From: Nick Brooke (100270.337@compuserve.com)
Date: Tue 09 Jan 1996 - 10:28:38 EET
_____
Peter writes:
> I don't think the Lunar Empire is politically organized enough to
> have anything like the Red Guards or the Cultural Revolution.
The Cultural Revolution ("Let's send those teachers and graduates to work on the
farms, so they'll know how the People live!") has more of a Loskalmi feel to it,
IMHO :-)
But you have to admit that Lunar Cyclicalism is pretty much a belief in
"Perpetual Revolution" (if you take it literally!), which is why it makes such a
good Lunar catchphrase. Thatcher worked in much the same way as Mussolini, in
this regard: never give the opposition (or dissidents on your own side, for that
matter) any time to catch breath and work out where they stand.
"Keep them off Balance and out of Breath": sounds like the basis for Lunar
> The image of the Lunar Empire is more like Rome of the Late Republic
policy!
> to me, ie there is severe internal strife among the ruling elite while
> the Empire is militarily expansionistic.
I usually use Roman Imperial parallels: the Dara Happan staid, upright,
The Dara Happan Senate is IMHO as relevant to contemporary Lunar politics as the
> The Lunar religion has hardly the capacity to enforce ideological
patriarchal 'ancestral values' have a Republican feel to me (in this day and
age); there was still severe internal strife under the Empire (look at the Year
of the Four Emperors!); expansion was more likely to depend on the whim of one
man (Moonson Himself led the assault on Boldhome). And, of course, there's the
Emperor Cult.
Roman Senate was under the Empire. A great source for outdated titles and
positions for the 'old nobility', but Real Power these days comes from Moonson
and goes to his cronies and the 'new men' of the Bureaucracy (upon whom the old
fogies look down from their patrician heights, contempt mixing with envy).
But what if the Illuminates wanted to enforce ideological uniformity (which I
believe to be the case)? You have to admit, it makes running the Empire easier!
There are Lunar heretics, of course: best known are the Arrolians, the
Redlanders, the White Moonies. Two of these groups are outside the Empire, while
the third is about to be ideologically persecuted within it. I think this adds
credence to the belief that, while tolerant and all-embracing in theory
(especially with regard to 'lesser cults'), the Empire is ready to persecute
those who would deviate it from its true path. Questioning the state-cult's
version of the Red Goddess, the Red Moon or the Red Emperor is an easy way to
earn persecution.
> I get the impression the higher Ranks are deeply cynical and are in
> it for the political and magical power they can snaff^H^H^H^H^H
> acquire for the benefit of others.
This doesn't contradict my role as self-appointed apologist and propagandist for
the Lunar Way. I am sure there is some (maybe even much) truth in what you
write. I provide justifications which Lunar missionaries, politicians,
ambassadors, priestesses and diplomats might use, cloaking base motives and raw
power-politics with an ideological mask.
I am also sure there are many dedicated Lunar fanatics, perhaps below the 'High
Ranks' of which you speak, whose every thought is for the welfare of the Lunar
Empire and the Lunar Way, and who'd believe implicitly every word of Lunar
Propaganda that I write. There are honest, pious believers in the Lunar Empire
who could write my 'justifications' with a straight face and a clear conscience.
They Love The Goddess.
> Hmm. what are the odds of a catastropic fire happening in Raibanth
> or Glamour within the next ten years (and being blamed on the White
> Moon Nuts)?
Very high indeed. If you want to understand the current Moonson, think 'Nero'.
Apropos of which, it's worth remembering three things:
i) The Lunar Empire is a means to an end: that end is the Lunar Cosmos.
ii) Some imperial acts are vast Nysalor Riddles to illuminate the people.
iii) Insanity is seen as a blessed state by Lunar believers.
Given these, it's hardly cause for wonder that some acts of the Red Emperor seem
quixotic or just plain wrong, while some masks of the Red Emperor appear to have
been insane by any normal standards. Eventually, once the Lunar Cosmos is born,
everyone will see why these things had to be done. Until then, it doesn't much
matter to the Empire how its 'arbitrary', 'insane' actions are perceived. At
worst, these teach a very real lesson. At best, they expand the Lunar
Consciousness of all participants, willing or otherwise.
I'll write more on the Triumph of the Lunar Way (as described in Argrath's Saga)
when I get back from Down Under, at the end of this month.
_____
Tarry writes:
> All true worshipers of Orlanth know that this face of the Lunar Empire
> is just a covering hiding the true monsterous face of the chaos loveing
> slime that they are. (etc., etc.)
Have you ever wondered why we Lunars characterise Orlanth as the god of stale
wind? Look no further than Taz's last post! (The only mercy is that he didn't
write it as Orlanthi so-called 'poetry'!)
Never mind, Tarry: *even*you* are loved by the Red Goddess.
====
Nick
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