"Nyaronga muttered - it took courage with the Ancients listening -..." (p. 66)
Nyaronga accuses the Ancients of treachery and deceit. He is a t'Kelan leader who takes pride in his courage, a pride that is instinctual, not merely cultural, yet he fears to accuse the Ancients in their hearing. What better proof that they exercise power and therefore are what I call a "ruling group"?
The chief in council of the Ancients says:
"'Kusulongo the City seeks the good of the whole world, which is its own good; and these sly strangers were bringing new ways that threatened old usage.'" (p. 68)
The strangers were explaining that they could save the world and thus were, inadvertently, challenging the Ancients' monopoly of knowledge which is power. People of good will negotiate to find common interests whereas a ruling group claims, and even assumes, that its good is everyone else's good. "What's good for M.M. Enterprises is good for the U.S. of A!"
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Well, what is good for Corporation A,B, or C does not necessarily have have to be opposed to what is good for the US. As the saying goes, it all depends!
And Old Nick DID find ways of reconciling the Ancients to the new ways and knowledge offered by Esperance, by showing how the Ancients could profit from these new ways!
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment