Mad Kings and Queens [Wednesday, June 26th, 2nd Period]

[atreideslioness]

The class met in the Danger Room today, as Ghanima had handwavily ordered.  The room was configured, oddly enough, to look like their classroom.

"Over the last few weeks, I have given you some examples of rulers gone mad," Ghanima stated.  "We have seen that the best way to survive such a monarch is to, quite simply, keep your head down.  If you don't make waves, you'll probably survive the experience.  Some may call this cowardly, but it is quite simply common sense.  Unless you have some way to change the status quo, your best option is to try and wait it out."

"There are many ways to remove someone from power."  Hopping off the recreation of her desk, Ghanima picked up a marker and twirled it between her fingers.  "Assassination, a military coup, a legalized change in the laws of succession, an conspiracy by other family members, bribery, kidnapping, the list goes on and on."

"Today we are discussing how to be a successful revolutionary, as well as how to keep and hold power.  For those of you who favor the democratic methods, I’m going to ask you to set aside your personal feelings for the time being.  Our focus today is on the various ways to overthrow a government.  I’m not interested in hearing about the right or wrong just yet, that’s up to each of you as private individuals."

"We're going to discuss what revolutions can be used for, how they can be put together, and why a failed revolution can be just as effective." 

"Weapons.  Organization.  Tactics.  Propaganda.  Intelligence." Ghanima turned to the wipe-board at the front of the room and began writing as she spoke.  "These are some of the basic resources on both sides of the divide.  However, these alone are not enough to overcome a government.  It requires teamwork, coordination, a willingness to make hard choices, determination, and passion.  Despite what romantics and poets may think," she said, turning back to the class, "there is no such thing as a one man revolution.  While one person can start the ball rolling, they most assuredly will not win without an organization backing them."

"What is the difference between a revolution and a rebellion?"  Setting down her marker, Ghanima grabbed some handouts from her desk and began distributing them.  "Is it simply the matter of selecting an adjective, or is there a fundamental, underlying difference between the two?  How do you decide if you are rebelling, or beginning a revolution?  If you are an emperor, how would you portray such an insurgency?  To the ruling faction, is there a difference, or is the only distinction in the eyes of the opposition?"  She asked, smiling quietly at each of the students.  "These are difficult questions, and I do not expect you to have conclusive answers already prepared."

"Now, how is the battle fought?"  More handouts were passed around the class.  "Guerilla warfare, the army, irregular soldiers, special forces, spies, propagandists, strategists, tacticians, all of these people are employed by both sides of a revolt.  You don’t just need to win a fight on a physical battlefield, half the battle in a revolution is spiritual.  You need to win the hearts and minds of the people.  No matter which side you’re on, if you do not gain the support of public, you will never win.  Never.  You might win a reprieve today, or tomorrow, or for a week or a year or ten years, or ten thousand years, but you.  Will.  Lose."

"As the ruler of a country, what would you do when faced with a revolution?  Don’t say 'negotiate', or 'listen to their grievances,' because realistically that is not what’s going to happen," she said, stalking down the rows of desks.  "You are the God King of the Universe, born, bred, and trained to the position, and you have some nobody telling you that you’re not doing your job properly?  Are you actually going to listen to these people?  No, you are not."

"Remember – sometimes a failed revolution can do just as much good as a successful one, if you play your cards right.  However, is a dead revolutionary really a successful one, even if his or her cause succeeds?"  Ghanima leaned back against her desk, neon eyes swirling.  "I will leave that up for you to decide."

[OOC:  Wait for the OCD to go up, before you go have your fun!]

Comments

Sign In

[atreideslioness]

Viva la revolution!

Re: Sign In

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah Levine

Listen to the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

Or be a rebel and ignore the ruling elite. Just don't be surprised if your head rolls.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was taking a lot more notes than usual.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

Amber listened and took notes.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

Ella listened, with an expression of concentration on her face. This was something she hoped she'd never have to do.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

If there was ever a lecture that explained things at home for him, this was it. As such, he did more listening than writing.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[senor-chado.livejournal.com]

As much as Chad was trying to listen to the lecture, he found himself mostly thinking that if he ever took one of Ghanima's classes again, he was going to buy one of those tape-recorder thingies, simply to save his poor hand.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[lordofthecats.livejournal.com]

Lion-o was listening attentively, paying particular attention to the parts that applied to his situation.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

Jack was wondering what he'd do if something like this came up, dealing with a mad crazy ruler.

Luckily, it wouldn't likely come up. He took notes anyways.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

Alice was taking copious notes. This may become useful as reference later.

Our Guest Speaker!

[atreideslioness]

The fantastic Aly of Pirate's Swoop! Please wait until she pings in to ask questions!

Re: Our Guest Speaker!

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Ghanima already covered the point I always make first. A revolution without the people is worthless. You can feel you're doing the best thing in the world, you can have a committed group behind you, but if the people do not support you, if you can't win their love - and, yes, for a revolution, you need the people's love as well as their support, you'll not win."

Aly paused, watching the class. "Which brings up another difference - that between a revolution and a coup. A revolution incorporates the will of the people. A coup rarely does more than replace one tyrant with another. But as I said, your teacher already more than covered that. So what I want to say is to have a plan. More people have died for excellent causes just because they had no idea what to do next, and the established regime is just that. Established. They have the high ground, and you need to make up for that by knowing what the hell you're doing. Which isn't to say to be hidebound or not take advantage of their failures. But it is to say you need more than a general 'get them out of power' idea."

"And the final thing I'd say unless any of you have questions for me is that the hardest part of any revolution - any war even - is what happens afterwards. Your work, if you've just overthrown the government of your country or world, hasn't ended. It's only begun, and you've just dedicated the rest of your life to making sure you did the right thing. Don't betray your people by losing interest and moving on."

Discussion!

[atreideslioness]

It's an open class discussion, so feel free to ping anywhere and with multiple people. Be rebellious!

Discussion: Rebellion or Revolution

[atreideslioness]

What's the difference?

Discussion!: Tools of the Trade: "Weapons. Organization. Tactics. Propaganda. Intelligence."

[atreideslioness]

What would be your favorite tool for a revolution, and why?

Dun da Dun!

[atreideslioness]

Suddenly, the Danger Room flickered and changed, placing the students in a grand hall, surrounded by people. A dark-haired woman sat upon the dais, power practically radiating from her as she surveyed her domain.

The hustle and bustle stilled suddenly, as the room divided down the center, the audience willingly being herded off to the sides as a gong sounded and the guards made-way for an official-looking procession. One of the women in the group might look familiar to some of the members of the class, if somewhat older than the student they once knew.

The small party gathered at the foot of the throne, just as a wild wind whipped through the space, drowning out all sound as it howled past. "Behold me, family!" a male voice boomed, and the court turned as one, faces registering shock and horror at the two figures standing there. The young man tipped his head back as an inhuman roar ripped from his throat, and Ghanima didn't so much as flinch, her entire Self a mask of icy composure.

"Pause!" The voice echoed off the walls of the Danger Shop and the hologram halted as the real Ghanima stepped out of the crowd to stand beside her doppleganger. "Some of you have asked me why I teach this class, and a few others have inquired about my qualifications. You are about to find out."

"On the dais stands Alia Atreides, the Holy Regent of the Imperium and Abomination." Ghanima strode forward, Voice ringing through the hall. "Once a just and effective ruler, Alia has fallen prey to the other lives within her, the voices of madness which have consumed her Self. She has become paranoid, vindictive, and temperamental. She is killing this planet, and by extension, the Empire." Ghanima mounted the stairs to the throne and whirled to face the students. "Alia seeks to impose an eternal stranglehold on the entire universe by controlling the supply of Spice, the substance which makes interplanetary travel possible. Opposing her are Leto and Ghanima Atreides, rightful heirs to the Lion Throne."

"Sometimes, you fight. Others, your task is not to be the hero, but the actor behind the scenes, the one who makes the negotiations, or helps legitimize the reign."

"In this room are major forces of destiny." Ghanima gestured to the people standing at the foot of the stairs and smiled thinly. "Princess Irulan Corrino-Atreides, step-mother of Leto and Ghanima. Bene Gesserit trained, and three-times more dangerous if you threaten her charges."

"The pair beside her are the Lady Jessica Atreides, a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother and the biological mother to Alia and Paul, and her apprentice, Farad'n Corrino, heir to House Corrino and nephew to Irulan, betrothed of Ghanima Atreides." Her face was dispassionate as she indicated the man she had just named as her intended. "Politics."

"Whichever way they step, history will follow." Ghanima waved her hand, and the Leto-simulation roared again. "The winner of this battle will have a second, more deadly fight on their hands if these three do not support them. While none of them are powerful enough to stop Alia's rampage alone, together they represent most of the major factions in Imperium politics, and alienating even one will make taking control of the Empire a very nasty affair."

"The Atreides lions have gathered for a kill. The only question is who will walk away alive."

"If it was up to you, how would you depose the Holy Regent? Violence? Negotiation? Exorcism? Appeal to her better nature?" Ghanima gave Alia one long, last look before seating herself on the throne as the simulation resumed. "You're about to see what we did. Afterwards, I want to hear what you would have done differently."

[OOC: Spoiler/Warning: For those of you who can't use the video link (YouTube), Alia battles Leto II, and ends up committing suicide.]

React

[atreideslioness]

Watch the scene play out, talk with your classmates, try to swipe a crysknife off one of Alia's Fremen guards. You'll find the Danger Room won't let you.

Discuss

[atreideslioness]

So, what would you have done differently? The tableau has frozen in that last, sad image, and Ghanima's sitting on the throne, waiting to hear how you would have removed Alia from power.

Give it a try!

[atreideslioness]

You think you can do better? Or you want to try and take on Alia yourself? After talking with Ghanima, she'll restart the simulation for you, so you can stand in for Leto.

Talk to the TA Duo

[atreideslioness]

Once more, with feeling.

Re: Talk to the TA Duo

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was definitely here, watching all of this with interest

Talk to Aly

[atreideslioness]

Got a question you didn't want to ask in front of the class? Just want to gossip? She's here!

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

She's here, both before and after class.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[raspberryturk]

After class, Reno stepped up to Ghanima, in ever his casual saunter, even if is demeanor was perhaps a little more stiff than usual.

"What he did there. That was... really somethin'." He nodded to the area of the room where the simulation had played out. "I mean, physically, sure. But... I dunno. After all that, what happened?"

OOC

[atreideslioness]

Well, something has to keep this OCD from imploding!