Re: Re: New Pelorian

From: Andrew Solovay <asolovay_at_...>
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 11:12:15 -0700

Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_...> wrote:

>

> A final note: becoming a Lunar doesn't mean you recognize the
> humanity of your human enemies - it also requires acceptance or
> tolerance of chaos to avoid insanity (G:I p96). Still wanna take
> those New Pelorian lessons?

How sure are we about this? As I understand it, G:IttHW says:

1. A sultan (or somesuch) argued that the Lunar way should not incorporate the Crimson Bat;
2. He went crazy;
3. Lunars teach this story to emphasize the importance of inclusion.

I'm sure the Lunar priests teach it in a cosmic kind of way--something like, "When you begin down the Lunar path, if you start drawing distinctions between what can and can't be inlcuded, it leads to madness."

But isn't it possible that the explanation is more prosaic? i.e. the sultan was arguing against using the bat; he became a political nuisance; some Jakaleel witch send a madness spirit to posess him (or a Taraltaran used her "go bugfuck" mystic strike); and the bat-backers said, "See, that's what happens when you draw lines"?

Or is that a distinction without a difference?

--AMS