Donovan's contact with the Terrans makes him:
"'...feel a lot kinder toward the Empire.'" (p. 409)
Helena explains:
"'It's a question of unifying the human race, ultimately this whole region of stars...'" (ibid.)
Unifying humanity is a worthy aim although an Empire is not the only way to do it. Enforced unity, no. Unity of common interests and by persuasion, yes.
I searched for an image of a World War II Victory mug because a friend once had one with the flags and images of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union: three different models of "unity." The UN is another. I think that the principle of any future society has to be: "Difference without division. Unity without uniformity."
Helena looks farther than humanity when she adds: "'...this whole region of stars...'" In Flandry's time, there is a "brotherhood of beings" sentiment, derided by Max Abrams.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Human beings what they are, I don't expect SOME amount of force to ever be absent. Because that has been one of the constants of human history however far back you go. I think efforts of unification, under whatever form, will always have varying amounts of force and persuasion.
Sean
Sean,
But hopefully there will come a time when only a small minority need to be coerced.
The mobilizing of entire national populations against each other has got to stop.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
You mean legitimized, institutionalized violence called "war." Problem is, I don't think that will ever happen. And a big reason for that will because war will not always be the worst of evils. As Anderson pointed out in his Introduction to SEVEN CONQUESTS.
Sean
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