[Sorry Damon and Liz, there's less than a day left and Javed still has to make his argument on the matter of the Elders, so I can't wait before getting into the Question part. So I'm afraid that this might get confusing in terms of post order, but it's kind of unavoidable.]
The next person to speak may not be the first one that people expect to. Javed Anubis-Sight, it has been said, is well-spoken for a mule. It was even said by Storm's Teeth during the warmoot that he was one of the most "grown up" of the Fosterns, Cliaths and kinfolk who had attended. But he is still a mule, and an Ahroun besides. While he could speak with a certain amount of eloquence, he was not necessarily given to philosophy and the art of debate. Yet here he was, stepping forward and--not putting his hand out for Milton to drop the bone into--taking the deer's rack in his hand. He stares at Milton a long moment, his eyelids narrowed slightly, before he begins to speak.
"You ask a very human question, Pokes-the-Mind's-Eye. And that is the flaw within your argument. We are not human, however much many of us may walk on two legs, live human lives, house ourselves in proximity to the Weaver, use Weaver tools. Denigrating your own tribe in marching us into the spider webs does not deflect from the argument that you are suggesting we follow a form of government created by servants of the Weaver, and one that has proven no more effective than any human institution."
He says that word, human, with a bit of disdain. The one-eyed Garou lives largely among the buildings and street lights and Pattern webs himself, or at least spends much of his time there. But he has never tried to emulate them. In this, he as much a stranger in a strange land as being Iranian in the United States puts him. And in that is (to his mind, at least) his strength in this argument; his experience with other nations, other societies (but always an outsider) means he does not view democracy or indeed, any government with rose-colored glasses.
"Look at your democracy, Pokes-the-Mind's-Eye. How far did it get the Greeks? Two hundred years? Perhaps more?" He's not an academic; he doesn't have dates, but the point is: they were not there for long. "How long has this United States lasted? Barely more than two centuries and it falls apart now. I do not need to be an American, or even a human, to know that your government cannot even agree to pay its debts now. I do not need to watch televisions or read journalism; I hear it on the street. I see the way that it is failing in every person left behind. Democracy is a weak form of ruling; it is just another human falsity. A lie."
He looks away from Milton now, the Fool left off at this point. His attention turns to the Garou of the moot. "You know why we do not choose democracy. While the Fool can speak of modern civilizations, he forgets that while those nations have risen and fallen, we have existed for thousands of years. While we have fought this war, even the oldest of nations have been born, then died. We survive because of the Litany, which is much more than a government. It is life, death, rules of war and rules of peace. It is no false Bill of Rights to be amended and trampled on when convenient, nor is it Ten Commandments to be ignored when we wish it. Ask the Fianna how long it takes to truly recite the Litany, and you may begin to take an understanding of its significance."
He turns his head back to Milton, body slowly following so that he is facing the somewhat more diminutive Ragabash. "You ask who enforces the Litany, and you argue that it is the Elders. There is another flaw in your argument. We all enforce the Litany every day. It is our cause; no government, but a call to arms, a call to breathe. Those who do not...they allow the Wyrm to breed and grow stronger. They create wars among us by fighting over territory. They breed disrespect, bring attention of humans onto us. Breed metis. Let our caerns be violated. Without the Litany we are beasts, and you would do well to remember that, Pokes-the-Mind's-Eye."
It is important to note here that, while his Rage rolls off of him in the argument--its heat directed at the young Ragabash more often than not--he does not ever threaten the Fool, or appear close to violence at him. He recognizes the importance of the position and while he may be speaking down to Milton somewhat, he does not show any open derision.
"Finally...you may wish to try and pretend that discounting war and battle is a possibility, but it is not. We are creatures of war. This is no utopia. Visit the graves and ask the Guardians of Cold Crescent whether we are in a time of peace or not. Ask the Theurges who battled against Weaver infestation in their territory, two of which died only to return to life baring the marks of their near-demise, if we are not at war. Ask myself and Reverence of Dawn-Radiant Honor, Black Sheep and Thunder’s Cry Echoes From the Sea if we were in an act of war or peace when we took action against a truck of Wyrm toxins. We are not at peace right now, in any definition of the word."
"But truly, it goes back to my original statement. Why are we not a democracy? Because democracy is human, Pokes-the-Mind'-Eye. And I can promise you that we are much more than human."
He looks then not to Milton or to the majority of the Garou, to the Great Alpha serving as Truthcatcher, silently waiting to see if the argument is over so that he can weigh in on the fate of the Cold Crescent elders.
The next person to speak may not be the first one that people expect to. Javed Anubis-Sight, it has been said, is well-spoken for a mule. It was even said by Storm's Teeth during the warmoot that he was one of the most "grown up" of the Fosterns, Cliaths and kinfolk who had attended. But he is still a mule, and an Ahroun besides. While he could speak with a certain amount of eloquence, he was not necessarily given to philosophy and the art of debate. Yet here he was, stepping forward and--not putting his hand out for Milton to drop the bone into--taking the deer's rack in his hand. He stares at Milton a long moment, his eyelids narrowed slightly, before he begins to speak.
"You ask a very human question, Pokes-the-Mind's-Eye. And that is the flaw within your argument. We are not human, however much many of us may walk on two legs, live human lives, house ourselves in proximity to the Weaver, use Weaver tools. Denigrating your own tribe in marching us into the spider webs does not deflect from the argument that you are suggesting we follow a form of government created by servants of the Weaver, and one that has proven no more effective than any human institution."
He says that word, human, with a bit of disdain. The one-eyed Garou lives largely among the buildings and street lights and Pattern webs himself, or at least spends much of his time there. But he has never tried to emulate them. In this, he as much a stranger in a strange land as being Iranian in the United States puts him. And in that is (to his mind, at least) his strength in this argument; his experience with other nations, other societies (but always an outsider) means he does not view democracy or indeed, any government with rose-colored glasses.
"Look at your democracy, Pokes-the-Mind's-Eye. How far did it get the Greeks? Two hundred years? Perhaps more?" He's not an academic; he doesn't have dates, but the point is: they were not there for long. "How long has this United States lasted? Barely more than two centuries and it falls apart now. I do not need to be an American, or even a human, to know that your government cannot even agree to pay its debts now. I do not need to watch televisions or read journalism; I hear it on the street. I see the way that it is failing in every person left behind. Democracy is a weak form of ruling; it is just another human falsity. A lie."
He looks away from Milton now, the Fool left off at this point. His attention turns to the Garou of the moot. "You know why we do not choose democracy. While the Fool can speak of modern civilizations, he forgets that while those nations have risen and fallen, we have existed for thousands of years. While we have fought this war, even the oldest of nations have been born, then died. We survive because of the Litany, which is much more than a government. It is life, death, rules of war and rules of peace. It is no false Bill of Rights to be amended and trampled on when convenient, nor is it Ten Commandments to be ignored when we wish it. Ask the Fianna how long it takes to truly recite the Litany, and you may begin to take an understanding of its significance."
He turns his head back to Milton, body slowly following so that he is facing the somewhat more diminutive Ragabash. "You ask who enforces the Litany, and you argue that it is the Elders. There is another flaw in your argument. We all enforce the Litany every day. It is our cause; no government, but a call to arms, a call to breathe. Those who do not...they allow the Wyrm to breed and grow stronger. They create wars among us by fighting over territory. They breed disrespect, bring attention of humans onto us. Breed metis. Let our caerns be violated. Without the Litany we are beasts, and you would do well to remember that, Pokes-the-Mind's-Eye."
It is important to note here that, while his Rage rolls off of him in the argument--its heat directed at the young Ragabash more often than not--he does not ever threaten the Fool, or appear close to violence at him. He recognizes the importance of the position and while he may be speaking down to Milton somewhat, he does not show any open derision.
"Finally...you may wish to try and pretend that discounting war and battle is a possibility, but it is not. We are creatures of war. This is no utopia. Visit the graves and ask the Guardians of Cold Crescent whether we are in a time of peace or not. Ask the Theurges who battled against Weaver infestation in their territory, two of which died only to return to life baring the marks of their near-demise, if we are not at war. Ask myself and Reverence of Dawn-Radiant Honor, Black Sheep and Thunder’s Cry Echoes From the Sea if we were in an act of war or peace when we took action against a truck of Wyrm toxins. We are not at peace right now, in any definition of the word."
"But truly, it goes back to my original statement. Why are we not a democracy? Because democracy is human, Pokes-the-Mind'-Eye. And I can promise you that we are much more than human."
He looks then not to Milton or to the majority of the Garou, to the Great Alpha serving as Truthcatcher, silently waiting to see if the argument is over so that he can weigh in on the fate of the Cold Crescent elders.
"The anger of a good man is not a problem. Good men have too many rules."
"Good men don't need rules. And today's not the day to find out why I have so many."
"Good men don't need rules. And today's not the day to find out why I have so many."