On the contrary, I am not at all ignorant of history, but I am beginning to wonder if you are. Far from being a peaceful protest, the act of puputan was more of a way of maintaining honor for the nobility. A few months after my story would have concluded, the Dutch openly attacked the Balinese over the issue of the looting of their wrecked ships and, nominally, to liberate the Sasaks from their Balinese overlords.
The Sasaks soon realized that the Balinese were less dreadful conquerors than the Dutch, but the fact is that both were imperialist powers. Indeed, they fought a bloody war over Lombok. One battle in particular ended in a decisive victory for the Balinese and humiliation (and carnage) for the Dutch. (Though, of course, the Dutch then retaliated by massacring tons of Balinese.)
I'll admit that it is entirely implausible that the Balinese would have had such a successful spy, but not that they would hesitated to assassinate an ambassador if it furthered their purposes. They were nasty, violent, imperialist, oppressive rulers, just like the Dutch. They had no right to do a great many of the things they did, just as the Dutch had no right.
As for your analysis of Holmes, I must strongly disagree. I like him too, admire him even, and I would like to think that he is not racist. However, he is a man of his time, though fictional, and must hold at least some of the irrational prejudices of it. His feelings towards women are highly irrational, and I do not see why his views of foreigners would be less so. The entire Sherlock Holmes oeuvre is racist and imperialist in the extreme. If you read it, if you like it, you must accept that and perhaps even turn a blind eye to it for the space of the story.
As for the slashiness of my story (or lack thereof), I do not think it is at all relevant to accusations of racism. Are you complaining because you disliked my story or because you see a specific problem with it? Don't try to bolster your argument with attacks on my personal taste. No, I didn't write a sex scene, but I did have them in bed together.
Clearly, my understanding of Balinese history is somewhat superficial, but then so is yours. I thank you for the compliment of being interested enough to criticize me, but I must also disagree with you.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-01-01 01:20 pm (UTC)The Sasaks soon realized that the Balinese were less dreadful conquerors than the Dutch, but the fact is that both were imperialist powers. Indeed, they fought a bloody war over Lombok. One battle in particular ended in a decisive victory for the Balinese and humiliation (and carnage) for the Dutch. (Though, of course, the Dutch then retaliated by massacring tons of Balinese.)
I'll admit that it is entirely implausible that the Balinese would have had such a successful spy, but not that they would hesitated to assassinate an ambassador if it furthered their purposes. They were nasty, violent, imperialist, oppressive rulers, just like the Dutch. They had no right to do a great many of the things they did, just as the Dutch had no right.
As for your analysis of Holmes, I must strongly disagree. I like him too, admire him even, and I would like to think that he is not racist. However, he is a man of his time, though fictional, and must hold at least some of the irrational prejudices of it. His feelings towards women are highly irrational, and I do not see why his views of foreigners would be less so. The entire Sherlock Holmes oeuvre is racist and imperialist in the extreme. If you read it, if you like it, you must accept that and perhaps even turn a blind eye to it for the space of the story.
As for the slashiness of my story (or lack thereof), I do not think it is at all relevant to accusations of racism. Are you complaining because you disliked my story or because you see a specific problem with it? Don't try to bolster your argument with attacks on my personal taste. No, I didn't write a sex scene, but I did have them in bed together.
Clearly, my understanding of Balinese history is somewhat superficial, but then so is yours. I thank you for the compliment of being interested enough to criticize me, but I must also disagree with you.