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Jan M

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Earthsong (Native Tongue, #3)

by Suzette Haden Elgin

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in December 2010

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Jan M said: " While I still see the great writing of Suzette, I must admit this book broke my heart. The previous two has some hope for the males and indeed some males acted with common sense in the second one. However, in this one the idea that males are somehow While I still see the great writing of Suzette, I must admit this book broke my heart. The previous two has some hope for the males and indeed some males acted with common sense in the second one. However, in this one the idea that males are somehow unable to think beyond their "innate programming" which is so inferior to females made me hurt. I do not believe this and the author (or some commentator who helped publish this) does put into her notes how this may seem dated with the changes in society since the time it was written. To me this proves the point. I do believe that there are differences between men and women but I also believe that a hell of a lot of those are cultural. When society changes so do the actions of males and females. Just look at our disgust of the treatment of females in other parts of the world; the practice of female genital mutilation, wearing of burkahs so not even your children can recognize you and the stoning of women who commit adultery. They are but a few examples of how we are different here in the United States and Europe, and how the appearance of females in more and more "male" positions is common place and accepted.
Beyond this the story dealt with solving the ancient problem of starvation was very interesting. While I squirm at the idea (I like the act of eating and filling the tummy) I did like the way such a task was so monumental the change in society. I fear I must take umbrage, though, at the idea that we must fundamentally change the human race in order to make "utopia". One man's utopia is another man's hell. Anything that is forced and to such a fundamental change seems poorly thought out. Instead I think the Founding Fathers had a better idea. Stay as much out of human endeavors as possible without having chaos and leave the rest to the citizenry. I think that requires massive education (not indoctrination, education) and with the internet we are now capable of that. Societal standards set- learn to read and write your language and two others, math to calculus, logic, history (in bare bones way to prevent indoctrination-memorize), geography and geology and biology, chemistry, etc. What a kick in the pants that would make. Can you imagine? Instead of secrecy and forcing change. Whoa, enough of the venting.
I finished and it didn't get better. I would not recommend this book, just the previous two. ...more "

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(page 190 of 268)
"I am sad I am having such problems with this considering how I loved the previous two." — Sep 17, 2010 09:37PM

Nov 02, 2012 10:27PM · see review