THIRTY FOUR ✖ VOICE

[wedonot]

[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.

Comments

[Private]

[wecanavenge]

If you had something to say to me, you could have simply said it. [By which he means, who else are you talking to here bro.]

[ Voice ]

[warisart]

And how is your peace theory meant to work when those doing the crushing beneath boot heels do not even notice those they are, metaphorically, crushing?

[chlorophylliac]

I disagree.

[Of course you do Ivy.]

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean listens, and there's a slight, sad curve to her lips; this isn't a man who's been to war, but he's still like her Professor in so many ways, and it hurts that she can feel this wedge between them.

But she questioned the Xavier at home and she'll question the one here, though her voice is soft and her expression calm. She's had time a lot of to think, time to settle; this isn't the raging girl who argued with him before.

There's a distance to her, now.]

Are you saying that violence is never justified, then? That it could have always been avoided?

[There a slight emphasis to that last word, a slight edge. They could have talked about this one on one, face to face.]

Because I'm sure that's true in some cases. If people had just sat down and talked, maybe a lot of lives could have been saved.

In others, though? Some of them weren't ever going to listen. Because they didn't see their opposition as anyone worth hearing, or they were just - too set in what they were doing.

Diplomacy should always be the first resort. But I don't think it's right to condemn people for using others tactics, when those keep failing.

[She looks very sad, when she speaks next, sad and strained and older than her years.]

Sometimes peace isn't an option. Even when you really want it to be. [She bites her lip.] And I think refusing to see that...might just cost more lives.

[megamind]

My, my, my-- we are quite lofty in our ideals! [ And honestly, Megamind loves hearing humans talk about loving each other, after what they've done to him in the past. He loves poking holes in it. ]

Speaking as the outsider looking in: you people, and I lump humans of all shapes, sizes, powers, sexes, origins and religions into that morass-- will never know peace because you're always going to find a reason to hate one another, and the easiest reason will always be 'they're not just like me'.

Ever been to a prison? I mean a real one, not this farce. It's like watching everyone segregate for safety. Whites, Blacks, Hispanic, Persians, Jews; you name if they sort by it. Gang affiliation is usually racially motivated. All because you can't trust them... [ he searched for a slur he finds mild enough and balks; he has standards, okay? ] well, pick the racially charged slur of your choice and apply it.

Face it: you humans can't even stand the sight of one another, most of the time. Your grand human Utopia is so statistically remote as to be a joke. Most of your soft-headed sheep are just prey for the wolves among you. You don't have enough idealistic heroes to make for lasting change.

[timesbureaucrat]

It's a fine ideal, but not always practical. Solving disputes through the proper political and diplomatic channels is, of course, preferred, but sometimes it's simply not possible.

[onceandfutureprat]

What happened?

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara's smile is wry and sad.]

I understand the sentiment, Charles. And I agree that diplomacy ought to be the first option.

But sometimes violence really is the only course for change. When dissenting voices are just ignored or silenced, over and over - it's either rebellion or nothing.

This professor of yours - did he talk about what was going on before some of these wars? What the cost of non violence would have been?

[video]

[useofaswhat]

You ever fought in a war, friend? [His face is drawn and he looks exhausted, somehow older than usual, but instead of defensive he just sounds tired.] You ever been attacked in one?

do you mind a backtag on this?

[darknessb4me]

/late :v

[sharpememory]

I've never seen peace and understanding do as much as fear and force. If you want to get things done, you gotta go the hard way.