See Treason.
By treason to mankind, I meant something more basic than treason to any political institution. What do we think of Benoni Strang's motivation? He is primarily loyal to his socioeconomic class on Hermes, the Travers. This motivation is admirable. Equal voting rights for Travers would be equal voting rights for all Hermetians. However, the way to bring this about would be by campaigning among Hermetians on Hermes, not by bringing in an alien invasion force. We are explicitly told that Strang is fanatical. This is plausible although others could have the same motivation without becoming fanatical. Anderson shows Strang in a sympathetic light as he is dying.
The governance of Hermes is a little more complicated than the Dukedom and the presidencies of the domains. Lady Sandra deliberates with her cabinet and there is also a world legislature. However, the domains with their restricted voting rights are the basis of the state.
Laters.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
But "treason to mankind" is too wide, too broad and vague to even mean much. It can easily lead to such things as "People who dare to disagree with my socio/political views are traitors to the human race." Treason in any real sense has to be defined more carefully and precisely if it's to have any real meaning. So it has to defined as the betrayal of something more concrete, such as the political institution governing a state. That's why I focused on the Anglo/American law of treason which developed from the Treason Act of 25 Edward III.
And I have zero use or sympathy for Benoni Strang. His comparatively trivial and petty grievances with the society of the Grand Duchy of Hermes cannot justify his very real treason there. I would even argue Strang was TREACHEROUS to both the Seven in Space and Babur, manipulating them to advance his own ambitions and lust for power on Hermes.
And you keep harping on the lack of equal voting rights for the Travers, but you never seem to note how they were also not taxed by the Grand Duchy. If my recollection is correct, taxation was limited to the Kindred and the Followers, leading me to conclude the drafters of the constitution of Hermes went by the principle that it was the people who got taxed which should have voting rights.
And most of the Travers did not even support Benoni Strang! Both those who remained loyal to the Grand Duchy and those otherwise inclined to be sympathetic to Strang's avowed views. In addition, again if I'm recalling correctly, the Travers could vote for and hold local municipal offices on Hermes. So they did have some kind of say in politics.
I am so sick of fanatical revolutionaries! All we have ever gotten from them, from Robespierre onward, has been brutal and bloody tyrannies. My view remains that of Edmund Burke: REAL reform, if it's to be lasting, has to be slow, cautious, conciliatory, built on consensus.
Merry Christmas! Sean
Sean,
The Travers gained a vote in municipal elections because of the Liberation Front campaign.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And I have no objection to that.
Happy New Year! Sean
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