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Re: Those who would give up permanent liberty in exchange for temporary security, deserve neither.. Zeratul Send a noteboard - 29/12/2010 03:06:16 PM
The other Randland countries aren't exactly beacons of freedom, they are feudal societies, in some of which the nobles abuse the commoners much more than in the Seanchan lands and where the social mobility is non-existent. None of the Randland societies cares much about individual freedom either. Even the Aiel, who have no kings or nobility, always put the clan first and don't hesitate to force people like Aviendha into doing what's most useful for the clan instead of what she wants.

And of course, this saying you quoted sound nice, but it's hardly universal. For example, in Tarabon the situation was a complete anarchy, famine and civil strife before the Seanchan came, so can you really blame most Taraboners if they prefer the Seanchan rule to their own incompetent and totally corrupt nobles? I don't think this makes them cowards.

I am not a fan of the Seanchan, but their demonising doesn't make much sense IMO. They have their flaws, but they aren't the bastion of evil so many WoT readers are making them out to be.
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Avienda's viewing and the Fields of Merrilor (spoilers) saidarisnowtainted - 28/12/2010 06:21:05 PM 3387 Views
Timing moratcorlm - 28/12/2010 06:43:32 PM 2007 Views
Indeed...the bleak future makes the Last Battle almost an anti-climax... Shannow - 28/12/2010 08:20:31 PM 2092 Views
And yet, the only places of relative peace and shelter right now are Seanchan controlled lands. everynametaken - 29/12/2010 03:21:37 AM 1651 Views
+1. Lord Haart - 29/12/2010 04:04:02 AM 1458 Views
Re: +1. Lo'oris - 07/01/2011 05:25:23 PM 1322 Views
Those who would give up permanent liberty in exchange for temporary security, deserve neither.. Shannow - 29/12/2010 10:27:35 AM 1440 Views
Says the person defending monarchies and oligarchies, some of them quite brutal. moratcorlm - 29/12/2010 02:12:56 PM 1418 Views
LoL. What is this "POV trap" that people refer to so often to make a point? Shannow - 29/12/2010 10:00:11 PM 1620 Views
Re: LoL. What is this "POV trap" that people refer to so often to make a point? moratcorlm - 29/12/2010 10:44:12 PM 1426 Views
Why do you have this urge to overcomplicate something as simple as personal likes and dislikes? Shannow - 30/12/2010 10:00:43 AM 1364 Views
Re: Why do you have this urge to overcomplicate something as simple as personal likes and dislikes? Lo'oris - 07/01/2011 05:28:03 PM 1309 Views
"romantic characteristics" Variant - 07/01/2011 06:06:31 AM 1281 Views
Re: "romantic characteristics" Lo'oris - 07/01/2011 05:30:33 PM 1311 Views
Don't blame the Seanchan, The Aiel made an excuse to start a war. Variant - 08/01/2011 09:20:36 AM 1746 Views
Re: Those who would give up permanent liberty in exchange for temporary security, deserve neither.. Zeratul - 29/12/2010 03:06:16 PM 1538 Views
Exactly. *NM* everynametaken - 30/12/2010 02:50:07 AM 899 Views
They are pretty close to evil. Slavery being the big thing, but the crushing social scale is far darius_sedai - 31/12/2010 06:45:59 PM 1262 Views
The Aiel sold slaves to Shara, does that make them evil? No society in Randland is without flaws. Variant - 07/01/2011 05:10:32 AM 1557 Views
you are missing my point darius_sedai - 07/01/2011 11:31:11 PM 1414 Views
We haven't had a POV from a NON-high-ranking Seanchan moratcorlm - 08/01/2011 03:13:26 AM 24915 Views
As to Bethamin ... darius_sedai - 20/01/2011 04:46:36 PM 1379 Views
No, you're missing the point. Benevolence is irrelevant. Variant - 08/01/2011 09:48:51 AM 1303 Views
Re: No, you're missing the point. Benevolence is irrelevant. Lo'oris - 08/01/2011 10:04:18 AM 1350 Views
Well the Westlands aren't exactly modern Europe or USA either Lohikaarme - 08/01/2011 11:00:31 AM 1329 Views
Re: Well the Westlands aren't exactly modern Europe or USA either Lo'oris - 09/01/2011 02:08:17 AM 1312 Views
That's funny, I'd choose modern day China in a second. Variant - 09/01/2011 06:37:24 AM 1292 Views
Hong Kong is not an accurate representation of the rest of Modern China darius_sedai - 20/01/2011 04:50:20 PM 1280 Views
~sigh~ Cosmopolitan China is different than Rural China Variant - 21/01/2011 01:00:17 AM 1240 Views
well there is also the fact that Hong Kong has different "rules" than even other major darius_sedai - 21/01/2011 05:38:46 PM 1344 Views
I'm not just talking about Hong Kong though... Variant - 22/01/2011 09:36:20 AM 1347 Views
I've traveled extensively darius_sedai - 22/01/2011 06:02:47 PM 1288 Views
You've traveled to China extensively? Variant - 22/01/2011 07:41:30 PM 1350 Views
the quesetion you responded too is "would you rather live in Medieval Europe of Modern China darius_sedai - 22/01/2011 09:47:24 PM 1542 Views
I responded, "I"d choose modern day china in a second" Variant - 22/01/2011 10:29:46 PM 1379 Views
Actually, China is changing. Variant - 09/01/2011 06:32:58 AM 1323 Views
true to a point, yet China has been under one form or another of totalitarian rule for darius_sedai - 20/01/2011 04:57:37 PM 1305 Views
So? Variant - 21/01/2011 01:20:18 AM 1406 Views
Double post *NM* Variant - 21/01/2011 01:21:10 AM 716 Views
It's the comparative to the Seanchan empire I'm really getting at here, not saying China isn't darius_sedai - 21/01/2011 05:43:56 PM 1391 Views
I don't even know why China was brought up in the first place ~shrugs~ Variant - 22/01/2011 10:04:59 AM 1237 Views
I totally agree with your last point, which is why I think RJ set them up to be the "Evil Empire" darius_sedai - 22/01/2011 06:12:46 PM 1318 Views
They're not entirely evil though, and RJ has written them that way Variant - 22/01/2011 08:02:22 PM 1294 Views
not so much darius_sedai - 22/01/2011 09:54:38 PM 1275 Views
Your example is absurd. Variant - 22/01/2011 10:53:06 PM 1207 Views
Ah yes, the "Jews can kill you with their minds" argument. *NM* moratcorlm - 23/01/2011 05:32:23 PM 717 Views
Please. Like anyone else in Randland is really free? everynametaken - 30/12/2010 02:47:27 AM 1301 Views
Andor is rather progressive... Allowing the common people to speak their minds darius_sedai - 31/12/2010 06:35:29 PM 1248 Views
Andor is lionized as a huge exception to the general rule moratcorlm - 31/12/2010 11:57:30 PM 1353 Views
Re: Andor is rather progressive... Allowing the common people to speak their minds Zeratul - 01/01/2011 12:18:46 AM 1370 Views
Seanchan is much closer to the Chinese culture. Which has never established democracy darius_sedai - 01/01/2011 06:12:10 AM 1705 Views
Prussia (and with it Germany) would never have changed to democracy if not forced to Voscaia Sedai - 01/01/2011 12:23:34 PM 1228 Views
too easy: they did not have to fight the Shadow, they don't even know shadowspawn really exist as of *NM* Lo'oris - 29/12/2010 02:44:18 PM 765 Views
It goes beyond the channelers. The Seanchan control the population darius_sedai - 31/12/2010 06:00:57 PM 1243 Views
Re: It goes beyond the channelers. The Seanchan control the population moratcorlm - 01/01/2011 10:58:22 PM 1371 Views
Word, even the Tinkers are gathering and migrating to Seanchan held lands in the south. *NM* Variant - 07/01/2011 05:21:09 AM 678 Views
Maybe they're a remnant of humanity Sidious - 29/12/2010 04:41:40 AM 1457 Views
Re: Maybe they're a remnant of humanity moratcorlm - 29/12/2010 02:17:33 PM 1405 Views
Couple of flaws here darius_sedai - 31/12/2010 06:54:13 PM 1278 Views
You are right, here is a better analogy dadof5 - 03/01/2011 06:23:16 PM 1282 Views
Even Hitler didn't think Jews could kill people with their minds moratcorlm - 03/01/2011 07:22:09 PM 1350 Views
It depends on Rand's sperm I guess Skeeve the Great - 28/12/2010 08:27:59 PM 1376 Views
No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world... Shannow - 28/12/2010 08:31:27 PM 1464 Views
Re: No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world... Skeeve the Great - 28/12/2010 08:50:28 PM 1344 Views
Re: No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world... saidarisnowtainted - 30/12/2010 03:56:55 PM 1387 Views
Because the Aiel are savages who have no place in a modern world moratcorlm - 28/12/2010 11:15:23 PM 1452 Views
Re: No, the Seanchan started it, by wanting to conquer the rest of the world... saidarisnowtainted - 30/12/2010 04:01:00 PM 1403 Views
Re: It depends on Rand's sperm I guess Ashaman_Luc - 28/12/2010 11:02:34 PM 1329 Views
VoG = Veins of Gold. The chapter at the end of TGS where Rand becomes balanced. *NM* Lord Haart - 29/12/2010 06:56:38 AM 2161 Views
Re: It depends on Rand's sperm I guess Sidious - 29/12/2010 04:37:04 AM 1332 Views
Re: It depends on Rand's sperm I guess Skeeve the Great - 29/12/2010 02:37:12 PM 1332 Views
Re: It depends on Rand's sperm I guess saidarisnowtainted - 30/12/2010 04:02:31 PM 1587 Views
timeline in the books Ava - 29/12/2010 03:34:45 PM 1402 Views
Re: timeline in the books moratcorlm - 29/12/2010 05:29:11 PM 1412 Views
Re: timeline in the books Ava - 31/12/2010 01:18:32 PM 1302 Views
yes thousands and thousands AFTER hundreds of years. these kids were probably slowing since birth. Onarishma - 03/01/2011 08:19:22 PM 1387 Views
Re: yes thousands and thousands AFTER hundreds of years. Ava - 04/01/2011 12:21:59 PM 1212 Views
your premise is that first generation applies to anyone but them. Onarishma - 10/01/2011 09:25:02 PM 1262 Views
Aviendha + Mat (and Seta and Bethamin) are the best hopes. The Angry Druid - 09/01/2011 01:45:00 AM 1367 Views
From a plot standpoint I very much dislike Avienda's visions as well The Count - 20/01/2011 01:39:37 AM 1783 Views
Problem is, the fate of post-TG Randland depends on the viewing being heeded before TG. *NM* Lord Haart - 20/01/2011 10:07:15 AM 657 Views
The Light's victory in the Last Battle was already a foregone conclusion ranagrande - 21/01/2011 03:48:54 PM 1222 Views
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