(OOC: This can be found in many online-ish forums; all the places where the large body of rebellious or incendiary, and necessarily anonymous, political dissenters "publish" their thoughts. This comes "signed" by a well-known member of that group, a fairly prestigious (in an ironic sense) one, who writes under the somewhat odd pen name "Erica Blair". The reference to 20th century author Eric Blair, aka George Orwell, is obvious, but why one would identify oneself with him ... who knows.)
In Reply to Dr. Ganeda's Statement
I should very much like to attend your "debate", but I imagine I would risk much, perhaps my life, and all for the chance to speak in a clearly biased forum to people who are dead-set in their views. Therefore, I present here the lion's share of what I would present verbally in such a forum - I should be unsatisfied to have Sonic Banshee's response be the only on the record.
I shall be blunt, and if bluntness lends real or imagined acid to my words, I trust those of you not bound by chains of pathos to the savage masses to be capable of coping with such. Dr. Ganeda sits in his chair, with his wealth, with his education, with his degree, with his position, with his respect, with his rights. He sits with all these treasures, and he tells the soldier standing, rifle in his hand, scars on his face and the poisonous bitterness of death in his heart, that he has no soul. And why not? If a soul is like any of the comforts that the Doctor enjoys, why should it not also be denied to his protector? I have often pointed out the injustice in the average life of a Reploid, we all have, and we have all been ignored. However - on this matter, no position of power or self-proclaimed supremacy can prevail. No cruel breath can tear our very essence from us; no, that is the treasure given us by Divinity's love and kindness, and neither Humanity's selfishness nor hubris can pilfer that gift!
Dr. Ganeda, you reason that Reploids are creations of mankind, and therefore that granting them souls would be an overly-proud claim of Humanity's ability to form life. Have more hypocritical, more twisted thoughts ever been conceived?
Mankind may make the bodies of Reploids, but they do not make their spirits; no more than they make the spirits of one another.
If that is not true, Dr. Ganeda, then you yourself, made by a dumb, unthinking, soulless biological process, are scarcely higher in status than a Reploid! What are your parents, but your builders? Less than that, for they know not the intricacy of their construction. If physical, 'natural' creation is the mark of possession of a soul, then what is there to separate Humanity from wild beasts? For, though it be complicated, human reproduction is certainly no less mechanical or purely physical than is the production of Reploid bodies. I fear not merely for Reploids, but for all, if Dr. Ganeda's standard of physical creation be the one which Divinity chose for this Earth! It is not the birth of the physical, but the birth of the spiritual, that matters here, and humans can no more weave that wonder within their offspring than they can in Reploids.
Yet, Reploids of the world, do not be pressed to violence, nor sadness, nor envy, by the Doctor's words, even if my own, and those of my colleagues, persuades you not. For they are but words, breaths, scratches, markings, perhaps betraying a thin glint of spirit, but no substitute for that vital essence that pervades the universe. Words are dust and ash, and have no claim against the soul.
I write this not for fear that the Doctor may with sound of his voice conjure away the souls of Reploids, for he is but mortal himself. I write this because, if it is set down into public opinion, even into public legal documentation, that Reploids are but machines, then cruelty and horror have begun. We all know what Aegis Defensive Technologies does to Reploids, but at the very least they must commit their butchery of the mind behind doors, for the doctrine of the possession of the soul demands the sparest of even more sparingly enforced rights for Reploids. What, then, if that last scrap of protection were stripped away? Then the Mavericks would truly be justified in what they do. Doctor, you pretend to be calm and peaceful, friendly and benign, speaking words of softness, inviting words. Yet behind your "friendly" desire to speak with your opponents, there is cold, hard reality. What is philosophy for you is life for many Reploids. They have so little, Doctor, why must you try to justify their cruel lot in life, or make their share in the world's riches even meaner?
Doctor, Blasphemer, you claim Divinity with your soft, yet rotten words! Let no one who wishes to remain righteous follow your prideful example, for thoughts as yours have brought the plague of Sigma upon Humanity and Reploids alike. What fool, if he be clumsy with his means, or monster, if he be adept with them, curses those who in accordance with Providence defend him from the plague he brought upon himself?
-Erica Blair
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