Republican or Democrat
POSTED BY: TightPants
UPDATED: Thursday, November 10, 2022 18:08
VIEWED: 21056
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Quote:
Originally posted by SoupCatcher:
I think Zoe has always been a realist.
SoupCatcher, how exactly would you define a Realist?
Because this is how the Christian Science Monitor describes it.
Realists…
* Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
* Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
* Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
* Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
* Weigh the political costs of foreign action
* Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest
Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell
http://www.csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/neoConQuiz.pl
Or did you mean realist in a non-political way?
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Quote:
Originally posted by Conscience
SoupCatcher, how exactly would you define a Realist?
Because this is how the Christian Science Monitor describes it.
Realists…
* Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
* Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
* Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
* Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
* Weigh the political costs of foreign action
* Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest
Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell
http://www.csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/neoConQuiz.pl
Or did you mean realist in a non-political way?
I'm not sure what you provided is a definition so much as a set of attributes that the CS Monitor thinks are generalizable for realists. Of those attributes, the first one is probably closest to what I meant with that description of Zoe.
Realist - One who is inclined to literal truth and pragmatism. {dictionary.com}
Idealist - One whose conduct is influenced by ideals that often conflict with practical considerations. {dictionary.com}
Basically, I was trying to add some dimension to the discussion of the politics of our BDHs (rampant speculation coming up) by trying to delve into their motivations. I think that we have enough information about Mal, and CrevanReaver's suggestion of Anarcho-Capitalist looks like a good fit to me. But I don't think we have enough information about Zoe so I was starting to pull together what we do know. The only backstory we have about Zoe is that she served in the war with Mal. I think Mal saw the war as more of a crusade. He passionately believed in the cause of the Independents, that the cause was right, just, etc. That's why I labeled him as an idealist. There's nothing quite like an idealist getting smacked upside the head by reality, and that's exactly what happened to Mal in Serenity Valley. He also made the unfortunate mistake of believing that God was on the side of the Browncoats. It's not that he doesn't believe in God anymore, it's that he is PISSED off at God for the loss of the war (there's been some good discussion on this topic in the archives if you're interested). So that's why I labeled him as a reformed idealist. His response to the war was to retreat, to maintain existence and go through the motions, but he's not fighting for any big cause, he just wants to take care of him and his own. The arrival of River threatens to upset that equilibrium. Now he's starting to care again.
I'm not sure why Zoe fought for the Browncoats. And it doesn't really matter. But she took a very practical approach - she became the most efficient killer she could be. I personally don't think Zoe waxes nostalgic for the cause, the war is over and she has moved on. While Mal is just maintaining, Zoe appears to have the attitude of, "This is where I am in life, so I will live my life here." Getting married. Caring about the crew. Wanting to have a child. She seems to me to be a perfect example of a realist.
I find the relationship of Mal and Zoe one of the most fascinating in the Firefly 'verse. But I've rambled long enough. So that's what I meant by my quick throw away line, Conscience. I think the flashback to the battle of Du Khang (sp?) highlights the differences between how a realist and an idealist practice war.
editted to add: So, Conscience, have you given any thought to the question I posed earlier to you in regards to Kaylee's morality?
I shaved off my beard for you, devil woman!
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democrat.
-Soul Rebel-
a love supreme dreaming...
http://www.livejournal.com/users/standing8
updated: 9/17/04!
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Mal's a thief, so not so much with the 21st century capitalist libertarianism. A CL would only take someone else's property if it's legal to do so, or war.
Of course some of 'em'd like it to be legal for a rich person to buy a pauper's lung so the pauper can afford an air filter...
--
I am Jack's asbestos suit
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What some of you are misapprehending (and some of you ain't) is that the Alliance is the Republicans AND the Democrats.
I would say they are akin to, if anything, the BullMoose Party.
Those that are the the joing kind, that is.
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What some of you are misapprehending (and some of you ain't) is that the Alliance is the Republicans AND the Democrats.
I would say they are akin to, if anything, the BullMoose Party.
Those that are the the joining kind, that is.
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Reminds me of an old old joke.
A Democrat with integrity, a self-reliant Republican, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny all pull up to a 4-way stop simultaneously. Who goes first?
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Libertatis Æquilibritas
One thing a know for certain is that either Mal or Zoe would wipe the floor with Kerry, Bush, Cheney or Edwards in a debate!
If anyone's interested here is some info about the various incarnations of the BullMoose Party that Neutrinolad mentioned.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_moose_party
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How about the Constitutionalist Party?
___________________________________
Jayne: "Know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I beat you with till you understand who's in command."
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Yeah, maybe!
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