Starkadian land- and sea-dwellers are natural enemies. Merseians back sea-dwellers so Terrans back land-dwellers. In Highport on Starkad, the Terrestrial envoy, Lord Hauksberg, and his concubine, Persis d'Io, entertain Naval staff, including Ensign Flandry, the young hero who has improved relations with local allies and captured a Seatroll.
When Commander Abrams says that Tigeries (land-dwellers) barbecue any Seatrolls that they capture, Persis chides Flandry who had said that he liked the Tigeries. Abrams replies:
"'Might be hard for a civilized being to understand, Donna,' Abrams drawled. 'We prefer nuclear weapons that can barbecue entire planets.'" (CHAPTER FIVE, p. 44)
Slow down there, Abrams. There is no moral equivalence between an individual who tortures a prisoner and an individual who is a citizen of a nuclear-armed state. So far, such states have avoided using nukes since they were tested in Japan although there is still much "conventional" destruction. Long-range missiles have just been authorized in a current war. Is World War III starting as I type? I must switch on the TV for news. There is continual interaction between futuristic fiction and current affairs.
Onward, hopefully.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Except you may be missing something that seems obvious to me, Abrams was being sardonic, using exaggeration to make a point. Also, I read somewhere of how the Sea People were often no better to Tigeries they captured.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Of course the Sea-dwellers were no better. That doesn't mean that brutality on both sides balances out and doesn't count!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I agree.
I also thought of the Covenant of Alfzar, ratified by the civilized interstellar powers, was an attempt by them to place some agreed on restraints on what they could in times of war. The Covenant was based on the Terrestrial laws and customs of war and diplomacy. Meaning the Hague/Geneva, and Vienna conventions.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment