fandomhigh | Oppression, Resistance and Revolution

“Good morning, class,” Magneto said after everyone had taken their seats. “My name is Erik Lehnsherr. For the purpose of this class you may address me as... professor.”

He smirked a little at that before continuing.

“Now, I’m sure many of you know me by a very different name. That is a topic for a different day. For those of you who might be curious, feel free to ask Mr. Starsmore who is a teacher here or Miss Pryde at the local bar. I’m sure they have some delightful tales to tell you.”

Giving his class a smirk, he began to walk up and down the rows of desks and began to lecture.

“This class is entitled Oppression, Resistance and Revolution,” he continued. “Which will entail both lecture as well as practical labs. As part of this course we will be looking at the history of oppression, resistance and revolution throughout history. We will discuss its roots and its effect on society. I realize that many of you may not be from this planet or perhaps from an alternate line of history. For the purpose of this class, I shall be drawing examples from my own world. I expect all of you to provide your own examples as you see fit. Before we begin our class exercise today, Mr. Kaplan will be the TA for the course. Mr. Kaplan? Please see me after class for instructions. ~~If he's here.~~”

Coming full circle, Magneto took his place in front of the class. “Now, I understand it’s typically a tradition in this school to start class with introductions. I do not feel that is necessary. Instead I would like for you all to go around the room and tell me about a cause you feel is worth dying for.”

And then with a random point of his finger, Magneto selected his first student. “You. Begin.”

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"I would do everything I can to make certain the world is a safe place for those who can't," Evan replied, holding his chin up as he spoke. "There are too many villains out there who would take away innocent lives just to prove that they're stronger, or because those innocents are different."

He lingered on that last word. It had been a bit of a sticking point for him, lately.

"... Nobody deserves to be victimized just because people aren't willing to try to understand them. I'd stand up for that. And I know it's dangerous work and might get me killed someday. I've accepted that."

Ladies and gentlemen, Fandom's own idealist Apocalypse.

"And if a certain religious group in your world who not only espoused hatred toward... let's say mutants, but also committed acts of genocide suddenly had the tables turned on them," Magneto postulated. "And now a group of mutants are attacking them and making them the victims. Who would you pick?"

And because Magneto wanted to see Evan's reaction...

"Or would you let nature sort it out and let the strongest survive?"

"I wouldn't pick either," Evan decided, frowning a little. It wasn't an easy question, that was for certain. "Or... rather... I think I'd pick both. If the first group hasn't answered for their crimes, then they need to. There's no question about that. But there's a difference between bringing people to justice, and attacking in order to destroy, or to prove a point. The second group might be mutants... they might have been victims at one point themselves. But it sounds like what they're doing is only going to make martyrs out of the religious group. I don't see how that helps anybody."

"In the sixties the civil rights movement had its own militant group," Magneto pointed out. "Are you saying that even though their cause was right their methods were wrong? Where does being right end and wrong begin?"

"Where innocent people and noncombatants get hurt," Evan replied, not missing a beat. "If you run around hurting the innocent, people are going to notice, but that doesn't mean they're going to want to help you attain your cause. There are better ways to fight for equality. In the fifties, one woman refused to stand up on the bus. She didn't raise a hand to hurt anybody, but she made her point. That got attention, too."

"An excellent point," Magneto agreed. "However who is to say exactly how innocent those people are? That's actually a question we'll answer in a later class. Very good, Evan."

"Thank you, sir," Evan replied, smiling proudly. Praises! Praises from the teacher!

Who was an X-Man!

It was very exciting.

Oppression, Resistance and Revolution - Friday

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