Re: Re: Afghans and Orlanthi

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_...>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 11:27:32 -0800

> I really ought not to rise to the bait, but sadly can't (not least for
this reason) but I much appreciated Erik's parallel. As Charles has noted, Kallyr herself will face resistance from traditionalists. Just because the Orlanthi have Vingans, that's not necessarily significant. Afghan women are hardly shrinking violets -- Soviet prisoners were often 'entusted' to them for the skin-peeling tortures -- but are undoubtedly considered inferior and even chattel.

The last stanza of Rudyard Kipling's _The Young British Soldier_:

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains

         An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
         Go, go, go like a soldier,
         Go, go, go like a soldier,
         Go, go, go like a soldier,
         So-oldier of the Queen!

Full poem here: http://www.daypoems.net/poems/1799.html

Of course, women are almost *always* the ones to fear after a battle against an indiginous people...

RR
C'est par mon ordre et pour le bien de l'Etat que le porteur du pr�sent a fait ce qu'il a fait.
- Richelieu