The Politics Of Gene Wolfe

Rebecca Bushong-Taylor · 03 Jul 2010, 06:18 · from 2010-July.txt.gz

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From: rebeccabt01 at gmail.com (Rebecca Bushong-Taylor)
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 02:18:56 -0400
Subject: (urth) The Politics Of Gene Wolfe
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTim8ZKVCepguaT4uYM3NQ2aufFrFg3CnVtI4jv4G at mail.gmail.com>
References: <SNT123-W35B8EE0DB157A30F9FC3C8CFCE0 at phx.gbl>
	<AANLkTim8ZKVCepguaT4uYM3NQ2aufFrFg3CnVtI4jv4G at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTilL_gi8DxRMJwbz-kXp5YwXH9E3LVIw647BjGTn at mail.gmail.com>

"Of course, weapons may just be used for dramatic effect.   However, our
author seems to believe that weapons can be used for good as well as evil.
No blanket condemnation of lethal force and lethal instruments."


I believe this is true.  Gene has told me that when they were younger, he
and Rosemary would regularly practice throwing knives, in part as a way to
keep the kids respectfully in line.  He strongly encouraged me to take it
up.

I'm less sure about his thoughts regarding other forms of weaponry....


Rebecca

On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 2:30 PM, Jack Smith <jack.smith.1946 at gmail.com>wrote:

> Whatever views we readers may hold regarding the 2nd amendment, it appears
> that our author likes to arm his characters.
>
> 1.  Severian openly carries his sword on Urth.  Dr Talos carries a
> concealed one.
> 2.  Silk, the best man on the Whorl, uses many weapons.
> 3.  In the ancient world, Latro and his companions are armed.
> 4.  Guns frequently appear in Wolfe's contemporary American settings, like
> *Castleview *and F*ree Live Free.*
> *
> *
> *Of course, weapons may just be used for dramatic effect.   However, our
> author seems to believe that weapons can be used for good as well as evil.
> No blanket condemnation of lethal force and lethal instruments.*
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *\\
> *
>
> On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 1:38 PM, Lee Berman <severiansola at hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> >>> The intent of the second amendment is to allow the citizenry to more
>> >>> readily defend themselves against the government, when this becomes
>> >>> necessary, as it inevitably does.
>>
>> There is a classic A.E. Van Vogt story called The Weapon Shop which
>> addresses
>> this issue using that interpretation.
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weapon_Shop
>> Great pulp SF story. I loved it.
>>
>> And didn't Gene Wolfe mention Van Vogt in Fifth Head of Cerberus? I bet he
>> has
>> read that story.
>>
>> Anyway, the wording of the Second Amendment is-
>>
>> >"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free
>> State,
>> >the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
>>
>> To me this wording suggests an interpretation counter to the standard
>> Libertarian view which seems to focus on the word "free" and ignores the
>> other
>> 26 words. Bearing arms would seem to be meant for the defense of the state
>> not
>> to attack the state or defend against it. A "well regulated militia"
>> sounds like
>> a state organized function to me not some sort of individual defense
>> against
>> the state or lawless brigands or wild animals.
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>
>
>
> --
> Best wishes,
> Jack
>
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