Honorverse ramblings and musings

cthia wrote:On Grayson there are rules about fairness! Fairness is innate, inherent. Inseparable. Fairness is part and parcel to their beliefs. Their morals. Their scruples. Their values. It is indivisible as a part of their faith. At the heart of Grayson's faith is Grayson's God. There is nothing unfair about the tenets of God, in any faith! Interjecting unfairness upon the duels on Grayson is enough to bring the house down. To do so would spit on the very sanctity of what is just. To do so would embarrass the Graysons in the eyes of Tester. To do so would eliminate faith that God will judge. Abandoning fairness would signal a complete departure from faith and trust in God. At the very worst, it may cause many to question their religious beliefs. Proof positive of the importance and fear predicated on Star Trek's Prime Directive.

cthia wrote:At the heart of the matter, it isn't Grayson that is committed to fairness. The God that they serve is committed to fairness. Fairness is inherent in righteousness. You can't claim one without the other. So, to allege that oneself follows God is to also accept the minimum requirement of righteousness.

No, Grayson doesn't require their Champion to be evenly matched. Of course not! The Protector can justifiably solicit Clark Kent as his Champion if he so chooses. But the Protector, by all that is righteous, should divulge to the People that his People's Champion, is none other than the Man of Steel. I'm pretty damn sure that that will quite admirably suffice to discourage challengers. Challengers courting battle at that point are responsible for their own suicidal tendencies or either he has faith far greater than a mustard seed. At any rate, it won't be left up in the air and open to be blamed on something unrighteous and seedy. It is the same notion that an accomplished martial artist has to divulge his capabilities before maiming or killing. Why is it that legally, either of my sisters have to divulge her secret to a man that she is accomplished in hand to hand combat? She is already naturally disadvantaged.

It is because the law also has an obligation to protect the foolish. You can't put an electric fence inside your perimeter without warning people. You can't place booby-traps inside your home without being culpable to the death of an intruder in your own home. They may be confused and in their wrong mind. Same notion at play, except exacerbated by the additional righteous requirements expected by a God. But I digress.
Burdette certainly did expect it to be a fair fight. You are confusing your sympathy for Honor's physical injuries and the fact that she was emotionally and physically exhausted with unfairness. None of that had any bearing on Burdette's right to challenge - thus his fairness in doing so. That is why Benjamin knew he had to either capitulate or concede. It was fair under the rules of the duel for Burdette to challenge. And it should have been fair. Fairness is inherent in a system of religious beliefs. Burdette was right to assume a certain level of compliance to what is expected from a follower of Tester. Above all, Burdette expected the duel to be conducted righteously. And it should have been.

Let me make this clear. Honor's mistake isn't against man. It is against God. Honor introduced scandal into an equation that God orchestrated to be cut and dry. Tester can be made to look guilty by association.

They are inherent in the tenets of the Book of The New Way. There are two distinctly different concepts being bandied about without understanding.

1. Unfairness to man.
2. Unfairness to God and his teachings. Unfairness to right and wrong.

The Protector's Champion is selected in a way that ignores any ability with the sword. You gave up the claim about fairness when you accepted that a 90 year old man (without prolong) could have been the Champion and so forced to fight Burdette. The Protector only considered conceding to protect Honor, not Burdette. And that fact means that the Protector thought that Burdette had a good chance to win.

In the case of the 90 year old man you suggested that faith would supply the answer. Then why not accept that Burdette's faith could have supplied his answer and if Honor's abilities were so abhorrent to God, then God would have answered that faith?

It seems that you are inventing tenets for the Book of the New Way. Haven't you already admitted that life is unfair and that is part of the test?

Honor did NOT know that she would recognize Burdette's crease going into the duel. Her special abilities did not become solid until later in the series. It was only Burdette that thought to take advantage of the system that still contained the possibility of trial by combat. Why wouldn't he; even it were certain that Honor had all the advantages you claim and none of the disadvantages of inexperience, tiredness and injury? He have gotten himself into the situation where he had taken actions that resulted in the death of children and Reverend Hanks. If he did not fight the Champion then the Protector would condemn him to death. If he fought the Champion and won, then Honor would be dead, the Protector would be disgraced and his position would be vindicated.

cthia wrote:On Grayson there are rules about fairness! Fairness is innate, inherent. Inseparable. Fairness is part and parcel to their beliefs. Their morals. Their scruples. Their values. It is indivisible as a part of their faith. At the heart of Grayson's faith is Grayson's God. There is nothing unfair about the tenets of God, in any faith! Interjecting unfairness upon the duels on Grayson is enough to bring the house down. To do so would spit on the very sanctity of what is just. To do so would embarrass the Graysons in the eyes of Tester. To do so would eliminate faith that God will judge. Abandoning fairness would signal a complete departure from faith and trust in God. At the very worst, it may cause many to question their religious beliefs. Proof positive of the importance and fear predicated on Star Trek's Prime Directive.

cthia wrote:At the heart of the matter, it isn't Grayson that is committed to fairness. The God that they serve is committed to fairness. Fairness is inherent in righteousness. You can't claim one without the other. So, to allege that oneself follows God is to also accept the minimum requirement of righteousness.

No, Grayson doesn't require their Champion to be evenly matched. Of course not! The Protector can justifiably solicit Clark Kent as his Champion if he so chooses. But the Protector, by all that is righteous, should divulge to the People that his People's Champion, is none other than the Man of Steel. I'm pretty damn sure that that will quite admirably suffice to discourage challengers. Challengers courting battle at that point are responsible for their own suicidal tendencies or either he has faith far greater than a mustard seed. At any rate, it won't be left up in the air and open to be blamed on something unrighteous and seedy. It is the same notion that an accomplished martial artist has to divulge his capabilities before maiming or killing. Why is it that legally, either of my sisters have to divulge her secret to a man that she is accomplished in hand to hand combat? She is already naturally disadvantaged.

It is because the law also has an obligation to protect the foolish. You can't put an electric fence inside your perimeter without warning people. You can't place booby-traps inside your home without being culpable to the death of an intruder in your own home. They may be confused and in their wrong mind. Same notion at play, except exacerbated by the additional righteous requirements expected by a God. But I digress.

Burdette certainly did expect it to be a fair fight. You are confusing your sympathy for Honor's physical injuries and the fact that she was emotionally and physically exhausted with unfairness. None of that had any bearing on Burdette's right to challenge - thus his fairness in doing so. That is why Benjamin knew he had to either capitulate or concede. It was fair under the rules of the duel for Burdette to challenge. And it should have been fair. Fairness is inherent in a system of religious beliefs. Burdette was right to assume a certain level of compliance to what is expected from a follower of Tester. Above all, Burdette expected the duel to be conducted righteously. And it should have been.

Let me make this clear. Honor's mistake isn't against man. It is against God. Honor introduced scandal into an equation that God orchestrated to be cut and dry. Tester can be made to look guilty by association.

They are inherent in the tenets of the Book of The New Way. There are two distinctly different concepts being bandied about without understanding.

1. Unfairness to man.
2. Unfairness to God and his teachings. Unfairness to right and wrong.

tlb wrote:The Protector's Champion is selected in a way that ignores any ability with the sword. You gave up the claim about fairness when you accepted that a 90 year old man (without prolong) could have been the Champion and so forced to fight Burdette.

Why would that signify me giving up any claim on fairness? That is fair under man's law. Again, Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. That is Caesar's law. In and of itself, it does not offend the laws of God.

If Caesar's law places a 90-yr-old man in a position where he has to fight, then so be it. Let him fight for righteousness. If he dies, let him die righteously. If he lives, let him live righteously.

tlb wrote: The Protector only considered conceding to protect Honor, not Burdette. And that fact means that the Protector thought that Burdette had a good chance to win.

Another can-o-worms . . .

1. Where was the Protector's Faith in his Champion and Tester?
2. Where is separation of Church and State?

tlb wrote:In the case of the 90 year old man you suggested that faith would supply the answer. Then why not accept that Burdette's faith could have supplied his answer and if Honor's abilities were so abhorrent to God, then God would have answered that faith?

I do accept that as a possibility. That is the faith in which the system is based.

I also must accept that Burdette could have been right that Grayson is being led down the wrong path but that he went about correcting the issue wrongly. Or that his faith failed him, rather than Honor won.

I also must accept the more likely scenario that sees Honor as the recipient of God's grace and mercy and thus Harrington overcomes the seemingly insurmountable odds, but that Honor - as did Moses - went too far and misused God's power and favor out of the weakness of human emotions and the need for revenge. Vengeance is mine, says God.

As it was with Moses and the people of Israel, even though God allowed Moses to win over Pharoah, he chastised Moses for how he went about using his God given skills and power. Moses had no right allowing his emotions to color his decisions making him break the stones holding the commandments written by the hand of God.

And although God still freed his people through his champion Moses, they were punished for wrong doing by being made to wander in the desert for forty years until all who committed the sins were dead. Honor won, but Grayson could be punished for wrongdoing.

tlb wrote:It seems that you are inventing tenets for the Book of the New Way. Haven't you already admitted that life is unfair and that is part of the test?

Inventing tenets? What faith has a God that perpetuates a lack of morals, scruples and values? That denounces righteousness? That accepts and encourages deceit? I am guilty only of giving Grayson's religion the benefit of the doubt.

tlb wrote:Honor did NOT know that she would recognize Burdette's crease going into the duel.

Ah ah ah. Are we forgetting Exhibit A.

tlb wrote:Her special abilities did not become solid until later in the series.

Also partly disputed by Exhibit A. What changed about her abilities was the ability to achieve her mind reading without Nimitz. There was nothing wrong with her ability as long as her conduit, her partner in crime, was present. She also later developed the ability to "cheat" better with the sharing of pictures and images. Nimitz no longer had to tell her what her opponents were holding in their hand, he could show her the cards.

They weren't at the point of using images and Honor couldn't yet go it alone. But it didn't prevent Nimitz from using the old fashioned way.

tlb wrote:It was only Burdette that thought to take advantage of the system that still contained the possibility of trial by combat. Why wouldn't he; even it were certain that Honor had all the advantages you claim and none of the disadvantages of inexperience, tiredness and injury? He have gotten himself into the situation where he had taken actions that resulted in the death of children and Reverend Hanks. If he did not fight the Champion then the Protector would condemn him to death. If he fought the Champion and won, then Honor would be dead, the Protector would be disgraced and his position would be vindicated.

All fair under Caesar's law of dueling. So? How does any of that give Honor the authority to unscrupulously misuse her God given abilities betraying any God of any faith?

Also, Burdette didn't get himself in that situation, he feels that Protector Benjamin put him and all of Grayson in a much more untenable position.

cthia wrote:Back to Burdette's mistake, if indeed it was a mistake. I can't claim to know for sure because I hardly knew the man.

I knew the man from the story. He was loathsome, despicable, cowardly, and was a fantical believer in the idea that his ends justified any of his means. But don't just take my word for it:

Flag In Exile, Author's Note wrote:I completed this manuscript in October 1994. At that time, I'd structured the events which occur in Chapter Nineteen because I could think of no more loathsome, despicable, and cowardly act any individual or group of individuals could commit. It is my belief that the sentence "The end justifies the means"—that suppression, repression, and/or murder become somehow acceptable if committed in the name of a "cause" or belief which reduces individuals to expendable pawns—is the vilest of human poisons, and that terrorism, regardless of the terrorist's "cause," is the ultimate act of dehumanization. I did not expect that between the time I wrote this novel and the time it was published a United States citizen in Oklahoma City would demonstrate an even worse contempt for human life and the fundamental values of his own society or prove capable of an act even more despicable than my fictional villains. That some human beings are capable of such atrocities is an inescapable lesson of history. That we cannot allow those acts to go unpunished or extend to those who commit them any shred of respect, whatever the "cause" which motivated them, is a lesson the civilized human community must teach itself.

As far as God's laws go, try this one on for size: Thou shalt not kill.

Burdette openly admitted his guilt of murderer, treason, attempted assasination, and conspiring in the murder of children. He was both unrepentent and defiant in doing so:

Flag In Exile, Chapter 29 wrote:"My Lords," he cried, "I do not dispute the facts this harlot claims, nor do I regret any of my acts! I say only that I neither desired nor ordered Reverend Hanks' death, and that no man can prove against me, for I never even knew he would be present. But yes—yes, My Lords!—I did each and every other thing this foreign-born whore claims, and I would do them again—do them a thousand times again!—before I let an infidel fornicator and this traitor who calls himself Protector pollute and poison a world sacred to God!"

Italics are the author's, boldface is my emphasis.

Burdette was seeking to evade justice for his crimes (justifiying his means by his end goal) by seeking to KILL, not defeat, Honor when he cried challenge:

Flag In Exile, Chapter 29 wrote:Exultation filled him as he saw Mayhew's astonishment, and he snarled in triumph, for he'd trapped the bastard in his own snare. If he would assume the ancient powers of the Protector, turn back the clock and exert his despotism, then he must accept the Protector's ancient limitations, as well, and his so-called "Champion" was the bitch on the Conclave floor. The harlot God had brought openly within reach of Burdette's own sword at last.
Echoes of consternation ran around the Chamber, and centuries of decorum were forgotten as a dozen steadholders shouted in protest. But Burdette ignored them and locked his triumphant eyes with Mayhew's. He knew the harlot had toyed with the sword since her own people had driven her to Grayson in disgrace, but she'd been here little more than a year and spent the last three months in space. No doubt what little she'd learned had slipped away through lack of practice, while he held the rank of Master Second. Like any other Grayson, he'd thought the sword's serious use a thing of the past, but now he understood at last the true reason God had inspired him to become its master.
It was for this moment. This single day, when he would master another Sword by striking down the Harlot of Satan before the eyes of every Grayson in the star system. And when she fell, when God's will was made evident to every eye, her death would also nullify Mayhew's sentence of death, for under the Protector's own precious Constitution, a steadholder's victory protected him forever from any aspect of the decree for which he'd cried challenge!

Italics are the author's, boldface and underlined text is my emphasis.

cthia wrote:Burdette certainly did expect it to be a fair fight. You are confusing your sympathy for Honor's physical injuries and the fact that she was emotionally and physically exhausted with unfairness. None of that had any bearing on Burdette's right to challenge - thus his fairness in doing so. That is why Benjamin knew he had to either capitulate or concede. It was fair under the rules of the duel for Burdette to challenge. And it should have been fair. Fairness is inherent in a system of religious beliefs. Burdette was right to assume a certain level of compliance to what is expected from a follower of Tester. Above all, Burdette expected the duel to be conducted righteously. And it should have been.

If it was fair for Burdette to challenge the Protector's Justice, it was just as fair for Honor to accept his challenge as the Protector's Champion--even though Benjamin was going to accede to Burdette because he thought that Honor would be KILLED:

Flag In Exile, Chapter 19 wrote:Benjamin Mayhew gazed down at Burdette's triumphant face, and his heart was cold within him while he cursed his own stupidity. He should have considered this possibility, should have allowed for it, but no one had claimed challenge right in over three hundred years! It was a throwback to barbarism, but he should have expected it, for this man was a barbarian.
His right hand fisted at his side, and his eyes went bleak and cold. In that moment, he wanted nothing in the universe as much as he wanted William Fitzclarence dead on the Chamber floor. Yet whatever he wanted, he also knew Honor had slept for less than three hours in the fifty since her pinnace went down, that she had four broken ribs quick heal had only begun to repair, and that under her clothing she was covered with brutal bruises. She was running on adrenaline and stim tabs, and he had no idea how she could show so little sign of fatigue or physical pain as she stood proudly erect before the Keys, but he knew she was in no fit state to meet a man with Burdette's sword skill. Even if she'd been fresh and unhurt, she'd first touched even a practice blade barely a year before, while Burdette had advanced to the planetary quarterfinals no less than three times, and the rogue steadholder would never settle for first blood. He meant to kill her, and the odds were overwhelming that he could.
He could renounce his own decree, Benjamin thought, and in the renunciation accept his Champion's defeat without exposing Honor to Burdette's blade, but the entire population of Yeltsin's Star was watching. The blow to the Protectorship's power and prestige would be severe, and if the people of Grayson thought he'd surrendered because Honor was afraid to face Burdette—
But then he looked down at Honor, at her waiting eyes—calm and still, despite Burdette's challenge and her own pain—and knew he had no choice. Legally, it made no difference if the Protector accepted defeat or his Champion was slain. In either case, his decree was nullified, and Benjamin Mayhew had no right to ask this woman he owed so much to throw away her life on the threadbare chance that she might, somehow, defeat an opponent with thirty times her experience.
"My Lady, I know of your injuries," he said, and pitched his voice so that it carried to every ear and microphone. He was determined that everyone watching should know he'd surrendered only because of her injuries, and not because he'd ever doubted her courage. "I do not believe you are physically fit to accept this man's challenge in my defense, and so—"
Honor raised a hand, and shock stopped him in midsentence. No one ever interrupted the Protector of Grayson when he spoke from the throne! It was unheard of, but she seemed unaware of that. She simply gazed up at him, never even turning to glance at Burdette, and her cold, dispassionate soprano was as clear and carrying as his own voice had been.
"Your Grace," she said, "I have only one question. Do you wish this man crippled, or dead?"
Benjamin twitched in surprise too great to conceal and a gasp of disbelief went up from the steadholders, but her question had snatched any chance to avoid the challenge from his hands. It was her choice now, not his, and as he gazed down into her dark, almond eyes, he saw again the woman who'd saved his own family from assassination against impossible odds. For just one moment he prayed desperately that she could somehow work one more miracle for herself, for him, and for his world, and then he drew a deep breath.
"My Lady," the Protector of Grayson told his Champion, "I do not wish him to leave this Chamber alive."
"As you will it, Your Grace." Honor bowed in formal salute and stepped up to her own desk. She lifted Nimitz from her shoulder, and he sat tall and still, ears flat but quiet, as she took the Grayson Sword of State from its padded brackets. That jeweled yet deadly weapon had been forged six hundred years before for the hand of Benjamin the Great, but it remained as lethal as of old, and its polished blade—marked with the ripple pattern of what Old Terra had called Damascus steel—flashed in her own hand as she stepped back down to face her enemy.
"My Lord," Lady Honor Harrington said coldly, "send for your sword—and may God preserve the righteous."

Italics are the author's, boldface and underlined text is my emphasis.

When I asked you to don't lose track of the forest for the trees, and to extend your arguments to their ultimate conclusion, this is the end state if Honor (or Benjamin) had revealed her empathic abilities and Burdette is excused from facing Honor as Protector's Champion, after challenging her: Burdette gets away with murder,, and Honor is ostracized and shunned--at best. Burdette and the rest of the other extreme conservative Keys (Mueller, etc.) can now commit any crime, no matter how heinous, in furtherance of their goals--the ends justifying the means--and get away scot-free by sheltering behind their Key of Steadholdership, crying challenge to the Protector's Justice--the only way a Steadholder can be brought to justice--and not having to face Honor with the Sword of State in her hands in combat.

Is that your preferred outcome? Do you think that outcome is right, or just?

Shadow of Freedom wrote:APRIL 1922 POST DIASPORA
“It’s an imperfect universe. Deal with it.”
—Admiral Michelle Henke

This can-o-worms isn't about me. It isn't even about Burdette. It is about the absolute truth of right and wrong in the eyes of the God you serve. Honor made the wrong decision when she chose not to at least isolate Nimitz. She should have divulged her special abilities to Burdette. Even if she wasn't legally required to do so under man's law. She should have come clean because it is the right thing to do in the eyes of God, and all that is pure and clean, under God's laws.

Honor knows this fact too, deep down inside her loins, but don't expect it to be too deeply embedded, after all, this is the forthright heroine Harrington we're talking about. IMO, If the shit ever hits the fan Honor will admit it to herself. She has never made the wrong moral decision completely devoid of what is right and wrong, especially when a much bigger picture is at stake. How much bigger than an example of the negative effects of forsaking the Prime Directive unleashed on her beloved Grayson? She chose to divulge her hidden finger when in Andermani space. Why? Because it was the right thing to do morally and righteously. It was also the right thing to do if the Andermani had already known about it and was testing her. It was also the right thing to do to preserve her God given integrity, which has always served her well in her travels and has always kept her safe because she followed God's way. A man's life wasn't even on the line in Andermani space. A way of life wasn't even on the line in Andermani space.

"Honor, I gave you these abilities because I knew one day you would become People's Champion of Grayson. I gave you, and you alone, these abilities, so that you can fight the good fight against powers and principalities. I gave you the spirit of discernment - the moral compass of what is right and wrong. You and you alone, I gave these abilities so that man can see that God's true champion is strong, is powerful, is righteous, so that you will not NEED to fight."

Excerpt from the conversation I expect Honor to receive from her God later in heaven.

Honor's moral compass will know the path chosen was righteously compromised.

Failing to divulge the nature of all of her blessings under the circumstances is a slight against God. Failing to divulge her abilities when it made the contest NO CONTEST can be closely argued as murder. And that is an unfair situation to put God in. It is unfair and unrighteous to the notion of right and wrong. God being the embodiment of right and wrong. Not a single one of us doubt that the outcome would have been the same if Nimitz had been removed. Honor certainly had no doubts that she was going to kill Burdette. If Nimitz had been removed, then we wouldn't be having this conversation now. And Grayson won't be suffering a blow to their religious beliefs having the conversation later.

If Woman A chooses to get into an all out brawl with Woman B, but Woman A gets her ass beat to within an inch of her life, what do you think the judge will do to Woman B when it is revealed that Woman B is really a man dressed as a woman? Should Woman B have told the truth?

In a nutshell, the God that Honor knows expects the same righteousness. Honor had never let him down before, even at the expense of her own peril.

Why is it unfair and considered cheating when someone who has the ability to count cards cleans out a casino? God gave him the extremely rare savant like mathematical ability? The poor schmuck will be thrown out on his ears, perhaps shot in some cases, even though he was never in danger of killing anyone. Although he was making a killing.

A true Christian should never be accused of setting the bar too low. The eyes of the entire world is on him. He could turn many sinners away. As witnessed by the many posts I've encountered in religious threads massacring the actions of a few - or the one - isolated Christians. Thus incriminating Christians en masse. In this case, Honor's actions can cause a religious stir on Grayson, and that is the true travesty.

Honor's sin is against God, not against man. And this entire can of worms is about Honor's sin against God, therefore the Protector's sin against God, as well as his and any possible future ramifications rendered unto Grayson.

What is the sin? Glad you asked. It isn't so much lying by omission, though that's on the table. It isn't so much exhibiting morally bankrupt tendencies, though that's on the table. It isn't so much introducing infidel behavior as the People's Champion into a religious system of beliefs on a very religious planet. Though that is on the table. Oh no. Each of those transgressions arguably straddle the line of sins against man. I'm more concerned with Honor's sin against God, which is to introduce controversy into his plan. When she didn't need to do. Why would it have been wrong that she isolate Nimitz to remove all later doubt? Doubt of Christians in their God and Tester. Doubt of sinners and infidels galaxy wide for the righteousness of Grayson.

It would have been the RIGHT thing to do. Everyone knows I am a believer. A Christian. I recall a conversation or two admonishing me for suggesting that only a true Christian is capable of compassion. Even against one's enemies. Love thy enemy. Although I didn't actually suggest that. I suggested that compassion can be found in anyone, but that it should always be found in Christians. It is like looking for rare pearls. You can sometimes find them in sand snails, but you expect to find them in oysters.

Burdette is portrayed as a loathsome character in the story. Certainly from the screen time we are allotted of him. Much of his troubles can mostly be attributed to that misogynistic miscreant of mayhem Mueller making him and everyone else his patsy, drawing on Burdette's intense and sincere concern for Grayson and his hatred for the handmaiden Harrington as Benjamin's poison. I don't mean to belittle Burdette's transgressions, but through it all, he is always portrayed as devoutly religious and genuinely concerned about the welfare of Grayson. Which brings me to RFC's post included by Vince.

There have been countless atrocities committed by "so called Christians" in the name of God. And many non believers can regurgitate examples on demand. But there are many examples where Christian beliefs saved millions of people. How many were saved from Pharoah along with their bloodline? How many Jews were saved during the Holocaust? How many Negroes during slavery and up to the present? How many native Americans?

How many innocent lives were lost in doing so? For the bigger picture?

I cried reading RFC's post . . .

Flag In Exile, Author's Note wrote:I completed this manuscript in October 1994. At that time, I'd structured the events which occur in Chapter Nineteen because I could think of no more loathsome, despicable, and cowardly act any individual or group of individuals could commit. It is my belief that the sentence "The end justifies the means"—that suppression, repression, and/or murder become somehow acceptable if committed in the name of a "cause" or belief which reduces individuals to expendable pawns—is the vilest of human poisons, and that terrorism, regardless of the terrorist's "cause," is the ultimate act of dehumanization. I did not expect that between the time I wrote this novel and the time it was published a United States citizen in Oklahoma City would demonstrate an even worse contempt for human life and the fundamental values of his own society or prove capable of an act even more despicable than my fictional villains. That some human beings are capable of such atrocities is an inescapable lesson of history. That we cannot allow those acts to go unpunished or extend to those who commit them any shred of respect, whatever the "cause" which motivated them, is a lesson the civilized human community must teach itself.

Do pardon by bold.

If I were to meet the man any time soon, I would hug him for this post. Deep down inside I feel he needs it. I share his point of view completely and I feel his pain. If it cuts him half as deeply as it does me, it is debilitating. I know for a fact that David Weber believes in God, so this viewpoint doesn't surprise me at all. I would expect nothing less from a true Christian.

Remember what my teachers told me? My uncanny ability to become the character? I became the author when I read that post. Tears. Tears. Tears.

I feel the exact same way. BUT! Where does the line begin and the line end? Bear with me. I can't remember the particular documentary. But it had something to do with our military targeting some very bad individuals. Terrorists. Intel came down the pipeline that several very bad, MOST WANTED terrorists had plans to meet in this particular building in the midst of a civilian neighborhood in another country, of which I forget all of the details. If anyone can remember the details please come forth. The terrorists planned it that way, had a habit of doing so. Our military got the okay to bomb the building, even though there was a 25 % chance of an "unacceptable" number of casualties. I was watching little kids who were about to die. All on satellite. I'm still not over that attack. Why is that okay? The attack was in the name of a cause. Is the difference simply the formal license to kill by the military? A military with the good of an entire country as a cause, America? Why is it wrong for an individual to kill in the name of God, to save a planet? But the navy can murder in the name of its country.

The line is oftentimes blurred. Burdette may have been despicable onscreen. He may have been despicable in person. But he still could have been correct that Grayson is being led down the wrong path.

I suppose what I'm asking is this. When the military is guilty of the same thing, what then? Can not a true man of God be as altruistic as the military? Cannot one good man make a difference?

****** *

Vince wrote:When I asked you to don't lose track of the forest for the trees, and to extend your arguments to their ultimate conclusion, this is the end state if Honor (or Benjamin) had revealed her empathic abilities and Burdette is excused from facing Honor as Protector's Champion, after challenging her: Burdette gets away with murder,, and Honor is ostracized and shunned--at best. Burdette and the rest of the other extreme conservative Keys (Mueller, etc.) can now commit any crime, no matter how heinous, in furtherance of their goals--the ends justifying the means--and get away scot-free by sheltering behind their Key of Steadholdership, crying challenge to the Protector's Justice--the only way a Steadholder can be brought to justice--and not having to face Honor with the Sword of State in her hands in combat.

Is that your preferred outcome? Do you think that outcome is right, or just?

That isn't how I see it at all. Burdette was charged and sentenced. Challenging was his last chance to escape the wrath of the Protector and his Champion and to silence what he felt is the whore of Babylon. Had Honor divulged her specific abilities which made this particular duel grossly unfair and arguably tantamount to murder, it would have justly placed the burden of choice in Burdette's hands, to either withdraw his challenge and accept his original fate or take his chances with Supergirl. He would have had no choice but to continue, but the choice would have been his, made with all of the facts. More importantly, removing any later chance of a scandal of epic proportions brought to Grayson and preserving the integrity of the People's Champion and more importantly the righteousness of Grayson's religious beliefs. Does anyone think any human would challenge Supergirl?

Burdette's criminal history, personality or personal profile has no bearing on whether he is correct that the Protector is leading Grayson astray or whether he should lose his right to challenge. That would smack too much of a Black man having no rights because of his checkered past. Or simply because everyone knows him to be Black. All beside the point of whether he is in the wrong when cornered by Police.

This entire can-o-worms could have been anesthetized had Honor simply did the right thing and isolated Nimitz, removing all doubt. My concern is not for Burdette. It is for the People of Grayson's relationship with their God, as it should be. My concern is not for Honor, it is for the Grayson's relationship with their God, as it should be. It isn't even for Benjamin, but for the Grayson's relationship with their God, as it should be. It is about the salvation of Grayson.

I didn't miss the forest for the trees, nor the jungle for the forest.

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I'd disagree.
One is a "genie" with greater strength and faster reflexes, who at that point doesn't know about any emphatic sense, but is injured and exhausted.
The other is an acknowledged master in this "sport", uninjured and fresh. He also is a male, so obviously superior. Not even sure if Honor knew about his skill set?
Did Burdette mention to Honor about his tournament skills and wins?
Fair fight.

Daryl wrote:I'd disagree.
One is a "genie" with greater strength and faster reflexes, who at that point doesn't know about any emphatic sense, but is injured and exhausted.
The other is an acknowledged master in this "sport", uninjured and fresh. He also is a male, so obviously superior. Not even sure if Honor knew about his skill set?
Did Burdette mention to Honor about his tournament skills and wins?
Fair fight.

She knew about her empathic abilities Daryl. Not only did she know, she knew Nimitz wasn't going to stop letting her use them!

I don't know why everyone keeps falling back on the false news defense that she didn't know when I long ago posted that fact as Exhibit A. It is the reason for this entire can of worms. Ain't no fake news here.

I think everyone of you knows deep down in your loins that Honor made the wrong call concerning Nimitz, to remove all doubt. It was a gross strategic error uncharacteristic of Honor. That's why the only thing to fall back on is . . .

"She didn't know about her abilities then." She did.

"Her skills weren't strong enough." They were.

And my favorite, thrown out immediately upon my opening this can of worms . . .

"She hadn't yet developed the skill in story line." She had.

That was offered up immediately by Weird Harold, because it is the only thing that would have explained Honor's uncharacteristic strategic error.

Introducing deceit, unfairness and unrighteousness into a duel based on religion and faith and subjecting the religion and faith of the whole of Grayson to uncertainty and scandal is a crucial miscalculation of strategy.

I can more readily accept and agree with one of my friend's explanations that "Honor was simply so preoccupied, hurt, exhausted and emotionally compromised over the loss of the kids and the priest that the subject of Nimitz escaped her and she needed Nimitz for emotional support."

That is understandable, and it yields to the truth that Honor is wrong. I agree that it was not a conscious decision, but it is radioactive fuel waiting to be opened in a can of worms.

Again, this can of worms is raging amongst my friends in seven countries and 22 cities. Raging! As well as here in the forum. If it can cause a [C c]onstitutional crisis amongst my friends, what hath it power to do on Grayson?

That is truly the jungle missed for the trees.

cthia wrote:Introducing deceit, unfairness and unrighteousness into a duel based on religion and faith and subjecting the religion and faith of the whole of Grayson to uncertainty and scandal is a crucial miscalculation of strategy.

Precisely because it is a duel based on religion and faith is why no uncertainty or scandal was introduced, because no one can deceive God. To explain that let's go through some earlier dialogue.

tlb wrote:It was only Burdette that thought to take advantage of the system that still contained the possibility of trial by combat. Why wouldn't he; even it were certain that Honor had all the advantages you claim and none of the disadvantages of inexperience, tiredness and injury? He have gotten himself into the situation where he had taken actions that resulted in the death of children and Reverend Hanks. If he did not fight the Champion then the Protector would condemn him to death. If he fought the Champion and won, then Honor would be dead, the Protector would be disgraced and his position would be vindicated.

cthia wrote:All fair under Caesar's law of dueling. So? How does any of that give Honor the authority to unscrupulously misuse her God given abilities betraying any God of any faith?

Also, Burdette didn't get himself in that situation, he feels that Protector Benjamin put him and all of Grayson in a much more untenable position.

So in your view Burdette bore no responsibility for the actions he took in response to the Protector's policies, just because he feels the Protector was wrong?
Honor did her duty as Champion and so served God and the Protector as best she could. To refuse to do so would exonerate Burdette of his crimes and vindicate his opposition to the Protector's policies. If God gave her the abilities, then how is it wrong to use them to defend God and Protector? The sources I read state that Moses was punished for disobedience in striking the rock after being told to speak to it, not for misuse of talent by using the rod to do so.

tlb wrote:The Protector's Champion is selected in a way that ignores any ability with the sword. You gave up the claim about fairness when you accepted that a 90 year old man (without prolong) could have been the Champion and so forced to fight Burdette.

cthia wrote:Why would that signify me giving up any claim on fairness? That is fair under man's law. Again, Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. That is Caesar's law. In and of itself, it does not offend the laws of God.

If Caesar's law places a 90-yr-old man in a position where he has to fight, then so be it. Let him fight for righteousness. If he dies, let him die righteously. If he lives, let him live righteously.

You refer to Caesar's law of dueling in several places, but that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between a duel and Trial by Combat in a religious society. Just as in early Christian times, it is expected that God will be involved in the outcome of a trial. So it is not expected that someone can end as both righteous and dead. I tried to explain that to you previously and without justification you called it a "secular belief, born of infidels".

On Grayson, Trial by Combat is a rejection of secular law and a direct appeal to God's judgment as Burdette made clear in his challenge:

Let your Champion stand forth and prove the true will of God sword-to-sword, in the ancient way of our fathers, and may God preserve the righteous!

Here is the Wikipedia article on Trial by Ordeal stating there is an general expectation of divine interaction in these trials:

Trial by ordeal was an ancient judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused was determined by subjecting them to a painful, or at least an unpleasant, usually dangerous experience. The test was one of life or death, and the proof of innocence was survival. In some cases, the accused was considered innocent if they escaped injury or if their injuries healed.

In medieval Europe, like trial by combat, trial by ordeal was considered a "judgment of God" (Latin: judicium Dei): a procedure based on the premise that God would help the innocent by performing a miracle on his behalf. The practice has much earlier roots, attested to as far back as the Code of Hammurabi and the Code of Ur-Nammu.

In pre-modern society, the ordeal typically ranked along with the oath and witness accounts as the central means by which to reach a judicial verdict. Indeed, the term ordeal has the meaning of "judgment, verdict" (German Urteil, Dutch oordeel), from Proto-Germanic *uzdailjam "that which is dealt out".
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Theoretical approaches
According to a theory put forward by economics professor Peter Leeson, trial by ordeal may have been effective at sorting the guilty from the innocent. On the assumption that defendants were believers in divine intervention for the innocent, then only the truly innocent would choose to endure a trial; guilty defendants would confess or settle cases instead. Therefore, the theory goes, church and judicial authorities could routinely rig ordeals so that the participants—presumably innocent—could pass them. To support this theory, Leeson points to the great latitude given to the priests in administering the ordeal and interpreting the results of the ordeal. He also points to the overall high exoneration rate of accused persons undergoing the ordeal, when intuitively one would expect a very high proportion of people carrying a red hot iron to be badly burned and thus fail the ordeal. Peter Brown explains the persistence and eventual withering of the ordeal by stating that it helped promote consensus in a society where people lived in close quarters and there was little centralized power. In a world where "the sacred penetrated into the chinks of the profane and vice-versa" the ordeal was a "controlled miracle" that served as a point of consensus when one of the greatest dangers to the community was feud. From this analysis, Brown argues that the increasing authoritativeness of the state lessened the need and desire for the ordeal as an instrument of consensus, which ultimately led to its disappearance.

It it isn't explained clearly by Wikipedia and requires actually reading the books to understand an issue then some people are simply never going to get it.

kzt wrote:It it isn't explained clearly by Wikipedia and requires actually reading the books to understand an issue then some people are simply never going to get it.

Oh, stop being an anal orifice. You really need to work on your beef with Wikipedia. Intelligent users recognize it for what it is. A quick and dirty, convenient reference point. A single point. More intelligent users like engineers (myself), doctors and lawyers don't rely on Wikipedia for critical information. And I'm certain NASA don't use it to put men in space.

But for everyday references, it works just fine. LOL

Someone please check this guy's ID at the door when he leaves. Adolescents shouldn't be allowed in adult conversations.

kzt wrote:It it isn't explained clearly by Wikipedia and requires actually reading the books to understand an issue then some people are simply never going to get it.

cthia wrote:Oh, stop being an anal orifice. You really need to work on your beef with Wikipedia. Intelligent users recognize it for what it is. A quick and dirty, convenient reference point. A single point. More intelligent users like engineers (myself), doctors and lawyers don't rely on Wikipedia for critical information. And I'm certain NASA don't use it to put men in space.

But for everyday references, it works just fine. LOL

Someone please check this guy's ID at the door when he leaves. Adolescents shouldn't be allowed in adult conversations.

I am fairly certain that this was a slam at you, not Wikipedia; and you are the one being childish and abusive.