Read on Twitter
- @jfkeeler has deleted this post, but this is no different than when Evangelicals claim AIDS or hurricanes are God's punishment for people's impiety.
Chicano Catholics aren't a monolith. Neither are white protestants, Arabic Muslims, or Diné who follow traditional beliefs.
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Chicano Catholics aren't a monolith. Neither are white protestants, Arabic Muslims, or Diné who follow traditional beliefs.
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I've been wanting to write about this for a while. I have friends on both "sides" of the #RebeccaRoanhorse "controversy," but I feel I need to speak out about the difference between prioritizing one's community / elders & following lockstep with attempts at homogeneity.
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Not being Indigenous / Native, I can only talk about this from my own perspective as a Chicano.
There are as many ways of being Mexican American as there are Mexican Americans. But that doesn't stop many (often older) Chicanos from wanting to impose conditions on the rest.
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There are as many ways of being Mexican American as there are Mexican Americans. But that doesn't stop many (often older) Chicanos from wanting to impose conditions on the rest.
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Traditional, conservative, Catholic elders want us to follow what the Pope/Bible says is proper conduct.
Old-school Chicano revolutionaries have their opinions as to how Gen-Z ought to emulate THEM rather than finding new paths forward.
But guess what? They aren't rulers.
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Old-school Chicano revolutionaries have their opinions as to how Gen-Z ought to emulate THEM rather than finding new paths forward.
But guess what? They aren't rulers.
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They don't get to dictate the behaviors or beliefs of members of their communities.
Syncretic Mexican Catholicism isn't exempt from pushback or criticism just because it isn't Evangelical Christianity.
Indigenous religious beliefs, at the end of the day, are RELIGION.
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Syncretic Mexican Catholicism isn't exempt from pushback or criticism just because it isn't Evangelical Christianity.
Indigenous religious beliefs, at the end of the day, are RELIGION.
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Nobody should get to impose religion on anybody else in this world anymore.
The agnostic children of Catholic parents can make horror movies about the Devil and Angels, about God being killed: whatever they want.
Why should Native authors & illustrators be restricted?
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The agnostic children of Catholic parents can make horror movies about the Devil and Angels, about God being killed: whatever they want.
Why should Native authors & illustrators be restricted?
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I get the desire to keep non-Native folks from erasing, appropriating, & profiting off sacred stories.
But sacred stories, beyond their religious import, are part of shared *cultural* identity as well.
Rebecca & others, seeking to create dynamic spec-fic stories, use them.
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But sacred stories, beyond their religious import, are part of shared *cultural* identity as well.
Rebecca & others, seeking to create dynamic spec-fic stories, use them.
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The benefit is that (especially Native) fans of spec-fic get mirrors, windows and sliding-glass doors (respect to Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop) through these story that center the culture of Native peoples.
Sure, some true believers will be upset their religion is disrespected.
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Sure, some true believers will be upset their religion is disrespected.
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But not wanting to offend the faithful cannot be the guiding light of a writer of speculative fiction.
The tension between the individual and the community, the young rebel and their tradition-bound elders, is a valuable part of a culture's collective growth.
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The tension between the individual and the community, the young rebel and their tradition-bound elders, is a valuable part of a culture's collective growth.
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We can both protect our BIPOC and otherwise underrepresented communities from outsiders' harm—
AND
—refrain from policing people INSIDE those communities.
@RoanhorseBex
has a right to do the work she does, free from cruel attacks and doxxing of family.
Let her be.
10/10
AND
—refrain from policing people INSIDE those communities.
@RoanhorseBex
has a right to do the work she does, free from cruel attacks and doxxing of family.
Let her be.
10/10
Addendum:
Of *course* it's fine to criticize Roanhorse or to not recommend her work. I respect that. Debbie Reese, for example, has dispassionately laid out what she finds objectionable.
But to presume to speak for all Navajo people then try to destroy Bex and her family?
No.
Of *course* it's fine to criticize Roanhorse or to not recommend her work. I respect that. Debbie Reese, for example, has dispassionately laid out what she finds objectionable.
But to presume to speak for all Navajo people then try to destroy Bex and her family?
No.
And to suggest that Roanhorse is responsible for the Navajo Nation's COVID crisis is beyond unethical and disgusting.
Addendum 2.
Above I said, "Debbie Reese, for example, has dispassionately laid out what she finds objectionable."
People pointed me at June tweets Dr. Reese made that went over the line, so I retract that.
In 2018 she *was* being dispassionate, but has gone 'way too far.
Above I said, "Debbie Reese, for example, has dispassionately laid out what she finds objectionable."
People pointed me at June tweets Dr. Reese made that went over the line, so I retract that.
In 2018 she *was* being dispassionate, but has gone 'way too far.
Important thread from a Diné individual: https://twitter.com/canoecanoa/status/1291450499871514624?s=20
