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Re: I have religious beliefs and that is an absurd contention Lord Haart Send a noteboard - 09/01/2010 05:56:16 PM
Thousands of people in uniform, with weapons, under agreement to unquestioningly follow the orders of their rulers who have demonstrated zero good faith, and about whom a strong cause can be made for their presumed hostility. SOLDIERS ARE LEGITIMATE TARGETS. Period. This was not a trade delegation, or convention of merchants, it was an army. They refused to explain their ends to a person they believed to have some connection with Rand, and their words regarding their intentions were all indicative of their displeasure at him. They are not his people, and he owes them nothing. Their demand that he put himself entirely in their power, even as they cozy up to a city that has behaved in an extremely hostile manner towards him in the past, whose current government replaced their former leader for her decision to release him from captivity. Rand had NO reason to think them friendly or benevolent, and they were an ARMY in threatening distance of his own followers and forces. Any other way of dealing with them would have entailed greater risks to people he IS responsible for. He was justified in what he planned to do to the Borderlanders AND to the Seanchan. If they don't like it, they shouldn't have come. The "innocent" civilians have had plenty of time to move away (as for example, the Anan family did, in their moral outrage over the Seanchan institutions), but have chosen the Seanchan. They are all culpable.


Even Angelmar? Even Hurin? On a purely clinical basis, I agree that the army has shown little in the way of good faith towards Rand - but that's only considering half the equation.

The Borderlanders have been protecting Randland for a Millennia. Finally, the Dragon is reborn and they expect some support, but until the end of KoD, there is none. Instead, they hear about more trouble to the south - the False Dragon Taim who had killed thousands of Saldeans has been made the HEAD of a legion of insane male channellers, all by order of the Dragon, the man they are relying on. The White Tower is split and offers no support, the other countries are reeling from the Seanchan and Aiel invasions, so isn't it logical for the Borderlanders to assume that the real threat isn't in Trolloc hordes (especially if 50 channelers can kill 100,000 Trollocs a la KoD), but rather in the dissension and division to the south.

If Rand was completely sane, he would immediately see this. But his astrologically-proportioned ego and paranoia are blinding him.

So instead of at least asking Hurin to bring him more information, he considers destroying an entire city and army camp. Not everyone in that camp is even a soldier - many are cooks, cleaners, wives (who we are told accompany their husbands in the case of Saldea), children, who have all been led their by trusted monarchs who have never done wrong by them.

For Rand to jump instantly to feeling distrust, anger and fear towards the Borderlanders is more than just disconcerting.
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Rand the psycho? - 06/01/2010 02:53:30 AM 1737 Views
I cannot follow your assumptions. - 06/01/2010 04:07:33 AM 1148 Views
On Balefire - 06/01/2010 04:43:18 AM 1144 Views
Good point - 06/01/2010 05:04:26 AM 1155 Views
On the nature of BaleFire - 06/01/2010 03:32:25 PM 1076 Views
Re: I cannot follow your assumptions. - 06/01/2010 04:59:12 AM 967 Views
Wait! - 06/01/2010 05:10:33 AM 1070 Views
Re: Wait! - 06/01/2010 05:20:02 AM 976 Views
Re: Wait! - 06/01/2010 05:58:00 AM 964 Views
Re: Wait! - 06/01/2010 11:46:13 AM 925 Views
Re: Wait! - 06/01/2010 03:55:01 PM 933 Views
I disagree - 06/01/2010 05:42:44 PM 892 Views
Re: I disagree - 06/01/2010 06:41:08 PM 917 Views
Re: I disagree - 07/01/2010 04:42:40 AM 909 Views
I doubt he meant 'in one go' as a single stream of balefire. - 06/01/2010 07:30:56 AM 1029 Views
Re: I doubt he meant 'in one go' as a single stream of balefire. - 06/01/2010 03:32:24 PM 930 Views
Re: I doubt he meant 'in one go' as a single stream of balefire. - 06/01/2010 09:52:47 PM 1028 Views
Re: I doubt he meant 'in one go' as a single stream of balefire. - 06/01/2010 11:19:56 PM 948 Views
Re: I doubt he meant 'in one go' as a single stream of balefire. - 07/01/2010 12:21:50 AM 1004 Views
Re: I doubt he meant 'in one go' as a single stream of balefire. - 07/01/2010 12:56:26 AM 947 Views
Re: I doubt he meant 'in one go' as a single stream of balefire. - 07/01/2010 01:46:16 AM 1000 Views
I agree with Templar - 09/01/2010 04:36:20 PM 898 Views
Re: I cannot follow your assumptions. - 06/01/2010 07:57:54 AM 1018 Views
Rand crossed a line - 06/01/2010 02:36:42 PM 1034 Views
Re: Rand crossed a line - 06/01/2010 04:16:12 PM 984 Views
But... - 06/01/2010 04:34:02 PM 1075 Views
Re: But... - 06/01/2010 06:14:25 PM 872 Views
Doesn't Balefire remove your thread from the Pattern permanently? - 06/01/2010 02:55:38 PM 1011 Views
No, RJ stated balefired people can be reborn. *NM* - 06/01/2010 03:26:00 PM 496 Views
But not in this turning of the Wheel. So they'd miss out on MANY lifetimes. - 06/01/2010 05:46:04 PM 942 Views
What? - 06/01/2010 06:20:56 PM 951 Views
Where did you get that? - 06/01/2010 07:09:38 PM 906 Views
No, balefire just kills you backwards in time. It is not super-death. *NM* - 06/01/2010 09:58:18 PM 510 Views
LOL ... super-death! - 06/01/2010 11:59:31 PM 884 Views
Hah! *NM* - 07/01/2010 12:06:07 AM 507 Views
It makes me think of History of the World Part 1 - 07/01/2010 12:53:20 AM 901 Views
It makes me think of History of the World Part 1 - 07/01/2010 12:53:33 AM 858 Views
Yes it was. - 06/01/2010 06:51:15 PM 1013 Views
Re: Yes it was. - 06/01/2010 07:16:14 PM 961 Views
Re: Yes it was. - 06/01/2010 08:58:40 PM 958 Views
Re: Yes it was. - 06/01/2010 10:47:11 PM 964 Views
let me ask the question in a different way - 06/01/2010 11:26:43 PM 965 Views
Re: let me ask the question in a different way - 06/01/2010 11:40:56 PM 942 Views
actually that quote supports my thoughts - 06/01/2010 11:50:40 PM 1013 Views
Re: actually that quote supports my thoughts - 07/01/2010 12:10:07 AM 898 Views
Meh. I just think advocating mass-murder is the opposite direction RJ meant for this to take. - 07/01/2010 12:00:44 AM 1013 Views
Sigh. What mass murder? - 07/01/2010 12:15:01 AM 846 Views
you are kidding right? - 07/01/2010 12:19:58 AM 955 Views
In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 03:14:32 PM 919 Views
Re: In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 03:57:43 PM 943 Views
Re: In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 07:13:21 PM 948 Views
Re: In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 07:52:24 PM 880 Views
Re: In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 08:56:43 PM 968 Views
Re: In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 09:26:01 PM 912 Views
Re: In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 09:30:45 PM 849 Views
Personally I'm kind of sick of Rand being the only person killing FS! - 07/01/2010 09:42:57 PM 1013 Views
Re: In this book Rand was a wimp and a bully. - 07/01/2010 09:56:02 PM 965 Views
OK I'm sorry but this gets a huge ROFL :lol: - 07/01/2010 10:30:19 PM 969 Views
Re: OK I'm sorry but this gets a huge ROFL :lol: - 08/01/2010 01:53:25 PM 909 Views
Re: OK I'm sorry but this gets a huge ROFL :lol: - 08/01/2010 02:56:41 PM 945 Views
What might work... - 08/01/2010 12:35:17 PM 857 Views
Re: What might work... - 08/01/2010 11:38:09 PM 871 Views
Yes. Anakin Skywalker all over again - 06/01/2010 11:01:02 PM 1039 Views
Meh - 06/01/2010 11:30:24 PM 879 Views
The worst part about his atrocities is his rationalizing them! - 06/01/2010 11:33:32 PM 876 Views
Re: The worst part about his atrocities is his rationalizing them! - 06/01/2010 11:50:37 PM 964 Views
Re: The worst part about his atrocities is his rationalizing them! - 06/01/2010 11:55:03 PM 939 Views
I do have to guiltily say, though, that if Rand had balefired the Seanchan and THEN became good... - 07/01/2010 12:03:20 AM 934 Views
*laughs behind hand* - 07/01/2010 12:05:54 AM 997 Views
Re: The worst part about his atrocities is his rationalizing them! - 07/01/2010 12:23:11 AM 863 Views
I don't think Rand or LTT (who has/have) little capacity for Healing - 07/01/2010 12:52:25 AM 898 Views
Re: I don't think Rand or LTT (who has/have) little capacity for Healing - 07/01/2010 01:24:32 AM 950 Views
Re: I don't think Rand or LTT (who has/have) little capacity for Healing - 07/01/2010 03:33:52 PM 882 Views
Re: I don't think Rand or LTT (who has/have) little capacity for Healing - 07/01/2010 04:28:18 PM 1032 Views
right cause all Generals are so well versed in medical conditions - 07/01/2010 09:44:09 PM 1004 Views
Nice way to avoid the argument. - 07/01/2010 10:00:17 PM 938 Views
I'm just done talking in circles. You seem to think that because people - 07/01/2010 11:53:05 PM 965 Views
I concede - 07/01/2010 01:09:11 AM 867 Views
You weren't wrong overall, but there were some serious flaws in your reasoning. - 07/01/2010 02:43:17 AM 1002 Views
Tee hee. - 07/01/2010 05:28:52 AM 939 Views
Morals are subjective anyhow, - 07/01/2010 06:23:09 AM 955 Views
Re: Morals are subjective anyhow, - 07/01/2010 03:23:59 PM 886 Views
I have religious beliefs and that is an absurd contention - 09/01/2010 12:00:02 AM 955 Views
Re: I have religious beliefs and that is an absurd contention - 09/01/2010 05:56:16 PM 1130 Views
Re: I have religious beliefs and that is an absurd contention - 18/01/2010 01:00:23 PM 1261 Views
Your assertions weaken your overall argument. - 11/01/2010 04:47:10 PM 845 Views
Re: Your assertions weaken your overall argument. - 18/01/2010 12:49:26 PM 891 Views

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