un: French revolution ❦ video

[idealisme]

[It's a day or so since he's arrived in Wyver and you'd think Enjolras might have something to say about the advanced technology, the breath-taking scenery, the ravenous creatures all determined to eat everyone-]

The honor of nations consists in being free and virtuous, in striking down tyrants and avenging reviled humanity.

[-or not.

You might mistake the age of the fiery-eyed young blond, he looks so young, except there's a gravity in his voice as he speaks and a serious set to his brow.]

I do not know you, fellow citizens, nor you me. I will introduce myself. My family name is Enjolras. I have five and twenty years and before the Storm I was a student of law in Paris.

We are from different lands, have lived different lives, pursued different goals- but now we are all here. If this is to be our home now, so be it. The Natha in their Space Ship have saved us and brought us to live here. So we shall live; we must. There are some forces against which men cannot fight and this must be one of them.

But there are other matters against which we must stand. There are, in this land, two names that are an affront to anyone who would be free. Two names that, by their very existence, threaten the life we are to lead here. They are the very antithesis of everything towards which free people strive, as they stand in the way of free people ruling themselves.

These names are 'king' and 'empress'.

[He doesn't have time to go into why these things are terrible. It's disconcerting to speak to no-one, to have no response. But he expects others will respond and it is to them directly that he plans to make his arguments. He has seen other conversations on the network, approved of this free and open means of communication. He'll use it for himself.]

There are some of you who have been awake longer than I. It may be that I am wrong in my assumptions. The names king and empress may be different from the titles I was familiar with in my former life. I can only hope it is so. I welcome all details you have. If you fear speaking of such things publicly I am willing to meet in person to exchange information.

[He gives a formal nod and cuts the feed.]

[It's been less than a week someone tell him to chill out.]

Comments

[fiendennor]

You're drawing a conclusion before you have all the information in front of you. Consider it from their perspective. If they enjoy the system that exists, what does that make you but a foreigner coming in to impose his will on the people?

[idealisme]

Can the oppressed enjoy their oppression?

[A brief burst of air escapes him as a sigh.] I speak for liberty and justice. There is no imposing that on others.
It is simple. Do the people here think themselves already free? Then they will not join me.

[fiendennor]

Again, you assume. You assume that just because their ruler is unelected, they are oppressed.

A hereditary ruler may be just and fair. An elected one may be cruel and vindictive.

[idealisme]

An elected one can be removed, there are checks and balances in place to ensure it if the people will it. A hereditary ruler cannot be removed.

[fiendennor]

But their power may be kept in check. The Magna Carta, for instance, made it explicit that in England, even the king must be superior to the law. And a democratically elected leader who gains control of the military may become a tyrant.

A Prime Minister may be elected, but they can still do great harm in their tenure as chief of state.

[idealisme]

[... now he's confused, thrown from his arguments. It frustrates him, setting him scowling.]

A moment, mademoiselle. You have the Magna Carta and England in the place you are from?

[fiendennor]

I do. England is the "place I am from," actually.

I assumed that, since it was unlikely other worlds have spontaneously developed a city called Paris and the word "mademoiselle," they existed in the place you were from, as well. Hence why I chose them as my examples.