SENATS: Resolution on a Centennial Anniversary

[Trotxâ]

My Lord President and Fellow Senators -

If it is not appropriate for me to present this resolution to the Senats, please accept my apologies. I had meant to propose something like this much earlier. I ask my fellow Senators for their support:

Whereas, the members of the Senats hold in high esteem those visionaries who have shown us a path to the future; and

Whereas, Robert Anson Heinlein was born on 7 July 1907 into the family of Rex Ivan Heinlein and Bam Lyle Heinlein of Butler Missouri, and died on 8 May 1988 at the age of eighty in California; and

Whereas, after growing up in Kansas City, Robert Heinlein entered the United States Naval Academy and competed in the Annapolis Fencing Team; and

Whereas, upon graduating in 1929, Robert Heinlein received a commission as an officer, after which he was medically discharged from military service due to tuberculosis and became an engineer who worked for the Navy in Philadelphia during World War II; and

Whereas, the beloved husband of Virginia "Ginny" Heinlein, Robert Heinlein lived in Colorado Springs Colorado and later settled in California, and pursued several different careers before enjoying success as the writer of science fiction stories; and

Whereas, Robert Heinlein is known as one of the "Big Three" fathers of modern science fiction writing along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, and is the author of such classic stories as Starship Troopers, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Glory Road; and

Whereas, Robert Heinlein also authored a movie, Destination Moon, and was interviewed by CBS News when science finally caught up with science fiction, and the United States landed men on the moon during the Apollo program; and

Whereas, the writings of Robert Heinlein served to inspire people around the world, including many prominent Talossans plus the inaugural generation of NASA scientists and engineers who were responsible for placing the first human footprints on ground away from planet Earth; and

Whereas, on 7 July 2007, many celebrations took place to honor the Centennial Anniversary of the birth of Robert Heinlein;

Whereas, since this is Talossa, where our motto is "better late than never", we still have time to recognize this Centennial Anniversary;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that we, the members of the Talossan Senate, join to commemorate the life and work of author Robert Anson Heinlein and to recognize his contribution to the lives of our citizens and cestours alike.

Uréu q'estadra så:

Sir Trotxâ Betiñéir
Vuode

Footnote for the curious and particular: This resolution is based on the resolution passed by the Senate of the State of Missouri., whom we thank for their "getting it right the first time".

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

I have a few concerns, S:reu. Please note this does NOT mean I am opposing the motion... I want clarification, that is all.

First, it is curious that this petition does not mention Heinlein's most popular and arguably best work, Stranger in a Strange Land. As a student of English, I find this bizarre, as it is a landmark work in science fiction.

Second, there is a long list of authors who should be honored before Heinlein. Last year was the centennary of Samuel Beckett, for example, as well as Kurt Godel. We didn't even pass a resolution honoring the passing of Vonnegut so recently... is there some tie to Talossa we would be honoring with Heinlein? In other words, why him? That should probably be added to the motion.

Third, is this procedurally correct? Shouldn't this be presented to both houses after being Hoppered... why isn't it a normal bill?

Again, let me express my respect for the honorable sponsor, and repeat I do not oppose this legislation, I merely have some concerns.

[Trotxâ]

Senator Davis -

Thank you for your questions. I rise to provide a few answers.

First - This proposal is not intended to be a joint resolution, only a Senats resolution. The members of our sister body can do what they wish.

Second - It is true that other authors could be considered honourable. One could wonder why no MC or Senator bothered to do anything.

Third - I admit that I am uncertain as to the protocol, as I tried to state in my introduction. Instead of an up-down vote in the Clark, a few seconds would satisfy. If it happens to prompt a PD, then so much the better.

Finally - to your question about Stranger in a Strange Land (SIASL). I offer several notes: a) "most popular" does not mean "best". Your adverb "arguably" is used correctly. b) SIASL is not science fiction. c) I assumed the duty of writing the resolution, so I chose my favorites works by S:reu Heinlein. If you want to write one, you may choose.

In closing, I offer an excerpt of the remarks by NASA's head of legislative affairs, Bill Brunner at the celebration of Heinlein's centennial:

This is a real pleasure – joining with all of you in saluting a great writer and visionary – a man whom we honor here this weekend for using the power of words to inspire, to shape values and attitudes – and yes, to make a buck or two (those us here who have ever tried to sell a manuscript honor him especially for that).

As a testimony to the power of his ideas, I’d like to share my personal story with you.

The first real novel I ever read was Rocketship Galileo. After that, I read as much Heinlein as I could find. I can honestly say that, as a young black male raised by a single mom, RAH shaped my views on many subjects from race – to politics – to the nobility of military service – to the equality of the sexes – to the future of humankind on the space frontier.

Many times, the reader would not know that a major character in a Heinlein narrative was black - and always, there was passionate advocacy for freedom over tyranny woven into every storyline.

Heinlein wrote a lot of memorable words. But there’s one line that I found especially striking in preparing for today’s talk. It was his declaration that, “ generation which ignores history has no past and no future.”

Thank you for your questions.

Sir T.

Hap tip to Glenn Reynolds for the Brunner quote. See the whole thing here.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

Well, Senator Betineir, as to the question of procedure, I think it is a small one. This proposal has no effect of law, and accordingly is not bypassing the appropriate system. I was simply curious.

I do, however, question your conclusions regarding SISL. You say thus:

Finally - to your question about Stranger in a Strange Land (SIASL). I offer several notes: a) "most popular" does not mean "best". Your adverb "arguably" is used correctly. b) SIASL is not science fiction. c) I assumed the duty of writing the resolution, so I chose my favorites works by S:reu Heinlein. If you want to write one, you may choose.

I can only reply that:
(a) This is true. However, you are not offering any reason for not including his most noteworthy work. Were you to commemorate Edison and not mention the carbon filament, I would be similarly puzzled.
Incidentally, I do feel SISL is his best work. The themes of freedom and fascism in Starship Troopers are well-done, but both the conceptual basis and sheer writing ability displayed in SISL is superior.
(b) How can you think it is not? It takes place in the future, with spaceships and Martians. It might ALSO be labeled a book of philosophy or a dystopia/utopia, but first and foremost it is a book about a futuristic world, i.e. science fiction.
(c) I can understand that, but why not also include SISL? Do you have some problem with it?