fandomhigh | Ethics [Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 1st period]

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ethics

Ethics [Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 1st period]

Rory had left for the Democratic National Convention on Sunday, which sort of explained why Anakin looked as sleep-deprived as the rest of the students when he entered the classroom a minute late.

It also explained why he had an infant in his arms and spit-up on the shoulder of his robe. Not that he knew about the spit-up. "Sorry about this," he said, "but Christopher threw a fit at the day care center, and when your baby has Force abilities...well. Now I have to replace all of their high chairs."

Temper tantrums at Anakin's house were so much fun.

"All right," he said, "onto today's ethical dilemma: If you had to choose between killing one person in order to save five others, or doing nothing even though you know that doing nothing means that those five people would die before your eyes, what would you do? And what do you think would be the right thing to do?"

Wasn't this a fun, cheerful subject, students?

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"You're lecturing by asking questions," Atton retorted.

Dammit, Atton, don't just forget to play the stupid drunk kid.

"You think something you do, something you say, is going to teach us something. You just package it up in questions and cryptic remarks because that's what Jedi do - you don't come out and own what you say. Or what you do."

"And how do your other teachers teach?" Anakin asked. "I think this isn't entirely a Jedi method."

"I think you're trying to dodge the point," Atton retorted.

"I think your obvious prejudices against Jedi are clouding your judgment," Anakin replied.

"I think I have my prejudices against the Jedi for a reason," Atton retorted, "Because you people lie. And you manipulate. And there's never been a damn thing any of you've done that withstands scrutiny, which you never get, because you'd rather sit down on your asses and act all offended that people don't love you and value your words the way you want them to."

"When are you from, kid?" Anakin snapped. "Because it sure as--" Christopher in his arms stopped the class from learning some really foul Mon Cal curses, "--heck isn't my time."

"I'm from Revan's time," Atton said, "work out the year. Not that it seems to matter, since everyone from our universe I've met seems to be talking about the same things happening. So don't even start with me."

Sorry, Anakin, but he really didn't care about hte baby.

"You came into my classroom and picked the fight," Anakin pointed out sharply. "I didn't start with you."

"There wasn't a damn fight until you decided to get offended."

Okay, that might not be strictly true, but Atton was on a roll here.

"Besides, you know I'm right. Because if you, or any Force user for that matter, actually understood the question you just asked? Picking the many over the few? We wouldn't be standing here talking."

"You went about this entirely the wrong way," Anakin replied. "I've had more than a few issues with the Jedi, the Council and their methods over the millennia, but by lumping me in with them, you forced me onto the defensive. By including me into the 'all you Jedi', you didn't get a more nuanced answer from me. I've made both of the choices offered in the hypothetical."

"Sorry," Atton drawled.

Just in case Anakin might've gotten the thought into his head that he actually meant that, he added, "You were mumbling; all I heard was 'defensive'..."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "And we're done here," he said. "You're not interested in learning. You're interested in slotting me into your preconceived idea of what a Jedi is, and I refuse to play."

Atton rolled his eyes right back. "You know what would've been nice?" he said, "If the people on Serroco and Telos could've done the same. But hey, knock yourself out."

And you wondered why you didn't make more friends, Atton.

"I will not feel guilty for events that happened many, many years before I was born," Anakin retorted.

He had enough guilt as it was.

Well, okay, Atton actually didn't wonder. But then the only thing he cared about was... he didn't even know what he cared about.

"It's a pattern," he said flatly.

"Because you've talked to a few people on this island, all the Jedi ever are stupid," Anakin said. "Uh huh."

A real burst of anger fired off visibly in Atton's eyes.

"No, you self-important schutta," he snapped, "Because I've talked to people well past my time I've found out that even millenia after I die, you Force users are still fighting out your damned stupid religious wars, and setting entire planets full of the rest of us ablaze while you're doing it."

"Keel-ee calleya ku kah," Anakin replied. "Open your eyes and learn to think, young one. The Sith have no compunction--none at all--to hold back, to be merciful, to leave things well enough alone. So the choices for the Jedi are to let them take over and leave the population to the sense of justice Sith don't have, or to fight back. It's not a religious war--it's a battle to determine how the galaxy runs."

"It's a religious war and you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise," Atton said. "You don't seem to get how the distinction doesn't matter - Jedi, Sith, you both have too much power and you both cause too much damage. Hell. At least the Sith are honest about why they're making us suffer."

"So what's the solution, then?" Anakin demanded. "Let the Jedi be exterminated and give the galaxy to the Sith?"

"How about we get rid of all the Force sensitives," Atton drawled, "Or better yet, how about we just start with getting you people to stop acting like you're making things better."

"Take us out of the equation and things get a lot worse," Anakin said. "That I've also heard repeatedly."

"Keep telling yourself that," Atton said. "I hope it helps you sleep at night."

"I have two children under four and my wife's out of town," Anakin replied. "Nothing helps me sleep at night."

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Ethics [Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 1st period]

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