fandomhigh | Civics, Friday, November 17, 2017

"Treason is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days," Steve said. "And not just for people who don't like apple pie."

"And, in this country at least, it's also not about people who don't stand for the flag," Tony added. "Or people who don't agree with the government. Those are both rights that are blatantly placed into out constitution."

"Using tiny words that even the densest, hopefully, would understand," Steve said. "Everyone knows what abridge means, right?"

Maybe. Possibly? It was supposed to be taught!

"Treason here is defined as waging war on or assisting those waging war on the United States. Which is how we got our first big treason charge with Benedict Arnold in the revolutionary war," Tony said. "Arnold switched sides, becoming a British general."

Steve made a face. "In a world with political actors other than traditional nation states--terrorist organizations, for instance--treason has become a slightly more gray area than it was for Arnold."

Except for Hydra. Because screw Hydra.

"Which led to the charges in the Cold War not being of treason, but of espionage as that gray area became harder and harder to sort through legally," Tony said, nodding along before following it with a muttered, "Even with the witch hunt mentality whipped up by McCarthy."

"There have been very few people tried and convicted of treason over the years," Steve said. "Only about a dozen. It's a huge hurdle to clear, but colluding with a foreign government to win a Presidential election might just do it."

So bitter. So, so bitter.

"So!" Tony said brightly, because this could turn into a rant from both of them. "Today how about we examine what is considered treason in other systems of government?"

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"A little bit," Peridot agreed, perking up slightly, "though it took me a little too long to learn that I need to pay attention to whether I'm reading from the fiction section or not. The books there are often terribly misleading."

"Oh, definitely," Steve said. "Same with movies and documentaries. And historical fiction is in a really gray area. You need to know the real story before reading the fake ones."

Peridot nodded her agreement to that, too.

"Though it's odd to read about things that only happened a couple hundred years ago, and to find that there are so many different opinions of how those events actually went. Even history here seems to be up for debate."

That tended to happen when the government didn't control literally every bit of historical documentation that was made available to the masses.

"Well, history is viewed from many different perspectives," Steve said. "Sometimes it takes hundreds of years to get a full sense of perspective about what events affected what and who was really involved."

"Back on Homeworld, we'd just ask somebody who was there," Peridot sighed. And then paused. And then grimaced. "Assuming they're permitted to discuss those matters."

"And they'd tell you the bald truth about what happened?" Steve asked. "Or would they finesse it to make their side look right?"

That earned Peridot a moment of pause.

"I... don't know. I used to think I did. But now..."

She shrugged.

Steve winced. "Stinks to grow up and realize that, huh?" he said.

Peridot briefly considered pointing out that she really had never 'grown up.' That simply wasn't how Gems worked. But now didn't seem like the time. She bit her lip for a moment, and then she nodded, instead.

"It's difficult to get used to," she admitted. "The possibility that everything I ever knew, really knew, might have been a lie."

"It really, really does," Steve said vehemently. "I learned not too long ago that the agency I'd been working for had been infiltrated by a group I'd given my life to defeat 70 years ago. It wasn't easy to deal with."

Peridot nodded a little, then heaved a sigh.

"Is it always this complicated when Earth is involved?"

Homeworld had been oppressive, but at least it was straightforward.

"From my experience, yes," Steve said. "Sorry."

"It'll be something to get used to," Peridot replied, sighing. "It'll be... good for me."

Unless it wasn't. But hey, the solution to that was hopping on a portal to... anywhere but here, right? Easy fix.

Steve smiled. "It's important to grow," he said. "Even if the process can be painful."

"We really had no concept of growing, back home," Peridot replied. "But I suppose I'm in the right place to get my head around it, too."

"Societies that can't adapt...well, it doesn't tend to end well," he said. "If you can learn, that's probably for the best."

"I'm trying," Peridot promised. "And it's hard to unlearn my entire life to adjust to this, but... I want to."

"Wanting to will make the difference," Steve said, smiling.

"And having... friends... doesn't hurt, either."

All of these things were still pretty comparatively new and novel. Peridot leaned in a little as if she was about to share on some big secret.

"I kind of like that part about this place."

"Me too," Steve said with a quick grin over at Tony.

Civics, Friday, November 17, 2017

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