Month: August 2014

First of all, thanks for all the linkage on the RAINN auction of the Marion Zimmer Bradley book! I appreciate that you’re getting the word out.

For our first day, we have raised $50 for RAINN, and the offensive book has a potential home. I hope we can donate more money to support the efforts of healing and helping people like me, those who have suffered this kind of abuse. I hope we can all come out in support of MZB’s children, and show them that we do care, and that we are actively against abuse. A tiny donation of $10 makes a difference. So, please think about it.

***

Another quick update: Wiscon has banned Jim Frenkel for life from the convention. Discussion will ensue. I have already seen people talking about the court of public opinion, and that’s why Wiscon made its decision. We’ve seen that court in action before, regarding Elizabeth Moon when she made her comments about Arab-Americans and immigrants. My thinking? If many people were not going to attend, like I had planned, due to conscientious objection, why shouldn’t public opinion influence their decision. For the con, it’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t kind of scenario. NOTHING the con can do will please everyone. I see them as making an attempt to amend a very big screw up and take care of their constituency in this case. No con comm should focus on the reform of an offender. Every con comm should make sure a con is a comfortable environment.

If this whole affair has turned you off of Wiscon, I get that. I do. I will support them in this decision and attend the convention because this is the decision I wanted. I don’t feel comfortable saying something like thanks for fixing your error, doing what I wanted, but yet you appear to sway in the winds of public opinion. I would rather think they examined the action and realized it was the wrong action to take, of course influenced by public opinion, but also because they realized it was the wrong action to take.

Your mileage may vary. However, I hope to see you at Wiscon. It is only by holding cons accountable to high standards that we can have cons that pay attention to issues like sexism and racism. If we don’t attend, we can’t help the culture change. That is, if you still want to participate in that culture.

Thursday: Ode to Bernard Collier. Really. Also, some more auction soliciting. Because we can’t let all those people depending on RAINN down.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to August.

Here’s a recap for those of you just tuning in. You might remember that I wrote a post about finding out that Marion Zimmer Bradley and her husband had sexually abused their children and others back in June. There was a lot of response and discussion, and one of the things that came up was that The Mists of Avalon had been very influential in my college years, I had an autographed copy, and now I couldn’t stomach owning it. A couple of readers suggested that they would donate to RAINN and allow me to get rid of the book anyway I wished. I thought that might be a great way to strike a blow against the kind of things that MZB did. So, here’s what I’m going to do.

This month, August, through September 4th, I encourage you to donate any amount you feel comfortable with to RAINN. All gifts to RAINN are tax deductible. If you then post here about the amount you have donated, I’ll keep a running tally. The person who donates the most to RAINN will “win” this book. In the case of several of the same amount, I’ll hold a drawing for the book.

The person who donates the most will need to substantiate their donation via an email or scanned receipt, and then I will send the book to the winner. Hopefully the postal system in your country will help me out, but if your postal system is unreliable and the book doesn’t reach you, the donation will still stand.

***

So, Catherine, tell me about the merchandise. This is a hardback copy of the book with a sleeve. The sleeve is a bit worn at the corners, but the book is in good shape. It is autographed to me personally, so you get MZB’s signature. And that’s about all there is to tell.

***

I want to get rid of this book. I don’t care what you do with it. You may keep it for yourself as a collector. You may engage in the biggest crime of all to English teachers and burn it. Or bury it. Or shoot arrows into it. Whatever you do, I don’t want to know. I just want it out of my life, and I want the money to go to the cause that helps stamp out sexual abuse. Please consider a donation. Remember, you don’t have to escalate the bid. If someone starts with $100, and you want to donate $20, you can. It’s not only about getting the book. It’s about taking a stand.

I’ll keep a running tally right here through September 4th.

Highest bid: $50
Total bids: $120

***

Thank you for caring enough about sexual abuse to let your money do the talking.