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New Warrior: Vote No on Orson Scott Card

I don’t believe that we should go after the Mormon Church for their efforts towards Yes on Prop 8. Though I don’t believe in the LDS’s views or their beliefs, being a person of open mind, I cannot argue with their right to have them. And though I wish that they felt the same way about my views, I will not sink to their level and join the attacks on their church.

However, I do believe in the power of the boycott, even when it is difficult.

As many of you know, The Ender series by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite reads of all time. The characters are exciting, the adventure rip-roaring, the plot edge-of-your-seat and the ideas intriguing. I am a huge fan, and normally I would be first in line for the new Ender book, Ender in Exile.

Unfortunately, Orson Scott Card, a devout Mormon, campaigned heavily for Yes on 8. I won’t repeat his arguments — they are so narrow-minded and biased that it actually made me sick to my stomach to read his blog post on the subject. But if you’re curious about his (awful and rather long) spin on Yes on 8, click here. (Side note: I kind of despise when authors put pictures on their blog of the much younger or much thinner versions of themselves — it always feels incredibly vain. And I’m afraid that Mr. Card is guilty of both with his blog photo.)

So though I don’t believe in attacking those who hold different, and in this case (extremely wrong) opinions, I also don’t believe in giving money or supporting the work of someone who holds such repulsive views.

I find this especially sad, as his hero Ender actually ended up in a loving couple. Card has always been a huge proponent of interracial marriage, even before it was fashionable to be so. Too bad for him (and his book sales) that he couldn’t afford our gay brothers and sisters the same consideration.

Please pass this along to any sci-fi reader that you think might be interested in joining me in my boycott.