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Battles That Changed History, Second Period, Friday 2/19

"I couldn't possibly hope to cover the entirety of the Crusades in the time we have today," Steve said, "and I know spring break's just around the corner. So let's go with the very bare basics: the Crusades were a series of wars fought over about two hundred years for control of an area known as the Holy Land, especially the city of Jerusalem. Muslims had control of the area; Christians wanted control, arguing it was theirs by right because it was, yes, holy in their religion. Of course, the area was also holy to the Muslims, who were already living there, and then there were the Jewish people, who had it first before the waves of conquest started coming, and these other two religions--Christianity and Islam--grew out of theirs. The Jews are pretty much being persecuted by all parties at this time, so the fight is between the Christians and the Muslims, both of whom claim God has given them this land. Kingdoms rise and fall based on success and failure in these wars; fortunes are poured into them; whole generations of men go and fight and die. Incredibly stupid and terrible things are done. And guess what?" Steve leaned forward over his desk. "We're still fighting over it. It's not settled yet.

"So, what can we learn from the Crusades? One, if you've lost the war once, don't go and fight it again and again and again for two hundred years. Two, people get irrational when religion is involved. Three, if people are living somewhere, and have been living there for quite some time, generally speaking it's not good manners to show up and tell them it belongs to you by divine right. In other words, use some common sense. I hope you will also use some common sense on your spring break; now you can discuss the Crusades amongst yourselves, then go enjoy it."

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Like you're on a crusade.

Take notes, whisper, daydream about the beach, etc.

Pair up and talk about the Crusades.

After they ping in.

He's here for you.

I had intended for this to be more involved, but I went to a Neil Gaiman reading tonight and have been sitting up waiting for the second airing of the figure skating, because loldialup means I can't watch it online, so my brain is le fried.

Gabrielle

Gabrielle's expression drifted further and further frown-like throughout the lecture. A war they were still fighting? All this one-god stuff sounded like it was trouble. Which was a depressing thought.

Sure, Mael had been crazy and there was something disturbing about Anteus being so willing to sacrifice his own son on his god's (supposed) say-so, but Icus had been a nice kid. And David . . . sigh.

Arthur Pendragon

Arthur was present, of course. He looked... thoughtful, throughout.

Leto Atreides

Leia Organa

Mulan

Mat Cauthon

Mat wondered what would have happened if he'd told Ba'alzamon to stop fighting the same war over and over again, expecting the Dragon to change his mind and join the Dark One.

But then, Mat recalled, he liked being alive.

Kurt Wagner

Kurt took notes and sighed. Thinking about the Crusades as an enormous mistake instead of something glorious and noble... made more sense, actually. And and said bad things about the Popes who had sanctioned the wars. And THAT was just an unpleasant thought that he didn't want to dwell on.

Kurt shifted uncomfortably and looked around for a partner.

Mat was there, too, glad that ~~because his author's worldbuilding had gotten quite complex enough, thanks~~ there hadn't really been a divergence in religious views at home.

Well, other than the Whitecloaks, but everyone knew they were mad.

Edited 2010-02-19 18:41 (UTC)

Marco

Illyria

Rose Hathaway

Andros

You're not missing much! The streaming online has been terrible these Olympics.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here last week," was how a still subdued Rose apologised to her teacher. "You got my message, right?"

"I did get your message," Steve agreed, and continued gently, "I know that things do come up, but as it was your second absence in three weeks, I have to remind you that at this school one class is a pretty big chunk of the whole, and I hope this isn't going to become a pattern."

Rose's jaw tightened, a little of the new rage that always seemed to lurk in her showing through. "Yeah, sorry, but this class isn't going to matter shit to me in two months. If it becomes a pattern, too bad, but they come first."

It wasn't a rational reaction, no, but being held captive and watching your friend die didn't usually engender rational responses.

Steve didn't take well to being sworn at by a teenager for doing his job as a teacher and pointing out that missing a lot of classes was generally a bad idea, but one thing he wasn't known for was his temper. He also had no idea 'they come first' wasn't in reference to family members. He could, however, lecture with the best of them, so he frowned and said, "I'll thank you not to swear at me again, Miss Hathaway, or you will receive detention. I don't ask for much, I don't think most of you are that enthusiastic for the subject, and I don't expect half of you to remember anything I said here two weeks after your final exam, but the fact remains that I am your teacher. I expect you to show up, to act like you're paying attention, and I will be treated with some respect. I understand that your family must come first. I was just reminding you that if you miss too many more classes, your grade will have to suffer. If it becomes a 'pattern' you may even fail my class. Apparently you don't care, and I can't make you. I wasn't even trying to make you. I was simply telling you. There is a difference, Miss Hathaway."

Lion-o

Illyria was not daydreaming of the beach. More like daydreaming of glory days when she'd had her own worshipers ready and willing to slaughter other people's worshipers.

She ground her teeth, trying to listen to that internal voice that sounded like Dimitri that was telling her to calm down and walk away. That the teacher didn't have a clue what she was talking about nor did he care.

"Thank you for telling me," Rose shot back, rage and sarcasm heavy in her voice. "Give me detention or not, I don't care, but maybe next time you remind someone, actually give a damn enough to find out if it was a pleasure trip or something that just might be more important than a lecture."

The hurt and grieving teenager took priority over the self-control she'd been trying to learn, and rationality apparently had second place here.

He was pretty sure he'd said something about understanding that family emergencies did come first, but he wasn't about to get into an argument with a teenaged girl. For one thing, that would be stupidly undignified, and for another, in his experience you couldn't actually win with teenaged girls who were determined to be offended by you. "Miss Hathaway, you're not listening to me, and I can see you don't intend to. Last week was on the Battle of Hastings. Read about it if you like. Don't if you don't. Please leave now."

It seems I did miss some stuff, woe, because my mom says they showed more skaters in the first airing. In the second they just showed Takahashi, Weir, Lysacek, and Plushenko. Noooooo clue why.

It was true. Teenaged girls were the worst people to get in arguments with. Especially when they were convinced they were hurt.

"Happy to," she snapped, spinning around to leave, her hair flying out behind her. So much rage, so little outlet.

Edited 2010-02-20 00:15 (UTC)

Awww! I meant in not being able to watch it online, but that SUCKS they didn't show all of it. Some of the earlier guys were a lot of fun. AND YOU MISSED STEPHANE! WOE.

Also <3<3<3 I'm sorry for my ragey girl!

Kyle Reese

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Battles That Changed History, Second Period, Friday 2/19

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