Ibby
OOC Account
[member="Corvus Raaf"]
Sem listened carefully to the Jedi as she spoke. They were pleased with her response; she didn't seem to just be regurgitating a rote response. Rather, it was well thought out and prompted a few more questions on their part.
But first, to answer hers: "It is hard to describe how we feel about the Jedi, Grandmaster Raaf, mostly because it's...complicated." They popped another fry into their mouth, chewing slowly as they formulated a response. "Even as a child, we'd heard tales of the Jedi and the Sith. Our...home life...wasn't the best, and we admit to sometimes wondering where the galactic saviours were, when we were in need." They shrugged. "As we grew up and travelled the galaxy, though, we continued to hear stories told both with awe and distaste. While some individuals practically worshipped your people, others...did not. Thus, we were very confused on how to think of them, and of the Sith."
Sem shifted in their seat. "Now, obviously you are aware that where a person lives also influences their views. Individuals in the Republic tended to view the Jedi as good and the Sith as bad. But in Sith space? It was the opposite." They paused, aware that they might have seemed like they were rambling. "Like we said, confusing. But we never hated the Jedi, and we don't now. Your answer has earned some of our respect -- we are grateful that you gave us a real answer, as opposed to a cookie-cutter one or even a non answer."
They leaned back in their chair now, tearing off a piece of bun and eating that. There were no more fries, unfortunately. "We do have another question for you. You said that as long as there is--" Sem held up their hands, making a quoting gesture as they repeated her words. "--'Truth between your heart and the Force', nothing else matters. But you also said your actions dictate your conscience."
They lowered their hands. "What if you did something, something horrible -- murdered someone, stole something, destroyed a city...but with a good intention? What if the person you murdered, beloved in public, was planning to commit genocide, but only you knew? What if you stole something valuable because you needed money to feed your kids? What if you destroyed a city, because a plague was spreading and that was the only way to save the rest of the planet? These things are different from the smuggling example, we think, because there they are not stealing or bringing in something meant to destroy. These things are acts considered criminal in nearly every society, be it Sith or Jedi, but are done for a good purpose.
"Similarly, what if you donate large sums to charities so that you can launder money? What if you give needed supplies to people just so you can force a favour from them later? Good acts, with bad intentions. If your actions dictate your conscience, then would the former examples have a bad conscience and the latter good? What about their intentions? Going back to that city -- few people can feel good about destroying millions of lives, especially if those are their people. Even though they managed to stop total annihilation, and they saved more than enough beings to make up for the lives lost, what if they have guilt in their heart? They regret the action, despite it being necessary, so does that compensate for taking that action to begin with?"
Once again, another difficult question, but Sem was enjoying this. A conversation such as this was rare for the Clawdite, and they were intent on getting as much out of it as they could.
Sem listened carefully to the Jedi as she spoke. They were pleased with her response; she didn't seem to just be regurgitating a rote response. Rather, it was well thought out and prompted a few more questions on their part.
But first, to answer hers: "It is hard to describe how we feel about the Jedi, Grandmaster Raaf, mostly because it's...complicated." They popped another fry into their mouth, chewing slowly as they formulated a response. "Even as a child, we'd heard tales of the Jedi and the Sith. Our...home life...wasn't the best, and we admit to sometimes wondering where the galactic saviours were, when we were in need." They shrugged. "As we grew up and travelled the galaxy, though, we continued to hear stories told both with awe and distaste. While some individuals practically worshipped your people, others...did not. Thus, we were very confused on how to think of them, and of the Sith."
Sem shifted in their seat. "Now, obviously you are aware that where a person lives also influences their views. Individuals in the Republic tended to view the Jedi as good and the Sith as bad. But in Sith space? It was the opposite." They paused, aware that they might have seemed like they were rambling. "Like we said, confusing. But we never hated the Jedi, and we don't now. Your answer has earned some of our respect -- we are grateful that you gave us a real answer, as opposed to a cookie-cutter one or even a non answer."
They leaned back in their chair now, tearing off a piece of bun and eating that. There were no more fries, unfortunately. "We do have another question for you. You said that as long as there is--" Sem held up their hands, making a quoting gesture as they repeated her words. "--'Truth between your heart and the Force', nothing else matters. But you also said your actions dictate your conscience."
They lowered their hands. "What if you did something, something horrible -- murdered someone, stole something, destroyed a city...but with a good intention? What if the person you murdered, beloved in public, was planning to commit genocide, but only you knew? What if you stole something valuable because you needed money to feed your kids? What if you destroyed a city, because a plague was spreading and that was the only way to save the rest of the planet? These things are different from the smuggling example, we think, because there they are not stealing or bringing in something meant to destroy. These things are acts considered criminal in nearly every society, be it Sith or Jedi, but are done for a good purpose.
"Similarly, what if you donate large sums to charities so that you can launder money? What if you give needed supplies to people just so you can force a favour from them later? Good acts, with bad intentions. If your actions dictate your conscience, then would the former examples have a bad conscience and the latter good? What about their intentions? Going back to that city -- few people can feel good about destroying millions of lives, especially if those are their people. Even though they managed to stop total annihilation, and they saved more than enough beings to make up for the lives lost, what if they have guilt in their heart? They regret the action, despite it being necessary, so does that compensate for taking that action to begin with?"
Once again, another difficult question, but Sem was enjoying this. A conversation such as this was rare for the Clawdite, and they were intent on getting as much out of it as they could.
