CP3S said:
darth_ender said:
It would be good to actually read the books. Humanity is afraid of these aliens because of their frightening insect-like appearance and their seeming relentlessness in their assaults on humanity, and thus they earned the nickname "buggers".
It is just hard to take it as coincidence that the nickname for his alien species also just so happens to be a dirty word meaning "*** ******".
That is great he was a huge opponent of racism.
Okay, bear in mind that the book came out in the early 80s, and was based on his own short story of the same name that came out in the 70s. I have never heard of that expression meaning anything like that before today, nor do I know the etymology of that particular definition, but I already have my doubts that such a meaning had developed by the time that story was written. Even if that expression did already exist, let's look at more convincing factors. First, the aliens look like bipedal ants, which, as you likely know, are in fact "bugs". Second, these aliens are originally meant to be frightening (not in any sexual way), but then ultimately are very sympathetic, and we learn the horrible consequences of such prejudice against these aliens. Third, they bear no other resemblance to homosexuality in either culture or behavior. For instance, they are organized much like an ant hill, with a queen at the head who reproduces with male drones and communicates telepathically. I fail to see any gay analogies there. The only other connection one might make for anti-gay propaganda is the bullying that takes place between children, one saying another's butt wiggles, and the reply from "God" that the bully is checking out a boy's butt. Quite common as far as bullying goes and hardly a statement against being gay.