Not cool

When the book club met early this year to discuss Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, the topic of OSC's homophobic remarks came up. During that time, I felt that I didn't want to railroad the discussion and steer it away from the book, which I still feel is an enjoyable sci-fi novel. And during that time, I had no strong feelings toward OSC's remarks. I remember saying to my book club friends that we have far greater problems to deal with than this ridiculous person's remarks—world hunger, climate change, and global armed conflict.

Now I take it all back. I realize that these "bigger" problems are never going away, and they shouldn't be made an excuse to not address other issues that may be equally as relevant. If people continue to have the same attitude as I did (i.e., indifference), then people who are deeply bigoted would already have won. We should not let that happen. Ever.

So no, I am not cool with OSC's homophobic remarks. It's one thing to say what you feel. Feelings are amoral; they're neither right nor wrong, yes? But to actively promote and encourage a culture of hate and bigotry is another thing. It's just plain wrong and reeks of misplaced entitlement. Let's admit that OSC can be likened to a brand and, like a brand, has the capacity to influence people. What's worse is that OSC may already have had. I shudder to think of the repercussions.

Ignorance would've been bliss in this case. If I hadn't known what an a**hole OSC really is, I would've continued to read the rest of the Ender saga. But knowing makes us wiser and lets us act accordingly. Thus, I have no plans of getting near any of OSC's books. Nor am I watching the movie. In my own small way, no matter how a cliche it might be, I will wave the rainbow flag to his face.

It's a good thing that there are other sci-fi writers around, who are even better than OSC, that I can turn to when I need a genre fix. John Scalzi is one, and he seems to be a good guy with the causes he fights for.

The tide's turning. People are becoming more accepting and less hateful. More and more governments are now broadening their marriage laws. There are so many good things to look forward to—a time when one's sexual orientation is irrelevant, and people who choose to remain a**holes live in places where the sun doesn't shine.

I hope. I stand up. I smile. I can't help it—seeing the rainbow makes me happy.