02/05/2010
Posted In: Comics
Feb 05
Damian took a deep breath. “Mr. Reid, you and your world are better off dealing with your own problems without being involved in the universe’s politics.” He paused, considering his words carefully. What would someone from a world not part of any intergalactic alliance be worried about? Obviously, being invaded by a more powerful society. That would never happen. There were laws that protected all worlds from invasion from other worlds. It just was not done. Any planet taking such an action was immediately open to being invaded themselves and having their planet scoured of resources and people scattered by more predatory civilizations that waited eagerly for anyone to unwisely break that universal treaty. “You really don’t have to worry about anyone invading –“
“We want a voice. We want acknowledgement.” Vic stated.
“That’s unnecessary.”
“And we’re dismissed just like that.” Victor couldn’t hide his anger at Damian’s response. How could he take this so lightly? It was important to be known. In Vic’s mind, if the Earth were acknowledged, then they could ask these aliens to stop dropping in unannounced and using his world as a playground. Anything else, would be up to the bureaucrats. Victor’s priority was to protect his planet from being exploited any further than it already had been.
sometimes it is better to be dismissed than to be acknowledged.
Works for high school and intergalactic politics.
Yes, yes it does.
The words “mostly harmless” pass through my mind, quickly followed by all the sci-fi books where humans are dismissed as insignificant, then they end up surprising every other species.
-nodnod- Mostly harmless. Better than just ‘Harmless’, eh? XD C’mon Vic, if the Galactic Counsel knows about Earth, who else will after that? I don’t think all of the visitors will be as pleasant as these are.
Be careful what you ask for. I can see the Galactic Counsel taking it to a vote and deciding: “We recognize the existence of Humanity and we find them….tasty”.
Don’t have to worry about anyone invading? Does he mean ‘right now’ or ‘ever’?
Vic’s attitude is understandable, but he still doesn’t realize how ignorant he really is. He’s still thinking there must be some higher authority to appeal to, but there ISN’T. There are just sharks like the ADC, barely held in check by their fear of each other.
In Vic’s defense, being ‘unrecognized’ hasn’t stopped people from exploiting humans in the past, such as when the Rishan’s were created from humans as a slave race. Being recognized might give humans access to some kind of legal channels.
I think part of it is also disappointment. It’s hard to *not* have high hopes for first contact. To find out that the most advanced societies in the galaxy are actually WORSE than what we’ve got on Earth is one hell of a let down.
Sweet, a government official getting a taste of what it’s like for the average person who wants acknowledgement from the government. I don’t know if that was intended, but it’s what I saw, nice. Keep up the good work
Actually it’s because our planet isn’t ready, for heavens sake we are still killing each other over land disputes.
Dissed and dismissed. No, if I were in Vic’s shoes right here, I’d be unhappy. But he has a very valid point any way you look at it.
Even if he is rather naive here.
Something needs to be done, but what, exactly. Not sure if Vic’s idea is the best one going.
Shesh, Vic’s being awfully hypocritical here. I mean, it’s not like an American would want some 4th world country trying to tell us how to run our government. Shoot, most Americans wouldn’t want said 4th world country sitting in on the U.N. and try to dictate pollution laws. It’s literally a county that has zero technological advancement trying to boss around technological laws about things they have zero comprehension of. Come of Vic, get it in perspective!
Some sort of acknowledgement would be good, but I think Chel’s doing a lot more for inter-planetary relationships than anyone else could right now. She’s a fine example of a human. The sentient community at large likes her, and maybe when this is over she can act as a liason between space and Earth. Given a few lessons in diplomacy, of course.
of course if humanity was recognized…fresh meat for the ADC. I’d like to expand upon that, but right now im too tired…nap time
@Fancy Pants: You are painting a picture of someone aiming a can opener at a VERY LARGE can of worms.
Why are people being so down on Vic (and America, for some reason)?
From Vic’s perspective (and mine) this is pretty simple. Earth is *already* being exploited. Aliens are dropping in as they please, violating our laws, unleashing weird creatures, screwing up local environments, abducting our citizens (including his daughter!), creating the occasional slave race from our DNA, and generally making a mess. We don’t have the technology base to stop any of this crap from happening. The logical next step is to look for help from someone who *can* enforce the law. That means, in Vic’s words, “We want a voice. We want acknowledgment.” Sort of like asking for help from the United Nations, only on a galactic scale. (But only ’sort of’, since at the moment we only have the vaguest of ideas about how galactic politics work).
Being told “That’s unnecessary” is kinda hard to swallow. Given that we’re *already* being exploited, it’s hard to see how being legally recognized could make things *worse*. I suspect we’re about to get some exposition on that subject.
Final note, please remember THIS GUY’S DAUGHTER JUST GOT KIDNAPPED. Being polite and considerate is not exactly the first thing on his mind – and being rude isn’t the same thing as being wrong.
It’s just a display of how different people can interpret the same scene.
Not everyone is going to come by the same conclusion when they’re thinking about it from their perspectives. I’m quite accepting of that. I have to be, even if I’m very pro America and Vic. 
Of course, I know what’s going on and I know everything about the characters they choose to tell me before everyone else. 
I’ve caught up…! O.o
Congratulations!