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A Declaration of Intentions to the Senate.
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| Sanard_Banders | Date: Tuesday, 29 Mar 2016, 1:19 AM | Message # 1 |
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| As Supreme Chancellor I am entrusted to insure the welfare of this New Republic. It is no secret that I believe the primary threat to this Republic has been insidious and long held social mores that are at the roots of many injustices that has been enacted on this galaxy for the past 50 years. I speak today of Humanocentric thinking and the idea of the Human High Culture. For far too long Humans have acted in ways that are arrogant, offensive and outright oppressive in the larger galactic scheme. As Chancellor I intend to combat these prejudices and foster and environment that empowers our sentient brethren.
As such I hearby declare these administration intentions to this, the people's senate:
- All bills that reach my desk must have one cosigner that is a sentient brethren who is not human otherwise I will veto the bill.
- All human senators will not exhibit humancentric attitudes. I will give warnings for such behavior and repeated warnings will result in suspension
- All bills submitted to the senate should benefit our sentient brethren who are not human. Any bill must meet the approval of the Diversity committee otherwise I will veto it
- I have an open door policy to my office and any member of the public may see me anytime I'm in my office and discuss their matters
- I encourage all human members of the senate to seek out their brethren's company and opinions
- The language of the senate is not basic. Basic is a Human centric language all members are encouraged to speak in their native tongues. Humans must propose bills in languages other then basic and must do so with a respectful degree of fluidity. Multiple languages should be used if possible. Any bill proposed in basic will be vetoed.
In the coming months I will be proposing senate bills so that way we can further combat human high culture and bring lasting peace to the galaxy. I look forward to working with you all.
"We Humans can't possibly know what it's like to be poor, what it's like to be discriminated against. For too long, Humans have enjoyed the privileged halls of power. We must do better for our non-Human brethren. We must make way for those who wish to have a part in the halls of power. Our democracy won't stand unless Humans take a seat."
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| Benedict_Starsgard | Date: Wednesday, 30 Mar 2016, 2:59 PM | Message # 2 |
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| Chancellor, I know you are sincere so I have done you the courtesy of putting your agenda to the Commenor delegation, including the non-Human members of the delegation, for a fair hearing. And we are unanimously agreed that Commenor will not meet your conditions or abide by your terms.
I am no Human-centrist, but I was elected by the people of Commenor to represent them and to advance their interests in this Senate, and the people of Commenor are over 90% Human. As the leader of my delegation it is my duty, and the duty of a democracy, to ensure the principle of "majority rule with minority rights." And that is your duty as the leader of the New Republic, not to empower a minority at the expense of the majority and to do so on the basis of species. That, Sir, is what the Empire did, and what the First Order does now.
I do not deny that non-Humans were oppressed in the recent past, and that Human-centrism and Human supremacy continue to be obstacles to species equality. Nor do I deny that the equality of species is a legitimate goal of this Senate. But to continue to divide us on the basis of species is not helpful. It is undemocratic, and it is wrong.
I hope, Chancellor, that you reconsider these measures which are far beyond your authority and will only tarnish the last days of your administration.
Benedict Götz Starsgård
Governor and Senator of Commenor
President of the Commenor Self-Defense League
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| Sanard_Banders | Date: Sunday, 03 Apr 2016, 4:43 AM | Message # 3 |
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| Quote Benedict_Starsgard (  ) I am no Human-centrist, but I was elected by the people of Commenor to represent them and to advance their interests in this Senate, and the people of Commenor are over 90% Human. As the leader of my delegation it is my duty, and the duty of a democracy, to ensure the principle of "majority rule with minority rights." And that is your duty as the leader of the New Republic, not to empower a minority at the expense of the majority and to do so on the basis of species. That, Sir, is what the Empire did, and what the First Order does now. Quote Benedict_Starsgard ( ) I do not deny that non-Humans were oppressed in the recent past, and that Human-centrism and Human supremacy continue to be obstacles to species equality. Nor do I deny that the equality of species is a legitimate goal of this Senate. But to continue to divide us on the basis of species is not helpful. It is undemocratic, and it is wrong.
Perhaps this would be so challenging if Commenor were to have more sentients other then humans. It's difficult to imagine how a planet on the Trellan Trade route could maintain 90% human population and not have at least the shadow of humancentric policies.
We, my good sir, are already divided. We humans have far too much power. This Chancellorship only seeks that we share it more fairly. None of these policies impede on humans right to representation. At most they are mere formalities that many of us are too "refined" to entertain. But believe my good sir. What may annoy you to do means lightyears for those who have been oppressed by Humancentric behavior. As a person who believes in democracy I'm sure you'll agree that it should empower the majority and take care of the disenfranchised. This was our fight against the empire. Now we must fight the shadow of the Empire. I urge you greatly, my good sir, stand by your bretheren and represent your good Commenor in this great senate with fearlessness, with dignity, respect and set a good example to all. You, Senator Starsgard are the most equipped to do so for you are a good man of good character. I know this because otherwise you would not have brought your concerns to the table. But surely you can see that these are mere annoyances that will result in stronger democracy. One that will not have our bretheren becoming Separatist and going to war with us. For we will no longer allow the corruption of humancentric behavior get in the way of fair and equal representation.
"We Humans can't possibly know what it's like to be poor, what it's like to be discriminated against. For too long, Humans have enjoyed the privileged halls of power. We must do better for our non-Human brethren. We must make way for those who wish to have a part in the halls of power. Our democracy won't stand unless Humans take a seat."
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| Ponc__Gavrisom | Date: Tuesday, 05 Apr 2016, 7:57 PM | Message # 4 |
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| I am troubled by some of the language in this debate and the underlying assumptions that are revealed by this use of language. Namely, the dichotomy of "Human" and "non-Human" is itself Humanocentrist insofar as it is from the perspective of what is or is not Human. As my colleague, Senator Fey'lya, has said, "why must we be defined by you and in comparison to you?" I believe the Chancellor is avoiding the term "non-Human," and I appreciate that. But in referring to us as the "majority" he is making the same mistake.
Senator Fey'lya is a Bothan, and I am a Calibop. His is a canine species, mine is avian. His species inhabits a region called Bothan Space, mine has no home and is near extinction. Senator Fey'lya and I have had different experiences and we disagree on many issues. This is why Borsk represents his species in the Senate and I represent mine, rather than either or both of us representing everyone in the galaxy who isn't Human. To say that Borsk, myself, and other non-Human species are a "majority" is to ignore our differences and see us as one-dimensionally as the Empire did.
(Not that I am comparing the Chancellor to Palpatine or Snoke. I think the Senator from Commenor should apologize for doing so).
Senator Starsgard uses the word "majority" quite a lot, though I'm not sure whether I heard him say that Humans are the majority species in the galaxy. This would not be correct. I heard him say that "most people are Human," which I suppose is correct insofar as Humans are the most numerous species in the galaxy. But they are a plurality, not a majority. These may seem like minor distinctions but they reveal unconscious assumptions about one another that I think we should try to resist.
Ponc Gavrisom
Representative of the Calibop diaspora
Message edited by Ponc__Gavrisom - Wednesday, 06 Apr 2016, 4:11 AM |
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| Sanard_Banders | Date: Wednesday, 06 Apr 2016, 5:00 AM | Message # 5 |
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| Forgive me for falling into the Non Human Human dichotomy there Esteemed Senator Gavrisom. I speak from a position of seeing first hand how the empire treated my fellow brethren. All my brethren who arn't human did share one thing in common and that was oppression by humans under the Empire to a varying degree. To me this shared experience makes my fellow brethren far more like each other in share experience then like us humans. I hope that clarifies the intentions of my word usage. However, I do concede it touches on the dichotomy. I shall try to avoid such language in the future. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful input.
"We Humans can't possibly know what it's like to be poor, what it's like to be discriminated against. For too long, Humans have enjoyed the privileged halls of power. We must do better for our non-Human brethren. We must make way for those who wish to have a part in the halls of power. Our democracy won't stand unless Humans take a seat."
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| Senator_Pryce | Date: Wednesday, 06 Apr 2016, 1:09 PM | Message # 6 |
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| Representative Gavrisom, can the Chancellor depend on your support or not? What is your opinion of his agenda?
Jaso Pryce
Vice Chancellor of the New Republic
Senator of Metellos
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| Ponc__Gavrisom | Date: Wednesday, 06 Apr 2016, 7:18 PM | Message # 7 |
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| Quote Senator_Pryce What is your opinion of his agenda?
What is yours, Vice Chancellor?
I didn't state an opinion because, to be quite honest, I don't have one. Yet. I have some thoughts which perhaps can guide our discussion, but I'd like to hear more from my colleagues, particularly Senator Crion, before I come to any conclusions. There is no question that the Chancellor's heart is in the right place, and his motives are unimpeachable. But I'm also concerned about the precedent he may be setting for a potentially less scrupulous Chancellor in the future. In other words, is this the right thing to do? Perhaps it is. But is this the right way to do it? I'm doubtful.
I see the Chancellor's point that the Human/non-Human dichotomy and Humanocentrist ideology was, if not invented by the Empire, enthusiastically adopted by the Empire, made law across the galaxy, and taught to a generation of the galaxy's youth. Some entire species were enslaved, some driven to extinction (or nearly so, in the case of my species). All not-Human species do, to one extent or another, bear the wounds of "Human High Culture," and these wounds are slow to heal. If I understand him correctly, the Chancellor believes that years of discrimination against us must now be balanced with discrimination in our favor. My instinct is that all discrimination is wrong. But I'd be lying if I said that I don't find his logic appealing. I am conflicted.
But the Calibop are a long-lived species. I hope that in my many years, I hope that I've accrued some wisdom. I remember Palpatine as both Chancellor and Emperor, and I am concerned about precedent. I don't think any of us believe that the Chancellor of the New Republic has, or should have, the authority to veto any and all acts of the Senate that don't meet his, her, or its personally-imposed criteria. Or else a future Chancellor (or, Force forbid, a future Palpatine) could conceivably veto any acts that don't benefit Humans or consult with Humans or have a Human co-sponsor. Here again my instinct is that all discrimination is wrong and should never be considered permissible. But I remain interested in the opinion of Senator Crion, himself a former Chancellor, before I come to a conclusion.
Ponc Gavrisom
Representative of the Calibop diaspora
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| Senator_Pryce | Date: Wednesday, 06 Apr 2016, 11:29 PM | Message # 8 |
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| Quote Ponc__Gavrisom ( ) What is yours, Vice Chancellor?
I believe the Chancellor has taken a principled position.
Jaso Pryce
Vice Chancellor of the New Republic
Senator of Metellos
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| Mical_Crion | Date: Sunday, 10 Apr 2016, 11:42 PM | Message # 9 |
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| Senator Gavrisom raised several important points here. I agree with him that the Chancellor of course has his heart set in the right place, but intent does not translate to agreeable action. Vetoing a bill based on who supports it is an act of tyranny and destroys the democracy we have set in place. The chief asset behind a representative democracy, and what makes it work at all, is trust. Trust in the chosen delegates to represent the will of those they represent over their own in their voting, and trust that the people's voices, through their chosen delegate, shall be listened to by the government. Quite simply, the Chancellor's intention here while admirable, breaks that trust and begins a spiral, no matter how well-intentioned, towards a tyrannical government.
Part of this declaration is asking the Senate's delegates to be cordially and friendly to one another, something I of course agree with. The door of my office is open to all members, regardless of who they are; as should those of every member in this august body. Another is simply asking members to keep decorum, a simple matter of parliamentary procedure that the administration should already be doing. The rest is simply unrealistic, as lofty and well-meaning of a goal they wish to establish. We must be willing to endure the voices of dissent as we also endure the voices of ignorance; this is freedom of speech and it must be afforded to all regardless of the nature they take. That is how, among many ways, we preserve our democracy.
As a Senator, I simply cannot support this declaration. As a citizen, I decry this declaration. As a former Chancellor, I must oppose this declaration.
Senator Mical Crion
Tallaan
Former Chancellor of the New Republic
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