There are 3 messages totalling 158 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Fever (2) 2. Admin: Happy New Year ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:32:03 -0500 From: Ramona Jackson <lexyladyjax@g.......> Subject: Re: Fever - is it just me...or does LaCroix seem a little "afraid" when he is > lecturing Nick about the impossibility that some germ is killing Screed. > Denial isn't just a river in Egypt. Remember the time when this episode was written. The whole thing is based upon the fact that the AIDS epidemic seemed to be taking only homosexuals at first. Those of you who are younger or who weren't aware of what was going on may not recall this, but some thought it was the proper vengeance of the LORD on SINNERS (insert rolling eyes emoticon here) and who were we to interfere with HIS PLAN, besides it was getting rid of all those naughty gay men. Of course soon enough the 'straight' people were getting infected so that attitude died out eventually, but while it went on it was sickening enough. There were no research funds for AIDS while homosexuals were the main group who were suffering from the illness. Ryan White and Kimberly Bergalis aside (look them up), HIV was a disease of horror and the people who thought themselves safe because they were righteous and pure were quick to point the finger at others. This still goes on. I"ve always loved this episode for its brave take on curing a disease that targeted an unpopular 'species.' Too bad there's no real cure. Last year when I was enduring my final round of chemotherapy I sat listening to several women who were discussing how HIV is no longer a threat. I listened to them chatter for a time, until I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. I spoke up and told them they were incorrect in their beliefs, that HIV is a terrible disease. The treatments can be debilitating and in the end you still die of AIDS and AIDS-related complications. There's no cure. Then I noticed they all had a specific candidate's sticker on their bags and then I understood their ignorance. I heartily encouraged them all to look it up and educate themselves about the antivirals, how expensive they are and the horrible side effects. I also told them that one day arrives when the meds no longer work. > > - I like Natalie's anger at Nick's morbid idea that the vampire plague is > some kind of justice from God. She is such a fundamental counter-balance to > Nick's "deadness" in so many alive ways. > She's now saved the vampires, a predatory group whose ideal food group is humanity. I've always been proud of her for this, anyway. She didn't judge, she didn't hesitate. Vampires were all human beings once, too. Did they not also deserve to survive? I love that about Natalie, that she told NIck off about his morbidity and self-pity. I also wondered whether this episode is one they wouldn't have been able to make unless they knew the series was ending...it was controversial. Does anyone know anything about this possibility? > > - interesting. The character who matches Natalie's determination for > survival is LaCroix. Screed, Vachon and Nick all seem resigned to their > fates. LaCroix will only be dragged kicking, screaming and clawing into > oblivion. > He is a survivor. No way he walked into the sun later on. Just think, in a way Nat and LaCroix worked together to solve this problem. Vampire AIDS. Always use a blood condom. Pass it on! ;p Mona (on Gmail none of these lines quoted are longer are longer than two lines, so sorry if they show up as longer elsewhere) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:10:04 -0500 From: Lisa McDavid <mclisa@m.......> Subject: Re: Fever >> >Denial isn't just a river in Egypt. Remember the time when this episode was >written. The whole thing is based upon the fact that the AIDS >epidemic seemed to be taking only homosexuals at first. You're right. I hadn't thought of that, but then, I wasn't under the impression that only gay men got AIDS, or that it could be caught by casual contact. A lot of people were, of course and yes, AIDS patients certainly were shunned by most people. I remember being proud of my minister because he had no hesitation in going into the hospital rooms of AIDS patients. There were clergy in my city who wouldn't out of fear, even those who didn't believe AIDS had anything to do with divine vengeance. >Ryan White and Kimberly Bergalis aside (look them up), NO need for me, I remember them well. > I"ve always loved this episode for its brave take on curing a >disease that targeted an unpopular 'species.' I'm amazed that I never thought of this -- thanks for pointing it out! >> - I like Natalie's anger at Nick's morbid idea that the vampire plague is >> some kind of justice from God. She is such a fundamental counter-balance to >> Nick's "deadness" in so many alive ways. Yes! No wonder Nick thought so, because he doesn't see that he doesn't need to atone for his sins. Under even the medieval Christianity he still seems to believe, it's a worse sin than anything he did as a vampire. Trying to gain salvation by his own efforts instead of accepting the Crucifixion as atonement and seeking absolution from a priest denies the omnipotence of God. It canbe construed as setting himself up in God's place. NOTE: <putting on listowner hat> When the show was on the air, we discussed this. I was very proud of us for doing so without bursting into flames or disrespecting each other's views. We can do it again if anyone wants to take this up. I know we can. >She's now saved the vampires, a predatory group whose ideal food group is >humanity. I've always been proud of her for this, anyway. > She didn't judge, she didn't hesitate. Vampires were all human beings once, too. Didthey not also deserve to survive? I love that about Natalie, that she told >NIck off about his morbidity and self-pity. >This is why the relationship worked in the series, IMHO. >I also wondered whether this episode is one they wouldn't have been able to >make unless they knew the series was ending...it was controversial. Does >anyone know anything about this possibility? I've heard that when Ger knew they were going to be cancelled, he went to The Powers That Be and asked that FK be allowed to do what they'd wanted before TPTB tried to change the show's whole ethos. Maybe the details I heard aren't quite right, but it's true that they were allowed to do controvery because of the pending cancellation. > >> >He is a survivor. No way he walked into the sun later on. Just think, in a >way Nat and LaCroix worked together to solve this problem. Of course there are those of us who think Last Night can be interpreted other than that LC staked Nick. One idea is that Nat was brought across. She must have made LC think _Nick's_ rebellion was a walk in the moonlight by comparison. :) >Vampire AIDS. Always use a blood condom. Pass it on! ;p >Mona > >(on Gmail none of these lines quoted are longer are longer than two lines, >so sorry if they show up as longer elsewhere) If so, at least you tried. That's all Don and I ask. McLIsa listowner, Forkni-l mclisa@m....... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:40:58 -0500 From: Lisa McDavid <mclisa@m.......> Subject: Admin: Happy New Year May we all have a happy, safe and peaceful 2010! McLisa listowner, Forkni-l mclisa@m....... ------------------------------ End of FORKNI-L Digest - 28 Dec 2009 to 31 Dec 2009 (#2009-229) ***************************************************************
Previous |
This month's list |
Next |