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arrow_of_apollo195 - What makes someone a hero? What makes someone a villain?
((Set directly after the events of episode 3x08, "Hero"))
[Private entry]
They gave my father a medal today.
The Colonial Medal of Distinction was presented on this day to Rear Admiral William Adama on behalf of the grateful remnants of the human race in recognition of the rescue of tens of thousands from New Caprica and for forty-five years of "courageous service to the Colonial Fleet". President Roslin called him a hero, and I can't possibly find it in myself to sit here and disagree.
My father has always been a man of heroic deeds, and as a kid, they made for some pretty colorful stories that I either heard second- and third-hand or made up myself. But knowing now more than I knew then, I find myself wondering about that word: "hero", and I guess what would be "villain" for its opposite.
Planning and executing the extraction of our people from New Caprica, that was a deed more than worthy of recognition. Even with everyone who had a hand in that operation, no one put more will and determination into it than my father, and that's why we pulled it off. No doubt about that.
But I met a man whose story makes me think, about extenuating circumstances and historical context and about the people that stand behind the scenes and whether what they do makes them heroes or villains, and whether their influence or command can tarnish the heroism of the people who do their dirty work.
My father, I'm confident, would never of his own accord plan or approve of the Admiralty's operation to send a covert asset into known Cylon space in order to provoke a reaction from our old enemies. Maybe their intentions were actually as they'd said and all the Colonial Fleet wanted was intelligence on Cylon activity, or maybe they really did want to spark a war... either way, Colonial incursion into Cylon territory was an act that would inevitable bring down a reprisal.
In following those orders, does that make my father less a hero?
In preserving the security of his ship and the Fleet-- and possibly the Twelve Colonies themselves-- and shooting down Bulldog's ship, does that make him less a hero, too?
One day, we'll all be brought to task for our decisions. My father will have to answer, somehow, for that mission. Colonel Tigh and Chief Tyrol will have to answer for the acts committed by the New Caprican resistance. Me, I'll have to answer for plenty. But between then and now, what do those things we did make us?
(422, not counting direct quote)
((Set directly after the events of episode 3x08, "Hero"))
[Private entry]
They gave my father a medal today.
The Colonial Medal of Distinction was presented on this day to Rear Admiral William Adama on behalf of the grateful remnants of the human race in recognition of the rescue of tens of thousands from New Caprica and for forty-five years of "courageous service to the Colonial Fleet". President Roslin called him a hero, and I can't possibly find it in myself to sit here and disagree.
My father has always been a man of heroic deeds, and as a kid, they made for some pretty colorful stories that I either heard second- and third-hand or made up myself. But knowing now more than I knew then, I find myself wondering about that word: "hero", and I guess what would be "villain" for its opposite.
Planning and executing the extraction of our people from New Caprica, that was a deed more than worthy of recognition. Even with everyone who had a hand in that operation, no one put more will and determination into it than my father, and that's why we pulled it off. No doubt about that.
But I met a man whose story makes me think, about extenuating circumstances and historical context and about the people that stand behind the scenes and whether what they do makes them heroes or villains, and whether their influence or command can tarnish the heroism of the people who do their dirty work.
My father, I'm confident, would never of his own accord plan or approve of the Admiralty's operation to send a covert asset into known Cylon space in order to provoke a reaction from our old enemies. Maybe their intentions were actually as they'd said and all the Colonial Fleet wanted was intelligence on Cylon activity, or maybe they really did want to spark a war... either way, Colonial incursion into Cylon territory was an act that would inevitable bring down a reprisal.
In following those orders, does that make my father less a hero?
In preserving the security of his ship and the Fleet-- and possibly the Twelve Colonies themselves-- and shooting down Bulldog's ship, does that make him less a hero, too?
One day, we'll all be brought to task for our decisions. My father will have to answer, somehow, for that mission. Colonel Tigh and Chief Tyrol will have to answer for the acts committed by the New Caprican resistance. Me, I'll have to answer for plenty. But between then and now, what do those things we did make us?
(422, not counting direct quote)
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no subject
Date: 2007-09-10 10:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-11 07:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 08:22 am (UTC)It just depends on which day for which name.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 12:40 am (UTC)And the things we've done ... they make us human. For better or worse, warts and all.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 06:19 am (UTC)And I suppose being human is what it's all about now, isn't it?
no subject
Date: 2007-10-07 05:01 am (UTC)This prompt answer was great because you allow the reader a glimpse into his mind at a previous time in the muse's life. Well done!
OOC
Date: 2007-10-07 04:37 pm (UTC)