I have not *made* a big issue out of this, and do not intend to do
so. In addition, when a certain characteristic is revealed in someone,
it won't be in the center of a story or made into a treatise because at
the time of our story it *isn't* an issue anymore, any more than being
left or right handed. No one frankly cares. And it will not be given
any more weight than that. It will be treated fairly off-handedly.

A note to those who have taken up this issue to popularize it: there
is a Monty Python sketch called "The Value of Not Being Seen." Those
who've seen it will get the reference. To the rest...until something is
done in a show, particularly something along these lines, it's best to
keep a fairly subdued profile, because if people start getting hincky
about something before we've shown how something is actually going to be
handled -- with taste, discretion and subtlty -- it might cause some folks
to bring pressure *not* to do it.

Let's all do one thing at a time...and let me do this according to
the schedule that's set out for this. Don't jump the gun.

jms

I must admit that I am amazed by your ability to fortell the future.
This must come in very handy in Vegas.

You start with an assumption of what I might do -- your opinion
based on what someone else has said -- then make that into a fact that I
AM going to do it, and then say you have trouble with my decision; you
assume it's going to be handled in a certain fashion, and then condemn
that fashion; you say that issues are going to be raised, and you have
trouble with that issue; you say the genetic factor will be brought up,
which hasn't been proven, and then question the ethics of doing so.

Let me state this as simply as possible:

1) You are wrong in just about every particular. You do not know
what I am going to do. To make a guess, based on zip from me, then
condemn actions based on a guess that is TOTALLY INACCURATE is truly
the ultimate straw-man. Let me restate: you are completely and totally
wrong in your speculations on the issues, and how this will be handled.
You don't have to guess, you don't have to assume, I'm telling you
straight out: you're wrong.

2) You're a boob. Please try to refrain from prophesy until and
unless you are biblically empowered by a considerably higher source.

jms

From: straczynski@genie5.geis.com

Let me respond only to two points in your message. The rest seem
hardly worthy of response.

I am not, as you imply, going for "brownie points" from anyone. I
am telling a story. I am telling the story that I've wanted to tell for
seven years. I have no interest in currying favor from any group, any
organization, any fringe or mainstream elements. You don't work for seven
years to create the chance to tell your own story just to turn it over to
the influence of others.

Did it every occur to you -- for even a *smidgen* of a second -- that
maybe, just maybe, what I'm doing with B5 is being done BECAUSE IT ADVANCES
THE STORY? Because it is a legitimate part of the story? You seem to
think that if someone does something in this area, it HAS to proceed from
either a personal political agenda, or the enforced agenda of others.

Which is a load of absolute and utter crap. I don't care who signs
on board, or who's offended. That's not my concern. My concern is in
telling a story, as best as I am able. Period.

To your second point, that if violence on TV is open to congressional
inquiry, then nothing is wrong in "questioning (how) political and social
issues are presented in entertainment programming."

Well, I'm glad someone has finally come out of the woodwork on this
one.

This is exactly what happens in this situation. Everybody waves the
big VIOLENCE bugaboo around to get pressure built behind them...and then
they begin to use this huge stick to go after their OTHER agendas, the
legislation of ideas, curtailment of notions and issues that they don't
personally like. It's happened again and again, in comics, in kid's
programs, in libraries across the country, in the recording industry, and
now they're trying to do it to TV.

The hard part is always getting them to ADMIT that this is on their
minds.

Thank you for breaking the silence.

jms

From: straczynski@genie4.geis.com

Let me respond only to two points in your message. The rest seem
hardly worthy of response.

I am not, as you imply, going for "brownie points" from anyone. I
am telling a story. I am telling the story that I've wanted to tell for
seven years. I have no interest in currying favor from any group, any
organization, any fringe or mainstream elements. You don't work for seven
years to create the chance to tell your own story just to turn it over to
the influence of others.

Did it every occur to you -- for even a *smidgen* of a second -- that
maybe, just maybe, what I'm doing with B5 is being done BECAUSE IT ADVANCES
THE STORY? Because it is a legitimate part of the story? You seem to
think that if someone does something in this area, it HAS to proceed from
either a personal political agenda, or the enforced agenda of others.

Which is a load of absolute and utter crap. I don't care who signs
on board, or who's offended. That's not my concern. My concern is in
telling a story, as best as I am able. Period.

To your second point, that if violence on TV is open to congressional
inquiry, then nothing is wrong in "questioning (how) political and social
issues are presented in entertainment programming."

Well, I'm glad someone has finally come out of the woodwork on this
one.

This is exactly what happens in this situation. Everybody waves the
big VIOLENCE bugaboo around to get pressure built behind them...and then
they begin to use this huge stick to go after their OTHER agendas, the
legislation of ideas, curtailment of notions and issues that they don't
personally like. It's happened again and again, in comics, in kid's
programs, in libraries across the country, in the recording industry, and
now they're trying to do it to TV.

The hard part is always getting them to ADMIT that this is on their
minds.

Thank you for breaking the silence.

jms

Let me put this as simply as I can...in the year 2258, nobody *cares*
about your sexual orientation. It doesn't come up. No one makes an issue
out of it. There are no discussions, no proclamations, no inquiries, no
"how will they react?" It's like being left-handed or right-handed; no
one really cares one way or another.

Can we now move on past all of this?

jms