ATTN. JMS: Rising Stars Comments
James Bell
Just got RS4 and I am just loving this story. As you say, plot is
driven by characters and you have created many new characters for our
enjoyment. I hope we see some of these characters recurring.
A couple complaints. . .they're too short! I'm not a comic reader and
always reach the end of the comic starving for more. I wish there were
more to read at a time. ( I know, that's the nature of comics and all
show-biz: leave them wanting more.)
One thing that is probably out of your hands somewhat is the loooonnnng
time between issues. Your submitting your stories in a timely manner
is probably all you have to do with it but it would be nice to get more
issues more often.
These "complaints" are really compliments. The story is so engrossing
that I just want to pick up the entire book and read the whole thing.
The bit-by-bit approach of a comic is difficult.
Jim
Ryan Nock
she loves comics; I thought Rising Stars would get her to like comics.
She loves Rising Stars but she is also a devout Christian (so am I, but she
doesn't think I'm quite devout enough to trust my opinion on religious
matters). When she saw . . . hm, issue is too far away for me to go and
get, but, when she saw flying, angel, son of the King of Denial, man, she
began to get turned off of Rising Stars.
She seems a bit offended that an atheist author has the presumption to show
Christianity in a negative light.
I think there are probably some spoilers after here. What, 25 lines?
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
Anyway, the point to this rambling post is that Babylon 5 always treated
religion with respect, or at least honestly. All my friend wants is an
honest, balanced representation of her religion, and not one where the only
person who seems to have any faith in Rising Stars is a zealot. I just want
to know whether I should just keep away from her the issue that focuses on
the preacher, or if the only angle on religion in the series will be this
(apparently negative) one.
I've tried to explain how I see the powers of the specials, as an outgrowth
of their existing personality. A brave kid gets strong, a lonely kid
shields himself from the world entirely. The son of someone perhaps too
zealous in his religion becomes what will please his parents.
Comments on this interpretation, or answers whether I will have to withhold
one issue from my friend, would be welcome.
Jms at B5
>time between issues.
Actually, TC is really getting that part together; 4 came one month after 3,
and we just locked down the pencils and inks on 5, so that's heading toward
hitting the next deadline, or damn close to it.
Five, by the way, is probably the strongest issue of the bunch, and definitely
kicks over the table on the storyline.
jms
(jms...@aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
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Jms at B5
>honest, balanced representation of her religion, and not one where the only
>person who seems to have any faith in Rising Stars is a zealot.
1) Not every single so-called religious person is a good person, as Jimmy
Swaggart and his ilk have shown. I portray that which is appropriate to the
story. Having done some very even handed stuff on religion on B5, I don't feel
I have anything to prove on this issue.
2) If fairness is an issue with her, may I expect that she will solicit an
honest, balanced representation of atheism from the pulpit of her church
sometime soon?
Ryan Nock
new story; not all the readers know your work on B5.
2)I was an atheist myself, so I might try my hand at that one. I'm sure the
vorlon quote about three-edge swords could come into play here somehow, but
I can't quite figure it out.
I do plan to give her the issue that focuses on Sanctuary, assuming there
will be one particularly for him. About how long down the road is it?
By the way, I was a little embarrassed at David Mueller; I, however, would
certainly never even consider using a power like that in such a way. Nope.
Never.
Jms at B5 <jms...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000116032409...@ng-fk1.aol.com...
M.E. Tonkin
Jms at B5 wrote:
>
>
> 2) If fairness is an issue with her, may I expect that she will solicit an
> honest, balanced representation of atheism from the pulpit of her church
> sometime soon?
>
Oh, right, the way one can expect to hear a fair, unbiased
representation
of the Republican Party at a Democratic gathering - or vice versa.
MET
Ryan Nock
news:38822EE2...@erols.com...
> Oh, right, the way one can expect to hear a fair, unbiased
> representation
> of the Republican Party at a Democratic gathering - or vice versa.
>
> MET
>
Please don't attack religion by implying those who are religious are
mindless. Some people--of all religions and lack thereof--are so firm in
their beliefs that they refuse to even consider the position of any other
group.
I personally have no political party affiliation. ;)
Still, please consider your own words and willingness to accept something
before you criticize others for their lack of an open mind.
JMS has been very fair and respectful to all religions (just remember the
closing scene of Parliament of Dreams), and even though I belief in my faith
being . . . I guess the term would be "most right," among all religions . .
. I still respect the beliefs of others.
The Nuclear Marine
"M.E. Tonkin" wrote:
>
> Jms at B5 wrote:
> >
> >
> > 2) If fairness is an issue with her, may I expect that she will solicit an
> > honest, balanced representation of atheism from the pulpit of her church
> > sometime soon?
> >
>
> Oh, right, the way one can expect to hear a fair, unbiased
> representation
> of the Republican Party at a Democratic gathering - or vice versa.
>
Now now, let's all play nicely. Remember the old saying about religion
and politics at the dinner table.
Reasonable people with diverging beliefs don't down each other.
===============================
The Christian Atheist
Kay Shapero
JaB> Five, by the way, is probably the strongest issue of the bunch,
JaB> and definitely kicks over the table on the storyline.
Oh goodie!
I liked #4 btw - and I think Cathy's very lucky NOT to know what her
superpower is. Paradoxically, she may actually get to do more good in her
life than she could if she did.
George Missonis
> Jms at B5 wrote:
> >
> >
> > 2) If fairness is an issue with her, may I expect that she will solicit an
> > honest, balanced representation of atheism from the pulpit of her church
> > sometime soon?
>
> Oh, right, the way one can expect to hear a fair, unbiased
> representation
> of the Republican Party at a Democratic gathering - or vice versa.
>
> MET
Let everyone have their say and make what you can of it--it's often the heretics
who have the most interesting points to consider. Had a teacher for a history
of modern China course who let us pick three books for review. We could select
works by writers from the left, right, and center or else three centrist works.
No egg roll...
Keith Wood
Jms at B5 wrote:
>Ryan Nock wrote:
> >All my friend wants is an
> >honest, balanced representation of her religion, and not one where the only
> >person who seems to have any faith in Rising Stars is a zealot.
>
> 1) Not every single so-called religious person is a good person, as Jimmy
> Swaggart and his ilk have shown. I portray that which is appropriate to the
> story. Having done some very even handed stuff on religion on B5, I don't feel
> I have anything to prove on this issue.
As a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood (the higher priesthood of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), I would have to say that
"even handed" is an understatement. You are more respectful of people
who don't share your beliefs than are many prominent people who claim to
be Christian!
Nearly every example of religion or the religious was presented
positively. The closest you ever got to ridicule was "Go poke the
plant," and even that was shown in an "I don't get it, but what the
heck" tone of acceptance. it was humorous, not biting.
Other definite positive examples ranged from the line of religious
figures at the end of one early episode to the continuing religious
aspects which were such an important part of the lives of nearly all of
the key characters. With ALL characters, religion was protrayed as a
natural part of who they were.
Keith Wood
Ryan Nock wrote:
>
> I'm trying to work my friend into liking B5. She disliked the pilot, but
> she loves comics; I thought Rising Stars would get her to like comics.
>
> She loves Rising Stars but she is also a devout Christian (so am I, but she
> doesn't think I'm quite devout enough to trust my opinion on religious
> matters). When she saw . . . hm, issue is too far away for me to go and
> get, but, when she saw flying, angel, son of the King of Denial, man, she
> began to get turned off of Rising Stars.
>
> She seems a bit offended that an atheist author has the presumption to show
> Christianity in a negative light.
You need to show her that one episode which ends with a line of human
religious figures.
Tammy Smith
religious. I tend to have a negative view of Fundamentalist Christians
because of some incidents having to do with my being Mormon. Once, my
sister worked for a woman who was Fundamentalist. Everything went fine
until the woman found out my sister was a Mormon. She told my sister
she was going to Hell (since then, my sister has become an Agnostic--I
bet the woman would love *that*). I went right over to the woman's
house & told her to stop telling my sister things like that. Another
time, some other people picketed the new Mormon church building when it
went up by my house, saying that Mormons were devil-worshippers. These
incidents were something I never forgot, & I am not religious anymore
because of them. I certainly don't think all religious people are bad,
but they could be a bit more tolerant--even of Atheists like JMS.
Tammy
Mark Maher
For the record, that would be "Parliament of Dreams" which offered some
interesting insights at all levels, from social and religious right down to the
intimately personal ones. It was also the first episode where one could get a
real sense of the complex interweaving of plotlines in this story.
__!_!__
Gizmo
Jms at B5
Gesundheit.
(sorry, just couldn't resist)
Tammy Smith
Joe, you are a nutty guy! :)
Tammy
Keith Wood
Mark Maher wrote:
>
> Keith Wood wrote in message <3883D97E...@bctv.com>...
> >
> >
> >Ryan Nock wrote:
> >>
> >> I'm trying to work my friend into liking B5. She disliked the pilot, but
> >> she loves comics; I thought Rising Stars would get her to like comics.
> >>
> >> She loves Rising Stars but she is also a devout Christian (so am I, but she
> >> doesn't think I'm quite devout enough to trust my opinion on religious
> >> matters). When she saw . . . hm, issue is too far away for me to go and
> >> get, but, when she saw flying, angel, son of the King of Denial, man, she
> >> began to get turned off of Rising Stars.
> >>
> >> She seems a bit offended that an atheist author has the presumption to show
> >> Christianity in a negative light.
> >
> >You need to show her that one episode which ends with a line of human
> >religious figures.
> >
>
> For the record, that would be "Parliament of Dreams"
Thank you. I last saw it a long time ago.
> which offered some
> interesting insights at all levels, from social and religious right down to the
> intimately personal ones. It was also the first episode where one could get a
> real sense of the complex interweaving of plotlines in this story.
Perhaps. I seem to recall that by this point, I was already seeing a
lot of complexity and enjoying the heck out of it.
I often find use for paraphrasing G'Kar's line that "Nobody here is
quite what they seem to be."
Keith Wood
Tammy Smith wrote:
>
> Keith--you're a Mormon?
Yes. I have been since 1975.
> I was raised one, although I am no longer
> religious.
Perhaps "not currently religious" is a more appropriate term. ;)
Hmmmm . . .I fail to understand why you would leave a church because
people you don't agree with act like jerks. That is reminiscent of
Cleavon Little in "Blazing Saddles," pulling his pistol, sticking it
under his chin, and telling the bigots "One move, and the nigger gets
it!" (This line, of course, was followed by the classic "Damn gullible
white people!")
Keith Wood
Jms at B5 wrote:
>
> >Melchizedek
>
> Gesundheit.
>
> (sorry, just couldn't resist)
Funny, I got the same response when I mentioned having met you at that
con in Phoenix, lo those many years ago . . .when I was asked what your
name was . . ! heheheheh
f-erenc szabo
> 2) If fairness is an issue with her, may I expect that she will solicit an
> honest, balanced representation of atheism from the pulpit of her church
> sometime soon?
Wow. I never thought of it this way, but it's the perfect
answer to religious folks' insistance that their beliefs
be injected into secular/atheist/agnostic media.
The absence of religion is indeed a valid philosophy.
f-erenc
zero...@goodmedia.com
Keith Wood
Yes. And, thus, is a belief system, injected into the media.
However, to be fair, when IT is fair, it is the MOST fair.
Will Linden
I disagree. What it is is on a par with making the only black person in
the story a minstrel-show style caricature, and telling people who
complain that "I have nothing to prove" because of Franklin. Think the
Race Police would let anyone get away with THAT?
--
Will Linden wli...@panix.com
http://www.panix.com/~wlinden/
Magic Code: MAS/GD S++ W++ N+ PWM++ Ds/r+ A-> a++ C+ G- QO++ 666 Y
To...@fred.net
:>Melchizedek
: Gesundheit.
: (sorry, just couldn't resist)
Order of bread and wine for the gentleman down the way... charge it to the
king of Salem.
<g>
--
To...@Fred.Net http://www.fred.net/tomr
* "Faith Manages...... But Willow is in Tech Support"
"By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Warvans, you shall be ave-- Oooo!
Donuts!" - Dr. Lazarus J. Simpson
Mary Kay Bergman 1961-1999
Susan Phillips
>
>
>Ryan Nock wrote:
>>
>> I'm trying to work my friend into liking B5. She disliked the pilot, but
>> she loves comics; I thought Rising Stars would get her to like comics.
>>
>> She loves Rising Stars but she is also a devout Christian (so am I, but she
>> doesn't think I'm quite devout enough to trust my opinion on religious
>> matters). When she saw . . . hm, issue is too far away for me to go and
>> get, but, when she saw flying, angel, son of the King of Denial, man, she
>> began to get turned off of Rising Stars.
>>
>> She seems a bit offended that an atheist author has the presumption to show
>> Christianity in a negative light.
>
>You need to show her that one episode which ends with a line of human
>religious figures.
>
It's called "Parliament of Dreams" and is one of my favorite eps.
Sue
"How can you be anal-retentive if you don't have an anus?"
Bartleby, "Dogma"