Del and Sofia Samatar’s Book Monster Portraits: “Without wishing to conflate or appropriate”
One excerpt, story, short, called “Clan of the Claw” had me thinking that I had a glimpse of a clue. Samatar used historical figures that were once viewed as others to reveal how monsters can be timeless and fluid. She compared a historical figure’s otherness to her self-identified otherness. I too would like to try and compare without making equal my self-identified otherness.
Ok, but is there a round in the chamber?
Not long ago, I was in a situation when I had to question the safety of myself and the critters in my care. The potential
threat was unknown, strangers, and without a timeline. That’s what happens when someone questions people who have power. They were mad, frustrated, and entitled.
If something happened and I were home alone, it was up to me to be the protector. There was no one to call. What are you going do if you are in bed and someone enters the house? Hide behind the bed and shoot if they enter. No, you always take the offensive. Walk towards and fire. Ok, but is there a round in the chamber? There is always a round in the chamber. The conversation continues and now we are outside. Now where is the best vantage point? I think, “how did we get here?” To use Samatar’s words, “without wishing to conflate or appropriate” to Leonard Peltier, is this the same thing? Ok, if you must shoot someone….do you hurt them or kill them? Ok, but will there be a round in the chamber?
You are on or off the bus!
When I was young, to use Samatar’s words, “without wishing to conflate or appropriate” I viewed myself on the fringe of society like Tom Wolfe. My parents made the mistake of letting me roam if I had a job and good grades. I went further in distance and from social norms than they ever knew. I never saw the consequences, too young I suppose. Once I reached a point and visited it enough times, I realized could never fully reintegrate back into the normal social fold. I tried. I would not tell people about my youthful events. The social-norm people have some sort of intuition and can sus it out.
Hey you, private! What are you? Some sort of tree hugger? Get back in ranks!
Did I do it right?
On this point, to use Samatar’s words, “without wishing to conflate or appropriate” to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I wish could understand. The point is death and dying. As we all go through life, sometimes we are called upon to help others die.
How does one know if they actually helped someone with their death and dying process correctly? Is it just a comparison between how well you manage your level of guilt and your self-doubt later? Hello, you know it is ok to die. The pain you are in will never go away. Let go… it is ok. I said that, then to another person I said, your dying, you can not quit hospice… do you understand you are at that quality-of-life stage? A Native American I knew asked me to shave off all his long hair. His hair was pretty and prized by his family. A few weeks later he died from an infection. I traveled to the reservation for his wake. Excuse me, do you know who shaved Robert’s head? It is a tragedy he passed without his hair.
