I think a lot about someone like Heinlein throwing out a piece of dialogue like "What do you know about civilians?" "I know we don't speak the same language" like it was something to be proud of
-
-
Replying to @arthur_affect @Nymphomachy
The thing is, even taking his fascist tract in Starship Troopers on its own terms as much as possible, focusing as much as possible on what he thinks is positive about it, it's repulsive The idea that you shouldn't get to vote if you don't have your shit together
1 reply 2 retweets 26 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @Nymphomachy
Fuck you man, as a lazy slob and a member of the Lazy Slob Caucus I *do* intend to vote to make society more conducive to lazy slobs and people who oppose that can go eat shit The right to be a lazy slob should be in the Constitution
1 reply 1 retweet 39 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @Nymphomachy
I'm going to defend ST this far -- though no farther. 1. People who've served in the military say it does a good job of capturing the camaraderie of a military unit. 2. I will give him credit for allowing other service than military to count toward citizenship. But still, oof.
1 reply 1 retweet 5 likes -
Replying to @jkfecke @Nymphomachy
Point 2) is a dishonest point people bring up to try to defend the book, in the text as written it's very clear that you must join *the military* in order to vote, even if it's not in a combat specialization
4 replies 2 retweets 11 likes -
Profoundly ableist, too - it's made very clear that anyone without militarily useful abilities will be sent to dangerous weapons testing.
1 reply 2 retweets 14 likes -
Yes, what Heinlein was actually referencing was stuff the military did with conscientious objectors irl during WWII, like testing vaccines He makes it very clear he considers it the whole point you have to risk death for your country to really be part of it
6 replies 2 retweets 19 likes -
Despite the fact that any real-life military will depend on a vast array of REMFs, who have very safe jobs with good health insurance...
1 reply 1 retweet 1 like -
One of the ways his military would fall apart immediately is that it's absolutely expected that generals would not just be on the front lines, but actively engaged in the battle at all times. And I get that idea in theory, but in practice, it's Stalinesque.
2 replies 1 retweet 2 likes -
It's literally a major plot point that there's a general in the war with the Bugs who made a horrible strategic error that got tons of human troops killed, but the general died along with them because he was expected to lead from the front And therefore it's not an injustice
1 reply 2 retweets 11 likes
And Rico gets mad at civilians talking shit about him because they don't understand, they don't get to make judgments like that, real soldiers know better than to second-guess people who have to make tough decisions and Pay the Ultimate Price when they're wrong Shit like that
-
-
Replying to @arthur_affect @jkfecke and
I am endlessly fascinated by Starship Troopers. Dunno about anyone else, but I find it very compelling the way the H&MP teacher lays out his case. Then I have to stop and think about it for a moment to remember that it’s fascism.
2 replies 0 retweets 2 likes -
Replying to @Anusien @arthur_affect and
Especially when you remember that the whole thesis is that veterans are better suited to vote because they’ve put country over self. Except explicitly Rico doesn’t enlist or stay for any kind of patriotic reasons.
0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.