From: Robert Micallef <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: starship troopers
>> A corollary theme is that only veterans should be allowed
>> to vote because they are the only ones who have learned to
>> put the good of the whole before the good of the individual
>> (which, RAH is careful to point out, is not the same thing
>> as communism).
> I�ve been wondering about that theme myself. Do any of our
> RAH scholars know if he may have been inspired by Plato�s
> Republic?
> Robert
Apologizing to the author of the original posting, but I thought what
follows through only now. Following Heinlein, voters (or the right/duty of
taking decisions concerning all�s welfare) should be those who put the
welfare of all before their own. Fine with me; it makes quite a lot of sense.
However, I fail to see the logic behind the identification of these people
with the Army/Navy veterans. Yes, sure, they have proved with their risking
(and in many cases also their actual suffering) death and injuries the
sincerity (sic!) of their motivation. But what stops those people from
taking power and preserving democratic institutions after getting in
command? History has often proven that many - if not most - military
governments are the most antidemocratic ones. What does the list think?
(Already hearing Ms. Stumbaugh�s stern killing on this thread...)
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From: �Duke Whedbee� <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Re: starship troopers
> When you say twenty minutes of interesting film you are
> probably right at least in currrent �SciFi� {god I hate that
> phrase and what it represents...comic books} The book was
> more about the philosophy behind patriotism and discipline
> than shooting bugs. Hard to put all of that into
> monosyllables that the public has become used to.
I wonder how much movies on Vietnam, like �Platoon�, �Full Metal Jacket�
and such, have grossed at the box. Sure, �Platoon� and �Star Wars� can be
both called �war� movies and/or �adventure� movies. But how different in
aim, and purpose, and philosophy.
Hmm, Duke? �Platoon� and �Full Metal Jacket� DO show that you can bring
war philosophy on the big screen. In my opinion.
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From: Carl Swindlehurst CSWINDLE - GBVSEL00 <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Intro & Mars Fiction
> This is part intro and part reply,
Fine with me! Welcome, though. <G>
> I�m Carl Swindlehurst from Barrow, North England and am
> fairly new to SF-Lit. Its good to see other ideas and
> opinions and to find out about other areas of SF. Since
> subscribing I�ve just tried my first Darkover book. Even so
> I feel slightly inadequate not being a big fan of RAH !!
Officially we have only one RAH fan, that is our fellow Ben Bjostad.
<wink> It�s just that �Starship Trooper��s trailers are the rage of the
moment. They haven�t yet hit Italy - or at least I wasn�t watching TV when
they were shown. And now I�m more or less bound to see the movie. (Dread!)
As I am with �The Lost World� (Dread! Dread!) and with the Foundation movie
(Dread! Dread! Dread!).
> My personal heros are :- Michael Moorcock
> Roger Zelazny
> Gene Wolfe
> Tad Williams
> Poul Anderson
Then we�re two, Carl, in appreciating Poul Anderson. He and Clifford Simak
are two of those authors that misteriously aren�t dealt with on this
list... But don�t ask me for the reason why.
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From: Edward James <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: starship troopers
> Well, that is what you wrote. Do you mean it? That a film is
> not going to be interesting unless there is a lot of action
> in it, and more than two battle scenes? It seems to me that
> is _exactly_ the problem with science fiction movies that
> come out of Hollywood (or anywhere else, for than matter).
> Why can�t we have sf movies that do _not_ involve large-
>scale slaughter?
Star Wars heredity would be my gut reaction. Or the fact that most Sci-fi
movies coming out of Hollywood and somewhere else are aimed to kids and
teens (?) and it is felt that they�re in for blood and gore and such...
Nicola
[log in to unmask]
The fly heeds not death; eating is all to him. (African - Yoruba)
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