Why did Mal fight in the war?
POSTED BY: Jongsstraw
UPDATED: Thursday, December 6, 2007 04:06
VIEWED: 5639
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I've only seen the series and the movie...none of the "auxilary" materials....but I do know that Mal grew up on a ranch on Shadow. There were 40 ranch hands there who were his buddies.
Then the war starts... Why did Mal go? What did the Alliance threaten or intend on doing to Shadow and the folks who lived there?
Having 40 hired hands indicates Mal's family had property and wealth....was that threatened in any way by the Alliance?
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Because there was one, he was just about 18/19 and there seemed a chance at winning this thing?
Mal's a child of his time. He went because it was the right thing, and then it became the only thing. And then he lost that, too.
Homeless orphan. Sucks to be post-Valley!Mal. No wonder he went to the only place that could still be considered "away".
Edited to add: I think it was a matter of principle and political upbringing. Shadow was probably independent ("The Alliance tried to unite everything under their rule." or some such.) and thing would have changed had they succeeded.
Most people would feel that way if their country was to become part of a bigger controlling political structure, unless they had reason to expect big improvements. Someone already wealthy and comfortable wouldn't be expecting anything to get better, just different.
In fact, it makes more sense for the established and comfortable to disapprove than for, say, a class of poor and underprivileged factory workers. They might expect better safety regulations and pay. Who knows?
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Yes the Alliance won, but what did they really win?
The outer planets like Jianying and Triumph show little or no signs of Alliance rule...heck those "independent" planets look like they could use a bit of enlightenment.
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To quote "The Train Job", Mal said, "...to unite all the planets so they could be interfered with or ignored equally." That seems to be the general outcome. Not that the Alliance had anything to gain by it, but like many large governing bodies, they want to know that they control everything and everyone... period.
That'd be my guess.
"We are not gonna die. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."
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I think Mal fought for the principle of it which was one of the reasons Jayne brought it up and asked Mal how many of his platoon survived.
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The Firefly RPG suggests that the planet Shadow was bombarded by the Alliance, thus rendering it uninhabitable.
cordially,
N.E. Lilly
http://www.spacewesterns.com/
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Mal had faith during the war. He believed it was the right thing to do and that the forces of good would triumph. He believed God was on his side.
Then all his beliefs were crushed. He lost everything in that war and the series is built around how the shell of a man that is Mal survives. He survives by just keeping on flying. In my opinion he survives by keeping his sights set on one day. Get through that day and keep flying. If he looked at the big picture he'd see what he's been reduced to and he'd be way too depressed to go on. Find a crew, find a job, keep flying.
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As stated earlier Mal was in the war because he thought it was the right thing to do. Same as anyone in his situation.
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Independence is a good sounding word. The United States wanted Independence because they felt they did not have a say in their own affairs. This may have been the same feelings the frontier planets, in this show, had when they were so far from the main planets. They were probably on their own and handled their own affairs in the early years of settlement. Then as the years passed by the main planets, who formed the Alliance, started sending out more and more ships filled with their own police and military forces, which made the frontier planets see their independence being taken away. The Alliance may have pushed certain laws that independents did not like and the rest is history.
There may have been good intentions by the Allience, but this did not make up for the fact that the people were losing their independence.
I don't know Mal's personal history. He may have got swept up by the feelings of the majority to fight for freedom. Maybe something more personal happened to him. There is no mention of a draft, so I don't believe Mal was forced to join. My impression is he volunteered. He seemed very enthusiastic in every scene that showed him in combat.
I have only seen the show and the movie and never read any of the literature. There may be more answers there about Mal's personal reasons for beinging in the war.
In our War For Independence, meaning us people in the United States, only one third of the population supported the war while one third supported staying with the United Kingdom.
So just because someone is from one of the outer planets or moons it does not mean they would have supported independence. Mal had the freedom to choose. He could have joined the Alliance if he thought they were going to be helpful and fare to frontier worlds. But that was not the case.
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler
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I just got home from work ( and the pub ) and I think all the responses here are terrific! Great stuff...thank you.
And I'd like to ask a follow-up question...like the South during the Civil War, what did the independents really hope to gain? DId they really, for a second, think they could possibly defeat the Alliance with endless military resources? What did the Independents, like The South have....besides balls & bayonets as Badger said? What resources could they really have had, since they were dumped or re-located to these worlds with not too much in the way of comfort and technology, or arms I imagine? Did they think, even with some battle victories, that they keep the Alliance away forever?
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