Post by Mara on Apr 12, 2012 18:13:52 GMT -5
(((Sorry about the late reply… I had my flash drive with me yesterday, but totally forgot about it later, lol. )))
The senator’s words were quick to come up on her datapad, but she took the momentary respite as he spoke to continue eating. It was a blessing that their food had come at such an opportune moment, allowing her a perfectly good reason to keep her face turned away from the Sluissi’s. Despite any of her personal handicaps, she would generally still try to keep her eyes focused on whomever she was speaking to, at least part of the time, for insight and politeness; eventually, though, she would have to look away to read a response. But this time, she felt she had garnered all she could from the senator’s alien face and no longer felt compelled to read his confusing body language. So she slowly savored each bite of the Chandrilan salad, enjoying the fresh greens, tangy dressing, and pieces of grilled meat.
It was also a boon that Bahradr couldn’t see her face as she finally glanced over to read his response. Varying emotions were playing across her features, including surprise, exasperation, indignation, and just a bit of anger. Ina couldn’t believe what she was reading from a senator of the Republic. She had to go over it a few more times to make sure she had caught all the words right. Did the Sluissi really not care what the laws actually said? As long as he worked to enforce whatever was written down, he appeared content with his job. The Offshoot wondered if there were a law legalizing public decapitation whether he would be still feeling the same way. To her, his philosophy was just… insane.
Working to keep herself under control—it wouldn’t do to let things get out of control—she set down her fork and picked up her napkin, dabbing at her mouth. She took a deep breath, furthering her chances at remaining calm throughout what she had to say to this senator who was quickly degrading her earlier high opinions of him. No longer was she wholly focused on gaining an ally in the fight against slavery and considering his offer to help him with the tax loopholes. His words had cut her to the core, gone against everything she believed and thought she knew about the Republic. Now she just had to try to get her point across as tactfully as possible.
Ina lifted her hands and began signing, slowly at first, but then the movements grew steadily faster, her words coming out through Ofi’s vocabulator. “Senator, it is completely our place to decide what is right and what is wrong. How did our grand government get started in the first place? Did not the first Chief of State work together with the new congress and the judicial system to put a version of our current laws in place? If we are not the ones who need to decide on the laws, please tell me, who else is there?
We come up with the laws, choosing what we believe to be right and wrong. This is why we have these sessions where we endlessly debate on proposals and amendments. Even your little loopholes. It is the police forces at the various levels that uphold these laws, not us. I may be new to this position, but I have yet to see a senator go around arresting offenders. Have you?
And yes, I may be a passionate being, but that’s what sets myself and every other being apart from computers and mindless droids. I do have feelings and emotions, and while they can sometimes be a hindrance, they can also be a great ally. My convictions will not let me sit idly by while injustices continue to happen.
For the most part, I do respect and have faith in our Constitution, but there are problems with it, just as there are with anything. And I cannot allow myself to blindly continue to support it just because I’m a politician, a member of the Senate. I do not deny that it proclaims slavery illegal, but it still goes on. That wouldn’t matter, though; if the law said the opposite, if slavery were legalized instead, I would not feel obligated to support such a travesty, just because it was written down. However, if I understand you right, Senator, you would. As long as something was a law of the Republic, you would work to make sure it was followed. For me… that is completely, well, despicable. Forgive me for saying so, but it is.”
She shrugged, unsure of how to go on, having run out of the words that had just come pouring out without censor and very likely, proper cohesion. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking with emotional adrenaline, not trusting herself to continue with her salad until she calmed down a bit. And hoping that she hadn't just completely ruined her chances at gaining an ally against slavery in the Senate.
The senator’s words were quick to come up on her datapad, but she took the momentary respite as he spoke to continue eating. It was a blessing that their food had come at such an opportune moment, allowing her a perfectly good reason to keep her face turned away from the Sluissi’s. Despite any of her personal handicaps, she would generally still try to keep her eyes focused on whomever she was speaking to, at least part of the time, for insight and politeness; eventually, though, she would have to look away to read a response. But this time, she felt she had garnered all she could from the senator’s alien face and no longer felt compelled to read his confusing body language. So she slowly savored each bite of the Chandrilan salad, enjoying the fresh greens, tangy dressing, and pieces of grilled meat.
It was also a boon that Bahradr couldn’t see her face as she finally glanced over to read his response. Varying emotions were playing across her features, including surprise, exasperation, indignation, and just a bit of anger. Ina couldn’t believe what she was reading from a senator of the Republic. She had to go over it a few more times to make sure she had caught all the words right. Did the Sluissi really not care what the laws actually said? As long as he worked to enforce whatever was written down, he appeared content with his job. The Offshoot wondered if there were a law legalizing public decapitation whether he would be still feeling the same way. To her, his philosophy was just… insane.
Working to keep herself under control—it wouldn’t do to let things get out of control—she set down her fork and picked up her napkin, dabbing at her mouth. She took a deep breath, furthering her chances at remaining calm throughout what she had to say to this senator who was quickly degrading her earlier high opinions of him. No longer was she wholly focused on gaining an ally in the fight against slavery and considering his offer to help him with the tax loopholes. His words had cut her to the core, gone against everything she believed and thought she knew about the Republic. Now she just had to try to get her point across as tactfully as possible.
Ina lifted her hands and began signing, slowly at first, but then the movements grew steadily faster, her words coming out through Ofi’s vocabulator. “Senator, it is completely our place to decide what is right and what is wrong. How did our grand government get started in the first place? Did not the first Chief of State work together with the new congress and the judicial system to put a version of our current laws in place? If we are not the ones who need to decide on the laws, please tell me, who else is there?
We come up with the laws, choosing what we believe to be right and wrong. This is why we have these sessions where we endlessly debate on proposals and amendments. Even your little loopholes. It is the police forces at the various levels that uphold these laws, not us. I may be new to this position, but I have yet to see a senator go around arresting offenders. Have you?
And yes, I may be a passionate being, but that’s what sets myself and every other being apart from computers and mindless droids. I do have feelings and emotions, and while they can sometimes be a hindrance, they can also be a great ally. My convictions will not let me sit idly by while injustices continue to happen.
For the most part, I do respect and have faith in our Constitution, but there are problems with it, just as there are with anything. And I cannot allow myself to blindly continue to support it just because I’m a politician, a member of the Senate. I do not deny that it proclaims slavery illegal, but it still goes on. That wouldn’t matter, though; if the law said the opposite, if slavery were legalized instead, I would not feel obligated to support such a travesty, just because it was written down. However, if I understand you right, Senator, you would. As long as something was a law of the Republic, you would work to make sure it was followed. For me… that is completely, well, despicable. Forgive me for saying so, but it is.”
She shrugged, unsure of how to go on, having run out of the words that had just come pouring out without censor and very likely, proper cohesion. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking with emotional adrenaline, not trusting herself to continue with her salad until she calmed down a bit. And hoping that she hadn't just completely ruined her chances at gaining an ally against slavery in the Senate.