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THIRTY FOUR ✖ VOICE
[Charles sounds somewhere between conversational and tired as he starts his story. He doesn't often share much like this with the network, but he's had a lot of time to think about it and just wants to put it on record somewhere, where other people can hear it.]
When I was at Harvard for my undergraduate degree, one of my first classes - just one of those requirements for freshmen to make sure we're well rounded individuals when we leave and all that - was a discussion of ethics and morality. The professor - I can't remember his name - started his first lecture by telling us he wasn't going to sugarcoat the material we covered or try to glamorize any of it, because we would be talking about war and crime and various other ethical dilemmas and sparing us the gory details would be missing the point. [Which was more or less what he'd told Tony, a few days ago, when he'd shown him Erik's memories, to get him to really realize what an arrogant ass he was being and why it was unacceptable. He still feels badly about it, like he'd forced something on Tony and betrayed Erik's trust, but he did still think it had been necessary.]
And he continued by saying there is nothing else quite like war. So much of our history [And he doesn't specify "human history", because he might not technically be one, but separating himself from that group and divorcing himself from human history is sort of missing the point of what he's trying to say, here.] has been spent at war, or devising new methods to maim and kill soldiers and civilians alike, or trying to negotiate to prevent conflict. So much money and effort and emotion and cost goes into it. There really is nothing else like it.
And the simple truth is that's because war is easy. It's easy to lash out in anger against someone else before they strike against you, or to take something that doesn't belong to you because you want it, to use force to make other people see your point of view, whether that be religion or politics or ideals, because understanding your enemy is complicated. It's easier to force them to bend to your will rather than negotiating or trying to teach your enemy, whether you think you've been wronged and are rising up to overthrow an oppressor, or if you're the one crushing those weaker than you under your boot heel.
So war may be easier. But that doesn't mean peace isn't worth striving for, or that you're weak for trying to pursue it. At the end of the day, anything achieved by violent means will come into question and challenged. Tyrants are overthrown by people who quickly turn into despots themselves, violent political uprisings turn people against worthwhile causes and give the bigots justification to say "these people are a threat to my sense of security", which just leads to more oppression and injustice, therefore solving nothing. And if the oppressed do get a chance to stamp out their oppressors, they're often so full of rage about their past suffering that instead of trying to compromise and work together, they turn into oppressors themselves.
But teaching people, and learning to understand each other and put aside your differences to work for something else creates a more lasting impression. It can still be threatened, and it certainly isn't a quick solution, because there always will be bigots and would be warlords in the world, but it can be accomplished if people are willing to work for it. And working for that - a more lasting peace and deeper understanding, not some impermanent agreement based in fear and violence - is worth it.
When I was at Harvard for my undergraduate degree, one of my first classes - just one of those requirements for freshmen to make sure we're well rounded individuals when we leave and all that - was a discussion of ethics and morality. The professor - I can't remember his name - started his first lecture by telling us he wasn't going to sugarcoat the material we covered or try to glamorize any of it, because we would be talking about war and crime and various other ethical dilemmas and sparing us the gory details would be missing the point. [Which was more or less what he'd told Tony, a few days ago, when he'd shown him Erik's memories, to get him to really realize what an arrogant ass he was being and why it was unacceptable. He still feels badly about it, like he'd forced something on Tony and betrayed Erik's trust, but he did still think it had been necessary.]
And he continued by saying there is nothing else quite like war. So much of our history [And he doesn't specify "human history", because he might not technically be one, but separating himself from that group and divorcing himself from human history is sort of missing the point of what he's trying to say, here.] has been spent at war, or devising new methods to maim and kill soldiers and civilians alike, or trying to negotiate to prevent conflict. So much money and effort and emotion and cost goes into it. There really is nothing else like it.
And the simple truth is that's because war is easy. It's easy to lash out in anger against someone else before they strike against you, or to take something that doesn't belong to you because you want it, to use force to make other people see your point of view, whether that be religion or politics or ideals, because understanding your enemy is complicated. It's easier to force them to bend to your will rather than negotiating or trying to teach your enemy, whether you think you've been wronged and are rising up to overthrow an oppressor, or if you're the one crushing those weaker than you under your boot heel.
So war may be easier. But that doesn't mean peace isn't worth striving for, or that you're weak for trying to pursue it. At the end of the day, anything achieved by violent means will come into question and challenged. Tyrants are overthrown by people who quickly turn into despots themselves, violent political uprisings turn people against worthwhile causes and give the bigots justification to say "these people are a threat to my sense of security", which just leads to more oppression and injustice, therefore solving nothing. And if the oppressed do get a chance to stamp out their oppressors, they're often so full of rage about their past suffering that instead of trying to compromise and work together, they turn into oppressors themselves.
But teaching people, and learning to understand each other and put aside your differences to work for something else creates a more lasting impression. It can still be threatened, and it certainly isn't a quick solution, because there always will be bigots and would be warlords in the world, but it can be accomplished if people are willing to work for it. And working for that - a more lasting peace and deeper understanding, not some impermanent agreement based in fear and violence - is worth it.
no subject
So you agree with Erik, then? Please, enlighten me how using violent methods against the humans is going to improve our situation.
no subject
You haven't actually been in a war, have you?
no subject
no subject
I think that's one reason why he's so firm about not killing - and I agree with that. [That's one point she won't argue. She's felt what death is.]
But I think it also means...he understands what desperation is. He understands what it means not to have the choices you want. That's why we know how to fight; he knew, for some battles, it was going to be necessary.
no subject
What I care about is the notion that because it will take time, because people might not listen immediately, because it's harder to accept that just because it seems like the majority hates us that it makes more sense to resort to using the same tactics against them. And I don't care what your Professor Xavier has done, I won't be the one to throw the first punch.
no subject
Don't worry, my Xavier is about as stubborn and self righteous as you are. [There's some fondness buried in there, beneath the annoyance.]
I'm just wondering how many "first punches" it will take. I'm not saying we should go around terrorising innocent people, or endangering hundreds of lives. I'm not going to defend what Magneto's doing in my world. But what we're doing doesn't seem to help either, not as much as it should.
And don't sit there and tell me to be patient when you aren't the one who's been doing it for years. [Well. Two, as part of the X-Men, but she endured the growing suspicion and hostility and disgust as she came to terms with what she was, with hiding it from her family, watched as the Professor poured himself into research and campaigning and debating, as he built their best hopes from the ground up.]
no subject
But he doesn't say anything about it, even if it's starting to annoy him, to have her acting like she knows him or that he's somehow responsible for what has or hasn't happened yet. He still has time to fix all of this.]
Then what do you suggest we do, exactly?
no subject
...Compromise.
[Her brow furrows as she speaks.] I'm not sure how exactly, not yet, but - I feel like there's got to be a middle ground, between the X-Men and the Brotherhood. Maybe even something we can agree on.
[After a moment, softly.] That you can agree on.
I think - that maybe that's where our world went wrong. Or - could have gone better.
no subject
It's easier to just admit they've had this argument too many times already and try to shift it into more neutral waters.]
[Private]
I understand. But I'm not interested in compromising with him as long as that's going to involve lashing out at the government or humans as a whole, and I know he isn't going to put aside his goals [To work with me, for any of us.] unless something changes.
[And he hesitates before continuing.] I thought, when we first arrived here, that this might be the chance to prevent that rift from growing we'd never get at home.
Private
I know it's - hard, here. [A wry twist to her smile. Yeah, that's a word for it.] Harder than it should be. But - we can still make something good out of it. Make it worth it.
Private
Private
Don't lose faith. In - in any of it, all right?
I know there are things that don't...sound that great, but - even if they do happen. That doesn't mean it's hopeless.
[She smiles, slightly.] And you were right, before - there are people who care. People who stand with us even though they don't have to. There's - it's hard to see sometimes, but there really is a lot of good in the world. [It's like she's reminding herself, too, like some of the weight lifts from her own shoulders.]
And you - you might not do the same good, but - I believe you'll make a difference. No matter what.