Isaac Asimov On Antisemitism And The Universality Of Prejudice
JVL Introduction
Isaac Asimov, one of the great founders of modern science fiction, was actually born in post-revolutionary Russia into an orthodox Jewish family. They moved to the United States when he was three.
There he became a biochemist before becoming a prolific author, winning more than a dozen annual awards for particular works of science fiction and a half dozen lifetime awards.
In his 1994 autobiography he touched in passing on the issue of antisemitism and prejudice.
It was, writes Diana Mason by way of introduction, “about prejudice and persecution; specifically about Asimov’s discomfort at the fact that some of his fellow Jews, who were so animated at any manifestation of antisemitism anywhere in the world, could be completely blind to the persecution of non-Jews, even if it was going on right under their noses.”
[This extract, obtained circuitously, was taken from a French publication and retranslated by Diana Mason (aka Lawrence of Cyberia) in 2010. One day, when can get to a library again, we’ll check this translation against the original. For now this will have to do!]
This article was originally published by Lawrence of Cyberia blog on Fri 12 Mar 2010. Read the original here.
Isaac Asimov On Antisemitism And The Universality Of Prejudice
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Beautifully written.
The whole world seems to be permanently waving a banner that reads: “Freedom! … but not for others”.(Isaac Asimov)
A profound statement for our times.
Interesting to ponder a little on how his experiences may have informed both the prejudice against robots (as a minority) and the ‘Laws of Robotics’ as they deal with not harming others and not allowing harm to come to others through inaction in his ‘Robot’ novels.
Acknowledging the universality of prejudice is the necessary first step in learning to live by universal moral principles and the only way to guarantee never again.
That’s fascinating, and beautifully clear and simple. I dont think I have read Asimov, but I will now start!!
I agree with Naomi: this is such beautiful, clear writing. I hope the original is as good as this wonderful translation!
Of course, the Labour Party now would not touch Isaac Asimov with a bargepole. He would be prevented from speaking by local authorities and universities and harassed by the BoD, the CAA and the JLM.
I can add another example of the oppressed becoming oppressors: Liberia.
Marvellous! Our whole family read Asimov’s trilogy, and I can see how it must have spoken to my father, who could otherwise not speak about being Jewish (with family who’d been in Hungary and in hiding throughout WW2). Sci-fi was written by minorities. I loved the feminist sci-fi of the 70s too.
This is absolutely brilliant. Even if I hadn’t been a huge Asimov fan already, I would be converted by this.
I have never read this statement from Asimov,but as a devoted reader of his novels,his statement gives much more meaning to the philosophy expressed in his stories.
Thank you JVL for enlightening me about a favourite author
So beautifully, cogently and – above all – gently expressed.