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Role Reversal 2046
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Role Reversal 2046 |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Just trying to come up with a scenario that comes close to 'seeing through their eyes'. Imperfect, of course. Impossible, I don't know. Implausible, certainly: 2046, America has been under a Christian theocracy for the last thirty years. Nehemiah Scudder, the 'president' for the last thirty years has been deposed by the USA, The United States of Arabia, a secular democracy in place roughly for the same length of time. Currently, they have occupied, liberated the country for the last three years. They have declared victory, transferred sovereignty, and had elections. If not the end, not even the beginning of the end, it is the end of the beginning. Timeout, daughter wants to write: ugityriurteyuuqywtryrertertye gh gjhsgftfsggdhhgh ehhtetgeteghhspdjj,hggjfjg.gghfckllfkfjhdredghhkjd Yet, you, Zane Grey, have no power, no running water, you get your news at the coffee shop nearby (though it's difficult to get coffee these days.). You're certainly happy that Scudder is gone, he was a son of a bitch, you always thought, but, of course never said out loud. People are grumbling all around you. A few are saying that it's worse than when Scudder was in charge, but nobody wants him back. No one that you know anyway. Your sister's family died in a bombing incident last year. This is nothing special. You don't know anyone who hasn't lost sombody in this thing. At the same time, you remind yourself, you don't know any family that wasn't hurt by Scudder and his goons. The few troops you've encountered were abrasive, rude, and frightening. They spoke Arabic to you, a language you can only describe as ugly (and it always sounds like they're angry even when there's no reason to be). Why don't they learn English? You just want to live your life, be a good Christian man, and raise your children properly. These troops aren't Christian, they are Muslim, and you've heard rumours that they treat us the way they treat us because we're not muslim. They don't look like you, they don't speak like you, they tell you what to do, and hold out the promise of freedom -- someday. Say all you want about Scudder, an eerie thought erupts more and more often inside your head, especially as the regime recedes further in your memory. He was a son of a bitch. But at least he was our son of a bitch. ------------------------------ Add, expand, pick apart, I thought it would be an interesting exercise for a writing forum. |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Meanwhile Kim Jong Il after having had his brain transplanted again into the body of an actor kidnapped from Bombay decides that since the United States has withdrawn their troops, it’s now safe to invade South Korea which he does. South Korea after forty-eight hours surrenders. Japan, also free of American troops, agrees to send Kim Jong IL seven virgin maidens and seven pure boys, along with five million Hello Kitty key chains every year as tribute if he refrains from shooting missiles over their country. Kim says he’ll think about it. |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
But it seems the "us and them" mentality fostered by Scudder, that Christian-fascist, is what we should most strongly seek to oppose. The United States of Arabia has rightly vindicated us from Skudder the tyrant - our efforts, therefore, should be directed toward preserving our cultural identity from the threat of "intellectual tyranny" that will bleach the redeeming distinctives of our culture along with the dangerious (as was emboddied by Scudder) - to maintain our dignity along with the peace and freedom bought with the blood of both friends and strangers. If I had to choose, I would surely prefer my children raised as neo-Arabs to having them suspended from Skudder's meathooks for a careless word uttered in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even though the thought angers me, I lack the courage to prevent the former, but the thought of the latter pains me even more - I would sooner die than allow my child to die alone. Another Scudder - kinsman or not - must not be allowed to place his foot on our necks again. The Arab rhetoric is enticing - peace, self-governance, and freedom. I, for one, must do what I can to prevent the unspoken encapsulation of "and Arab-likeness" into the Arab agenda for my people, and will do so by teaching my children of what is good, honorable, and desirable concerning the rich tradition of our people. Besides that, now that the Arabs have acted and removed Skudder from power, it seems I can do little more than thank the Arab liberators for the hope of peace, autonomy, and freedom, but remind them when they cross the line, causing my children to wrongfully hate their heritage. One thing is certain - the Christian-fascist elements that target both foreigner and kinsman must be stopped. Regardless of the injustices the Christian-fascists believe have been inflicted on them by the United States of Arabia, we cannot allow ourselves to condone violence against innocent children and men. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Jim, you took the words right out of my mouth!  |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Brad, your daughter speaks the same language as my Abigail! Uncanny!  |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
nodding with denise What was the question again? I was distracted a bit by the beauty of Brad's daughter's response, and I stongly suspect she is a future pianist. (patterns apparent) Let her play, dammit. She makes more sense.  I exit, only one third joking.  |
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Capricious Member
since 2002-09-14
Posts 89California, USA |
quote: I suspect once power and water are restored, a lot of this grumbling will disappear. A lot of people were grumbling after Hurricane Andrew, too. The absence of conveniences is certainly not so great a hardship as the threat of being slain out of hand by Saddam's soldiers. quote: You forgot to mention the terrorist attacks, perpetrated by your own people, that kill as many of you as they do the occupying force. quote: I'd rather they not stick around long enough to learn English, personally. Given the rate at which average adults learn foreign languages, especially one with no roots in common with their own, that would entail a long stay. quote: Rumors fostered and spread by terrorists, no doubt. Really trustworthy guys, that lot. This isn't the Crusades. We're not killing people because they're Muslim. quote: Actually they hold out the promise of a democratically elected government. After that, it's up to the people and their elected officials whether the end result is "freedom." quote: Nobody likes war, and nobody expects to like it, especially when it's fought on your own soil. Luckily, war is a means, not an end; the telling factor will be whether or not the Iraquis succeed in maintaining their democracy after we've left. Certainly there will be obstacles, but they are not insurmountable, and the national pride that could be gained by attaining these goals as a people is not to be discounted. As to "our" S.O.B. vs "their" S.O.B. - well, change is a frightening prospect sometimes, but it's got to be a relief to know that eventually, the US will leave. Sure, Saddam would eventually have died, but it's as likely as not that someone just as bad would have taken its place. At least Iraq has the financial support of many nations, including the US, in their rebuilding efforts. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Brad, one of your best qualities is to think outside the box. |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
The Germans were relieved to be out from under the Nazis who first murdered thousands within their own country in order to consolidate power and control its minds before moving on to other killing grounds. And apparently, after 60 years, they don't want us, (unlike the Soviets), to leave. [This message has been edited by Huan Yi (02-09-2005 07:53 PM).] |
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