Dysart's political soapbox grows wearisome.

[jmatt]

In this issue, he takes the opportunity to call Donald Rumsfeld a d-bag.

Meanwhile, Obama's waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan, unlimited drone warfare in Pakistan (I don't recall him begging the UN for permission), he's murdering US citizens (and their children) without trial in Yemen and declaring that henceforth this is his right, death squads hunting down Kony in Uganda, it's bombs away in Somalia and regime change and cruise missile attacks in Libya. Oh, no civilian trials for terrorists and Guantanamo still open.

But Dysart has to reach back 7 years into the past to find a bogeyman he can call a d-bag. Why? Because we will not sully the record of Dear Leader! His wars and murder are just and honorable! That's why you don't see war protests anymore.

See, Dysart doesn't hate war, he hates Republicans.
Obama's wars = No comment
Bush war = D-bag

Btw, if Kris is 17 that means she was 5 when Rumsfeld took office. I don't know about you but when I was 5 I wasn't reading the newspaper and thinking to myself "Boy, our Secretary of Defense is a real d-bag". So, not only do I not have an opinion about the Sec of Defense in 1969, I don't even know who it was. But Kris does. And she has a strong opinion about him. Weird.

Dysart is so intent on on letting us know how much he hates people that want to keep the money they earn that he's willing to imbue his characters with unrealistic perspectives. It's pretty childish. Just be a good writer and leave your soapbox at home. We all have political opinions and yours are nothing special.

[BugsySig]

He made it such a point that I don't even remember reading it. But if Kris said it, then it is consistent with her characterization from the previous issue. There are not a lot of 17 year olds who would have been reading the books she had in her bedroom, so no surprise if she knows who Donald Rumsfeld is.

Unfortunately this country has become increasingly polarized over the past decade. To the point that neither "side" can seem to tolerate the opinions of the other. Is Kris calling Rumsfeld a d-bag any different from you calling Obama "Dear Leader" (a comment that is mocking of Democrats and Obama supporters)?

I'm pretty sure this country's international policies of interference and heavy handedness have barely changed since Truman was in office, regardless of party affiliation. The only difference is how it's reported by the media, and that Repulicans flaunt it and Democrats try to ignore it.

So let's put aside our differences, leave Mr. Dysart alone, and just agree that all politicians are d-bags.

[pixierosa]

He made it such a point that I don't even remember reading it. But if Kris said it, then it is consistent with her characterization from the previous issue. There are not a lot of 17 year olds who would have been reading the books she had in her bedroom, so no surprise if she knows who Donald Rumsfeld is.

Unfortunately this country has become increasingly polarized over the past decade. To the point that neither "side" can seem to tolerate the opinions of the other. Is Kris calling Rumsfeld a d-bag any different from you calling Obama "Dear Leader" (a comment that is mocking of Democrats and Obama supporters)?

I'm pretty sure this country's international policies of interference and heavy handedness have barely changed since Truman was in office, regardless of party affiliation. The only difference is how it's reported by the media, and that Repulicans flaunt it and Democrats try to ignore it.

So let's put aside our differences, leave Mr. Dysart alone, and just agree that all politicians are d-bags.

[jmatt]

Is Kris calling Rumsfeld a d-bag any different from you calling Obama "Dear Leader" (a comment that is mocking of Democrats and Obama supporters)?

Setting aside that calling someone a d-bag is significantly more offensive than referring to a politician by a derisive nicname, yes. The difference, of course, is that I'm not being paid to write something that will be read by 20,000 people with the intent of entertaining them without offending them. Dysart has no such excuse.

So let's put aside our differences, leave Mr. Dysart alone, and just agree that all politicians are d-bags.

I'll stop commenting on Dysart's political opinions when he stops putting them in comic books. And seriously, beating up on Rumsfeld is sooo 2005. Dysart has nothing to say about the death and destruction under the Obama regime for the last four years? Convenient.

[greg]

Kris has nothing to say about it.

Big difference.

I think Dysart's writing is clearly too divisive for at least one reader. I'm sure he's shaking in his Birkenstocks that one person might stop reading.

If we're not trying to please all of the people all of the time, what good are we?

It always cracks me up when people try to 'rally the crowd' for a cause they are basically fighting alone... and for which no one wants to join, even after they hear the details.

[MarkRoseHFX]

I still don't see how presenting one character's viewpoint is a political soapbox.

[Elveen]

I still don't see how presenting one character's viewpoint is a political soapbox.

IMO, it is not. A book like Ex machina does have a political perspective. Harbinger has characters that have varied real life political and social perspectives.

But I do not mind jmatt posting what he posts, he can have his opinions. I don't agree, but whatever.

[SnotDrip]

odd...Could have sworn there were more posts in this thread .

[pixierosa]

I'm going to put this right here


Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. You might note my own subversive use of the rebellion symbol. You are correct that I am indeed pushing my agenda against the Empire.

As a writer, I need the freedom to write a character with the personality traits that I wish, whether or not they are in accordance with part of my potential audience. There is absolutely no creativity in writing to appease someone. All writing needs conflict, and it doesn't necessarily have to be of the argumentative or danger type.

I love Kris, but not because of her politics. I'm also not fond of those ghost world glasses. Still love the character.

I think you're over-reacting somewhat JMatt. Mountains out of molehills. You don't have to like Kris. Personally, I couldn't stand the original Torque and am hoping the new one isn't as big as a *SQUEE*. Will I still read? yep. I just don't have to like him. The story isn't a personal attack against you, but we can see that it does cause personal affront. I wouldn't worry about Kris' reading predilications causing someone to sway their own political opinions. As Facebook proved during the recent election, people are too busy spewing their own rhetoric to listen to anyone else's. Ultimately, it's your choice to read the book or not.

If you move beyond the political issues that concern you, you may find Dysart's writing to be excellent storytelling. I know I do.

[FormerReader]

I think the only thing that needs to be said has already been said, but needs to be quoted just to reinforce what we all know.

, and just agree that all politicians are d-bags.

[jmatt]

I'm just giving Dysart what he wants. It is every writer's wet dream to see people talk about stuff they wrote, even disagreement. He is nodding his head right now as he reads this.

Look, he doesn't put it in there because he doesn't want to needle people politically. He wants people to cluck about how smart and clever he is, and how much they agree with him. But he'll settle for disagreement too.

And that's fine. My post didn't have all caps, no multiple exclamation marks and I didn't use profanity except when quoting his own words back at him. Nor did I threaten to stop reading the book.

He wanted to provoke a reaction and I gave it to him. I don't write Kris' dialogue, he does. I prefer there not be overt political name calling in a comic book, but if he insists I'll oblige him. It's what he wants.

Oh, and enough with the glowing eyes already. It's way overused and making Faith look creepy.

[MarkRoseHFX]

odd...Could have sworn there were more posts in this thread .

[skot]

I don't find anything weird with it. you have kris the stereotypical f the system teenager piercings and all.
if you want current real teenager potrail goto your local high school. krises everywhere.

[greg]

Btw, if Kris is 17 that means she was 5 when Rumsfeld took office. I don't know about you but when I was 5 I wasn't reading the newspaper and thinking to myself "Boy, our Secretary of Defense is a real d-bag". So, not only do I not have an opinion about the Sec of Defense in 1969, I don't even know who it was. But Kris does. And she has a strong opinion about him. Weird.

If I am going to take your points seriously, we might as well address your odd use of timeline here.

Kris is 17 or 18, and she's smart as a whip. That means she would have begun "figuring out her point of view in the world" around 12 or 13.
That was 4 to 6 years ago... at the end of the Bush administration.

The timing is perfect.

[cavemold]

Well it was all bushes fault ... /yawn

[etos45]

This *SQUEE* belongs in the politics thread since it "spoils" nothing. I don't see why this is a topic here.

[BugsySig]

JMatt- I have to disagree that your nickname is not worse than Kris using the term D-Bag. That is a derogatory term thrown out by a 17 year old girl (and one I probably say 10 times on my way to work every morning). But your use of "Dear Leader" for Obama makes him out to be a fascist dictator. Considering most conservatives prefer to call him a socialist, if you want to shift him to the opposite side of the political/economic spectrum, feel free, but lets not act like we are in Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia.

And while you are absolutely right that Dysart wants people to talk about his book, my confusion comes with your attachment of Kris' character to his own beliefs. If there was an ultra-conservative character who quoted Rush Limbaugh, protested with the Tea Party and pined for a Gingrich presidency, I would not take that to mean Dysart is a conservative. It also wouldn't upset me because there are real people who do so...just like Kris.

[Chiclo]

In this issue, he takes the opportunity to call Donald Rumsfeld a d-bag.

I must disagree. Kris calls DRum a d-bag. I don't get the impression at all that Kris is Dysart's surrogate. I do get the impression that Kris is a smart young woman who is so overpowered with her youth that she feels obligated to be a left-winger. She grew up in an era where it was cool to hate Bush and his crew and that is reflected in her humour.

Btw, if Kris is 17 that means she was 5 when Rumsfeld took office. I don't know about you but when I was 5 I wasn't reading the newspaper and thinking to myself "Boy, our Secretary of Defense is a real d-bag". So, not only do I not have an opinion about the Sec of Defense in 1969, I don't even know who it was. But Kris does. And she has a strong opinion about him. Weird.

If you were 5 in 1969, were you alive when the Secretary of Defense was Robert McNamara? Would you not call him a d-bag? I think you are probably too young to have lived during the reign of Dean Acheson. If I could go back in time and kick any historical figure in the nuts, it is without a doubt Dean Acheson. The man was a Soviet patsy of the first order and he was Secretary of State. If Tailgunner Joe was right about anyone, it was Dean Acheson.

[Chiclo]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. You might note my own subversive use of the rebellion symbol. You are correct that I am indeed pushing my agenda against the Empire.

BOO! That rebellion is nothing but a bunch of bomb-throwing anarchists. The Empire has kept a galactic order that was in danger of crumbling and kept it whole. HOORAY EMPIRE!

[Chiclo]

And while you are absolutely right that Dysart wants people to talk about his book, my confusion comes with your attachment of Kris' character to his own beliefs. If there was an ultra-conservative character who quoted Rush Limbaugh, protested with the Tea Party and pined for a Gingrich presidency, I would not take that to mean Dysart is a conservative. It also wouldn't upset me because there are real people who do so...just like Kris.

Real right-wingers never wanted a Newt Gingrich presidency. We wanted him to stay quiet and quit hurting the cause. His usefulness ended in the 90s.

[BugsySig]

And while you are absolutely right that Dysart wants people to talk about his book, my confusion comes with your attachment of Kris' character to his own beliefs. If there was an ultra-conservative character who quoted Rush Limbaugh, protested with the Tea Party and pined for a Gingrich presidency, I would not take that to mean Dysart is a conservative. It also wouldn't upset me because there are real people who do so...just like Kris.

Real right-wingers never wanted a Newt Gingrich presidency. We wanted him to stay quiet and quit hurting the cause. His usefulness ended in the 90s.

Haha. Too true. But my point still stands.

[jmatt]

I still don't see how presenting one character's viewpoint is a political soapbox.

Yeah, I guess; soapbox is inaccurate. My objection was to 7 year old potshots.

My point was that if Kris dislikes Rumsfeld, we can only assume because he was SecDef during Iraq and Afghanistan. But if she objects to war so much, there are much more current examples of such behavior that she could rail against. Hypocrisy just rubs me wrong and I'm happy to point it out every time I see it.

As for this being an inappropriate forum, if Dysart chooses to lace his work with politics, people are going to comment on it. He probably loves this thread.

[Chiclo]

I still don't see how presenting one character's viewpoint is a political soapbox.

Yeah, I guess; soapbox is inaccurate. My objection was to 7 year old potshots.

My point was that if Kris dislikes Rumsfeld, we can only assume because he was SecDef during Iraq and Afghanistan. But if she objects to war so much, there are much more current examples of such behavior that she could rail against. Hypocrisy just rubs me wrong and I'm happy to point it out every time I see it.

As for this being an inappropriate forum, if Dysart chooses to lace his work with politics, people are going to comment on it. He probably loves this thread.

It wasn't so much a 7 year old potshot as it was recycling a well-known quote that very neatly fit the situation at hand.

Rumsfeld wasn't perfect. The man tried to run war too much like a modern for-profit corporation by keeping troop numbers low - significantly lower than the numbers requested by the chain of command. Because he did not put enough boots in the sand, the occupations both stalled until troop surges were used in both theatres. Obama did the same thing too.

[BugsySig]

I might also posit the following based on what we know of Kris' family:

1: Her father asked her to record the Harada interview, which means he may have been an admirer of the corporate giant and philanthropist.

2: Her mother, when discussing their insurance bills, says something along the lines of "God will provide." That denotes a strong religious belief/faith.

Therefore, it is very possible Kris' parents are conservative Christians. So isn't it likely Kris' leftist leanings are a rebellion against her own parents' values?

[jmatt]

2: Her mother, when discussing their insurance bills, says something along the lines of "God will provide." That denotes a strong religious belief/faith.

Although she does say something like "mom only talks like that when things are bad." The religious aspect seemed downplayed, to me.