Yngvi is not a louse.
|
Text of Proposed Resolution: Whereas: Yngvi, a literary
character, has been accused of a character fault since 1940, and Whereas: The characterization is without factual
basis, and is only supported by (at best) third-hand hearsay, and Whereas: The World Science Fiction Society has the power to
officially review and reverse this base accusation, and Whereas: The World Science Fiction Society last
considered this motion 71 years ago and failed to take appropriate action,
and Whereas: The concepts of social justice and fairness
have evolved over the intervening years, and there is on this day an
opportunity to cure this grave injustice, now Therefore, Be It Resolved That: The World Science
Fiction Society, its Convention, and its Business Meeting, do hereby declare
that Yngvi is not a louse and do admonish all
persons connected in any way, past or present or future, to the fields of
Science Fiction and Fantasy to acknowledge same. Explanation and Background: This resolution was first proposed by Dr. Milton A. Rothman at Denvention in 1941. We can and should recognize this
groundbreaking, but alas failed, effort in social justice and give Dr.
Rothman the credit he is due. The best
way to achieve this is to fulfill his dream and restore the good name of Yngvi. A vital maxim of jurisprudence is that the accused is innocent until
proven guilty. Let's face it: the
evidence against Yngvi has always been
suspect. We have condemned Yngvi based on the unsupported hearsay as recited by Sir
Harold Shea (and reported by his chroniclers, de Camp and Pratt). The so-called star accuser of Yngvi was not only a prisoner at the time, but an
anonymous prisoner who supposedly had endured unspeakable torment. In the intervening decades, history should
have taught us the unreliability of such testimony. Mere repetition of the charge does
not add veracity. It only adds
propaganda "value." The
initial injustice of painting Yngvi with the brush
of lousitude remains. It is the job of historians to document
such injustices — and to repair them when possible — so that society can
learn from them and avoid being condemned to repeat them. It's too late for Yngvi, but it is not too late
for our society. We urge the passage
of this resolution, not for Yngvi's sake, but our
own. Yngvi
is not a louse. Proposers: STUDLY (Stop The Unspeakable: De-Louse Yngvi);
members: Michael Benveniste, attending member of
the 70th World Science Fiction Convention Deb Geisler, attending member of the 70th
World Science Fiction Convention Geri Sullivan, attending member of the 70th World
Science Fiction Convention |