Bruce Wayne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
chiroptophobic) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
maskormenace2014-10-29 04:29 pm
chiroptophobic) wrote in maskormenace2014-10-29 04:29 pm
Entry tags:
001 video;
[ Here is the otherwise quiet Bruce Wayne, making an unusual appearance to the network as a whole. He has a glass of water with him, which he sips as he brings up the video feed. Bruce looks his typical self, dark hair, sincere eyes, an expensive pressed suit. He could be a politician, but he's not--not this Bruce Wayne, at least. He keeps his nose out of the affairs of state, maybe pulls a few strings behind the curtain, holds a few fundraisers... ]
My name is Bruce Wayne. I--was going to introduce myself, but I've been here for several months, and at this point it seems rather redundant.
I registered when I arrived here. It seemed like the done thing at the time, and I'm certainly in no position to go things alone, but... Well. I actually want to talk about the crisis last week. For those who went to Bulgaria in the interests of preserving life, now you face condemnation at home and abroad, and for what? Had the emergency services responded on their own there would have been far more cost in lives, and what does it say of America that it can have no pity for its fellow man in times of crisis? Traitor. It's...a very harsh word. As recently as the last century traitors could still be put to death, and you have to wonder whether that's the image that's been aspired to here, some kind of ultimate threat.
It's made me rethink another term. One that's been applied to those who don't conform to the government directed scheme of heroism established here. Vigilantism. I come from the city of Gotham, where indeed the topic is close to the heart of every citizen, myself among them. As a rule, I've always come down on the side of the law, in appointing and paying people for their efforts, after all who does a vigilante answer to at the end of the day? I discovered very recently the answer to that. Vigilantes answer to the people. They answer by the consequences of their actions.
Saving lives is hardly a government mandate, anyone should do what they can. Even a man who runs into a burning building to save a child is called a hero, rather than condemned as a criminal. My parents did what they could, and certainly neither of them fought villains with their bare hands, but they none the less died for their good will. I believe that there must always be a cost, whether we sow in goodness or evil.
I'm no politico. I'm not trying to breed discontent or rebellion, but the real question at the end of the day is this: If Bulgaria were attacked again, right now - knowing the discontent and enmity you'd face - would you go back? Would you stay, knowing that people will die that could have been saved? Are you a vigilante, or a hero on a leash, curtailed only to save the lives that the government deems more valuable, and more worthy? I can't help but think that how you would answer that question best answers what kind of person you are, and I can't help but think that all of us face a grim decision in the weeks to come.
I know that I, at least, am beginning to doubt the value of accepting handouts when the exchange rate comes in the form of human lives.
My name is Bruce Wayne. I--was going to introduce myself, but I've been here for several months, and at this point it seems rather redundant.
I registered when I arrived here. It seemed like the done thing at the time, and I'm certainly in no position to go things alone, but... Well. I actually want to talk about the crisis last week. For those who went to Bulgaria in the interests of preserving life, now you face condemnation at home and abroad, and for what? Had the emergency services responded on their own there would have been far more cost in lives, and what does it say of America that it can have no pity for its fellow man in times of crisis? Traitor. It's...a very harsh word. As recently as the last century traitors could still be put to death, and you have to wonder whether that's the image that's been aspired to here, some kind of ultimate threat.
It's made me rethink another term. One that's been applied to those who don't conform to the government directed scheme of heroism established here. Vigilantism. I come from the city of Gotham, where indeed the topic is close to the heart of every citizen, myself among them. As a rule, I've always come down on the side of the law, in appointing and paying people for their efforts, after all who does a vigilante answer to at the end of the day? I discovered very recently the answer to that. Vigilantes answer to the people. They answer by the consequences of their actions.
Saving lives is hardly a government mandate, anyone should do what they can. Even a man who runs into a burning building to save a child is called a hero, rather than condemned as a criminal. My parents did what they could, and certainly neither of them fought villains with their bare hands, but they none the less died for their good will. I believe that there must always be a cost, whether we sow in goodness or evil.
I'm no politico. I'm not trying to breed discontent or rebellion, but the real question at the end of the day is this: If Bulgaria were attacked again, right now - knowing the discontent and enmity you'd face - would you go back? Would you stay, knowing that people will die that could have been saved? Are you a vigilante, or a hero on a leash, curtailed only to save the lives that the government deems more valuable, and more worthy? I can't help but think that how you would answer that question best answers what kind of person you are, and I can't help but think that all of us face a grim decision in the weeks to come.
I know that I, at least, am beginning to doubt the value of accepting handouts when the exchange rate comes in the form of human lives.
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