Home Page How I Found Forever Knight Forkni-L Archives Main Page Forkni-L Earlier Years
My Forever Knight Fanfiction Links E-Mail Me

FORKNI-L

Digest - 28 Dec 2009 to 31 Dec 2009 (#2009-229)

Thu, 31 Dec 2009

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 digest
Previous
This month's list
This month's list
Next digest
Next




Knight graphics and parchment background created by Melissa Snell and may be found at http://historymedren.about.com/