6, Video

[darwinatrix]

[The tall woman is sitting down, one leg crossed severely over the other; she regards the camera with an icy blue stare.]

I am Major-General Olivier Mira Armstrong, of Amestris' North Army. By now, you've seen posters and heard ads, all from people professing to work and bring peace and harmony to this nation's population and her ImPorts, if only you vote to put them in power.

I will not be running for the available positions.

Politicians speak honeyed words, but it is the strength and fortitude of the soldiers in the trenches that wins a war. Is it not the duty of the strong to protect the weak? Is it not the duty of the shepherd to guard his sheep? Is it not the duty of the sentry on the wall to stand guard for those who live behind it, safe, happy and oblivious? We here, we who have been granted superhuman powers- we are the strong. We are the shepherds.

Cast your ballot as you wish, but don't fool yourself into thinking that a simple bureaucrat can affect change more than your actions can.

Comments

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[lyingheart]

No... words themselves achieve very little. Dealing in the political realm... we're not here to change that again. We don't have anyone working with us for that purpose. Still, running for these ambassador positions... that, too, is an action... is it not?

video forever

[darwinatrix]

Talking's technically an action, too. It's still cheap. Political promises are cheaper still.

They're not the kind of action that'll earn us the respect of this nation.

[lyingheart]

Lacking action to back up words will lose respect in most situations. As it is, actions in the United States and abroad are starting to "define" what we are at present. Even as the laws here change to respond to that "definition" of imPorts in the public eye.

There are combinations of both that become important. Couplings of words and actions.

[resipiscent]

[He noticed the posters around town, but Riku's bad at being more than provisionally aware of current events. Even back home he wouldn't have been able to tell you the name of the mayor if he hadn't been Kairi's dad.]

An election, huh...? I think we can help without being in a position like that. I mean, I'm not running or anything, but I wouldn't want to be in a position of power anyway. Seems like a lot of paperwork and a lot less hands on work.

[darwinatrix]

A lot of sitting on your ass in a stuffed shirt telling everyone else what to do from the comfort of the rear.

[resipiscent]

Yeah, that's exactly what it sounds like. Not my thing, either.

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[enigmaestro]

Not interested in their usual rhetoric?

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[darwinatrix]

[Interesting.

She snorts derisively.] Hardly. Empty words from stuffed shirts who order people to do all the hard work. I have no patience for fools who think talk alone solves anything.

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[enigmaestro]

I'm inclined to agree, Major General. I don't see a future in cooperation from our community, especially when it's so one-sided.

Voice

[kanadian]

[ He doesn't necessarily agree with all of it, but... ]

I don't know, does anyone trust any politicians? By nature, they aren't trustworthy.

Voice

[darwinatrix]

They damn well shouldn't.

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[extirpations]

Well spoken Major-General. As stirring a speech as any from the would-be politicians.

However it's simply not enough to give such a lecture without something behind it. Naturally I believe you have a course of action already in mind but until we get to see the fruits of your labour it's only right you tell us how you intend to act to protect the weak.

[Hasn't she missed seeing this smug, smirking face and everything that comes with it?]

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[darwinatrix]

[Gtfo Kimblee]

My record speaks for itself with Alaska.

VOICE.

[soldiarity]

[ "Is it not the duty of the strong to protect the weak?" she says, and Reiner has said almost that exact thing before. It strikes him, he of course agrees, but he is careful in how he articulates his thoughts. ]

I think Annie makes some good points. What you're saying is true and all, definitely... but I also think that what we are, a position like that could enable someone strong to protect the weak about as effectively as soldiers can. In a different way, maybe, but people in power always have strength that they can use for the better or worse of any situation. It's how they use that position... not the position itself, that concerns me.

voice

[darwinatrix]

If some bureaucrat wants to run for office, let him. I have no problem with it existing.

Just don't expect it alone to change anything.

voice;

[sassguard]

Never saw myself as much of a shepherd, personally.

voice;

[darwinatrix]

The irony does not escape me.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Is that really how you see the people you protect, General? As livestock that you're herding?

[Jacob respects the hell out of Armstrong as a soldier but her outlook scares the hell out of him sometimes.]

[darwinatrix]

The analogy makes perfect sense. We stand guard so that they may live happy, safe and content, oblivious to the danger.

voice.

[missions]

I'm curious to know what course of action you would endorse.

voice.

[darwinatrix]

Protecting the civilians of this nation from threats using the gifts granted to us. And our natural skills.

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[rathercommon]

[ Wow
you're kind of magnificent ]

But it seems like words - those can also be a sort of strength, can't they?

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[darwinatrix]

They can inspire, perhaps. But an example inspires far more.

video;

[handwringing]

[Hasn't she already had a similar conversation?]

It takes more than strength to lead a people. It's the job of the military to protect, but it's the job of government to negotiate deals, allocate resources, and make sure justice is served. The imPorts, especially those who are unregistered, are like a separate country within this one, and they need ambassadors to handle those things for them.

video;

[darwinatrix]

And why can a military not handle all of that? What benefits does a civilian government, who understands little of how to properly allocate its resources, offer?