you give respect,
you get respect.

And Lee, I always try to force people to talk about science fiction and
fantasy.  Alas, I do not attend many Va. meetings as I crawl out of bed at
4:30am most mornings.  But it is not impossible if you find the right
people:  I hope I can chat about books with you soon.

Colleen

At 04:09 PM 10/19/2004, you wrote:

> >  -----Original Message-----
> > From:         Strong, Lee
> > Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 4:42 PM
> > To:   'wsfa0410b at keithlynch.net'
> > Cc:   Strong, Lee
> > Subject: [WSFA]      Lee Strong
> >
> >       On 12 October 2004, Keith Lynch noted that Lee Strong had not
> > participated in a WSFA activity since April 2004.  I delayed responding
> > because I wanted to see if anyone else had a comment, and to take some
> > time to compose my reply.
> >       The bottom line is that I no longer feel welcome in WSFA.
> >       There are several reasons for this.  Leaving aside a number of
> > contributing factors that WSFA and WSFAns have no control over, there are
> > two major reasons for feeling unwelcome.
> >       First, I am not a fan.  I come to a **science fiction association**
> > for the purpose of enjoying **science fiction**.  As a practical matter,
> > fandom's chief activities are gossiping about oneself and other fans,
> > drinking beer, and engaging in cheap sex.  I enjoy a certain amount of
> > gossip, but not an exclusive diet of it.  I seldom drink alcohol, and I
> > seek sex that's priceless rather than cheap.  So,  the emotional rewards
> > of fandom are considerably less for me than for others.
> >       Second, and more importantly, WSFA is a very hostile environment for
> > a Republican.  On 16 April 2004, the club applauded Madeleine Yeh's
> > symbolic decapitation of Attorney General John Ashcroft specifically and
> > Republicans generally.  Subsequently, Madeleine offered a symbolic
> > decapitation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield and invoked
> > malevolent occult forces against George W. Bush.  Eric Jablow was the only
> > person who objected.  Subsequently, Barry Newton offered for sale bumper
> > stickers repeating the myth that George Bush lost the 2000 Presidential
> > Election and Steve Smith repeated the myth that George Bush is mentally
> > ill.  These things are in the official club records.  These statements and
> > actions, together with many similar statements and actions sustained by
> > WSFAns and other members of the fannish community over many years, create
> > an obviously hostile environment for people who vote Republican or who
> > favor effective and constitutional legal and military action against
> > terrorists.
> >       Accordingly, I have not participated in WSFA activities since April
> > 2004.

Colleen R. Cahill
ccah at earthlink.net
Librarian by Profession, Reviewer by Avocation, Reader by Addiction