boyajian@akov68.DEC (04/12/84)
Mr. Martillo, If I didn't know what people are capable of, I'm not sure that I could believe that this is serious! Most of what I would have to say in response has already been said by others (mostly by Jeff Meyer -- thank you, Jeff), though I would like to add to or expand upon those points. (1) I think you overestimate the depth of examination on Marvel's part of Japan- ese or Amerind culture. Both are superficial at best, and the case can be made that the inclusion of Amerinds and Orientals (and Hispanics and Blacks, for that matter) is, in most cases, token "lip service". Hell, Jews should count them- selves *lucky* -- I don't think I've ever run across an Armenian character in any comic at all! (Except for the "Fighting Armenian" strip in Warren's EERIE, and the less said about that, the better...) Furthermore, what treatments Marvel exhibits of Amerind troubles and Japanese culture are purely band-wagon attitudes. The Wounded Knee business of a decade ago was what brought the red man's plight to public attention, and most media took advantage of it to show how "in tune with the times" they were (I could easily come up with a list of at least half-a-dozen "Red Man's Plight" songs from the last 10 years, for example). Likewise, despite such storylines as Claremont's "Daughters of the Dragon" or Goodwin/Simonson's MANHUNTER from the mid-70's, it was Clavell's SHOGUN (and especially the tv mini-series adapted from it) that spawned the current wave of "Nippophilia". I'm sure that Marvel has less interest in Japanese culture than they do capitalizing on current fads. <FLAME ON> (2) I regret that I have to stoop so low as to toss epithets about, but your comment "After the Holocaust, it is simply disgusting for any Jew... to assimi- late into any Western culture" strikes me as being the worst type of elitist, snobbish, rascist attitude that one can possibly have. Pardon me, Massah, if we po' Westerners jes' ain't good enough to 'ssociate with you. <FLAME OFF> Seriously, though, has it occurred to you that some Jews might just not give a shit in the springtime about Judaic heritage or culture? My ancestry (on my father's side) is Armenian, and I am the only one in my extended family who cares not a whit for Armenian culture or speaks not the language (I know the Armenian words for dog, cat, mouse, yoghurt, and "How are you?", and that's all) As far as I am concerned, I'm American, not Armenian, and as such, I involve my- self in American culture, not Armenian culture. Is this wrong? I respect the desire on others' parts to preserve their heritage, but they should also respect my desire to give precedence to *my* culture, not my grandparents' culture. I know *many* Jews who feel the same way. But let's bring this back to a discussion of Marvel comics plotlines. (a) Could it be that Bernie Rosenthal appreciates that Cap fought the persecut- ors of her people *personally*, in the line of battle, just so that Jews (among others) would have the freedom to live as they wished, and feels that to demand why he didn't do more would be cretinous? Could it be that she'd rather think about how positive her life is now with someone she loves than how negative things were in Nazi Germany? As abhorent as you may find the prospect, some people *would* rather put the Holocaust behind them and forget it. <note bene: I do not currently read CAPTAIN AMERICA, so I really have no idea what thoughts or attitudes are actually expressed by the characters.> (b) What is so offensive about Cap getting Bernie's parents to sing "Silent Night"? There are some friends of mine in Minneapolis who like to go out carol- ing at Christmastime. Some are Christian (in one sense or another of the word), though just as many are Jewish, or atheist, or agnostic. Singing songs about Jesus Christ doesn't have to compromise one's own beliefs; the spirit of the songs -- "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men" is what most people get out of them. (c) "Professor Xavier while in Israel after WWII (of the X-Men) [WWII of the X-Men?] took advantage of the confused mental state of a Jewish woman survivor of the death camps and got her pregnant." Now wait just a cotton-pickin' minute! You have absolutely no evidence to support that statement and are just seeing what you want to see. Yes, Gabrielle Haller went through a traumatic experience and fell into a "confused mental state". Yes, Xavier (with Magnus appearing to be a rival) romanced her. Yes, we find out in an early issue of THE NEW MUTANTS that she has a son by Xavier. But those facts are *all* that we know, everything else is pure speculation on your part. First, you assume that she got pregnant at the time in which the flashback story took place. There's no evidence that suggests this. Xavier could just as well have returned to Israel years later and impregnated her then (actually, come to think of it, if their son is 20 years old or less -- since there has been talk of him joining the Newties, this seems likely -- then Gabrielle couldn't have gotten pregnant just after WWII) (But then, I don't think that story took place just after WWII anyways; I'll have to re-read it). Secondly, she obviously recovered from her trauma, since she was in full possession of her faculties when she met with Moira MacTaggert. Why didn't it occur to you that she was fully recovered when Xavier done the deed? Ah, but that would ruin your theory, wouldn't it? I'm am not unsympathetic towards Jews, or any other ethnic group, but I certain- ly am not going to sit and let you toss out wild and unsupported accusations. You can only belittle your cause by doing so. --- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC Maynard) UUCP: (decvax!decwrl!rhea!akov68!boyajian) ARPA: (decwrl!rhea!akov68!boyajian@Shasta)