h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think that was the joke.

And whoever said "what kind of beliefs are they if people would kill you for them", well, what kind of beliefs did Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., (I could go on) have, that people wanted to kill them?

~Irving

They had reasonable belifs but were surrounded by unreasonable people. If people around Joanna are reasonable, yet still want to kill her, Joanna's beliefs therefore have to be unreasonable.

What defines unreasonable? You see, the petty stereotypes that people have are put there when they are growing up. I mean, look at this list: Jesus: killed by the Romans because he was becoming too politically powerful for their taste, and for the fact that he went to eat dinner with the sinners. Martin Luther King Jr: Killed because of the idiotic stereotypes that have plagued our world for so long. I don't know much about Ghandi, so I won't say anything, but I'd be willing to bet that he was killed for reasons similar to that. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is . . .

*Notices sword begin to give off brights flashes of light in quick succession*

I say, let's continue this conversation inside the Cafe, okay?

*Runs in the direction that Garius went in*

I just wanted to know what it was that Joanna believes that may cause her death... Most people I know are laid back about practically everything, so what is it that would make someone kill someone else?

*Runs back*

I dunno, ask him!

*Points at the very large giant rat that is blocking the way to the Cafe*

I told you we had something to worry about! 'Nonnie, think you can talk to it?

*Pulls out sword (glowing a very strong blue), .45 caliber, and vorticon HyperPistol, just in case.*

I don't believe in anything thats about to cause my death, at least not in this country. Random offhand comment... but I guess the Taliban wouldn't like me being a Christian in the event that I found myself in Afganistan; or something.

Bluebottle, anyone who wants to kill anyone else for there beliefs is unreasonable, no matter what the beliefs are that made them so angry. Some might argue that if you believed in killing other people, then you deserved to die for your belief, but I say just lock them up for a while.

(Switches from politics to history)
As for Gandhi, his major issue, when you got right down to it, was tolerance. He fought aparthied in South Africa, not ending it, but making rather large steps concidering the short amount of time he was there. Using non-violent resistance he ended British rule of India, and abolished the caste system there. He was trying to convince the Muslims and the Hindus that they really could live together withouth all this bickering when someone who assumed that he was on the side of the Muslims (actually, Gandhi was Hindu, but believed in many parts of various major religions and loved the New Testament) assasinated him.

~Irving

PS-- the Gandhi thing reminds me of when Lincoln was assasinated because people thought he was going to punish the South after the Civil War. In all reality he was just happy to have the war over, and his successors did more punishment than he ever planned to do.

~Irving

*Swings sword at giant rat, who is busy tightening its tail around Afgncaap5's waist*

Great stories, Irv. Thanks for clearing that up. Now, 'Nonnie, would you be a dear and talk to this thing, please? I'm afraid that I don't have my Nitfol spell with me, so . . .

*Looks at the tree that 'Nonnie used to be in*

Oh. Now, where did she get to?

*Glances nervously at the mandibles of the rat that are coming closer*

Irv, could you gimme a hand here?

What's everyone's swords powered by? Mine's battery powered - but Instant Karma Batteries.

*Garius Lupus bounds in in wolf form and grabs giant rat by back of neck. Two quick shakes break rats neck and it fall lifeless to the forest floor. A few seconds later it disappears in a puff of smoke. GL transforms into human form.*

Sorry, Afgncaap5. That was a bit close for comfort. You OK?

As for big bad wolves dying out, you're right. We aren't so bad anymore. Actually, we were never really bad, just misunderstood.

Dying for one's beliefs is a romantic notion, but the examples given don't really hold to that belief. Martin Luther King, Ghandi and Lincoln died because of their beliefs, but not for their beliefs. They did not know that holding to their beliefs would end in their deaths, so there was nothing willful in it. The simply held strong beliefs that were at least partially counter to popular opinion. They did not allow themselves to be killed to further their beliefs. Jesus is maybe another story, since perhaps he knew what was coming, but that opens up a huge field for debate - better to leave him out. Nevertheless, although the given examples didn't really die _for_ their belliefs, there have been lots of missionaries that have truly done so. The reality, however, is far from romantic.

Perhaps, Joanna, you were expressing a wish for a very strongly held belief, since, as Bluebottle pointed out, most people are laid back about almost everything.

*Stands up and takes a few quick breaths*

Okay, first of all, thanks for saving me there Garius. Second of all, :

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Third of all, my sword is powered by magic. It's an antique relic of elvish workmanship from Zork speaking of Zork . . .

Fourth of all, why was a Zorkish giant rat-ant in h2g2? Oh, well, at least my sword stopped glowing.

So, Joanna, maybe you could be strong enough to die for your beliefs if you made beliefs that people might try to kill you for. Generally it doesn't take too much. You'd be surprised how easily beliefs can get you killed. Especially in New York and Chicago.

*Shudders*

I'm going back in, now that I think there aren't any more of these rat-ants running around.

*Walks towards what he hopes is the Cafe*

Point: 24 hours (approx) before Gandhi's assasination, he told one of his followers that if he died of a lingering illness, then he was not the man of God he claimed to be, but, if he died by taking a bullet, did not scream in pain but rather forgives his assailant, and speaks the word of God with his last breath, he would make true his claim.

He was assasinated at close range by someone at a religious gathering who shook his hand to get close to him. Gandhi did not scream. He said the name of God and, as a lasst gesture, he made the sign of forgiveness with his fingers.

~Irving

Good thing we got that rat taken care of

Make the forrest safe for mice.

~Irving

*pop* .. Huh? Erm.. wow.. some dream! Some weird looking giant ant thing with a long tail and ears was... *looks around at stares* .. Uhm.. did I miss something?

'Nonnie

That's okay, 'Nonnie, it all worked out...

~Irving

Yeah, but while I'm here, I'm gonna look for a nest of rat-ants. That was a scout. A big scout, but it was a scout. If there's a nest nearby, we could all be in trouble. Irv, d'you have a good supply of bug spray in the Cafe? If so, have some with you. If a large group of rat-ants charges you, spray the one leading the attack. Then again, rat-ants around restaurants and such generally are alone. So, we probably don't have much to worry about.

*Glances at sword*

I'm still trying to figure out how that thing got here. Now that I've probably bored you half to death with my knowledge of rat-ants, could someone point me in the direction of the Cafe? I seem to be lost again.

*E wanders into the forest. Why? Well, she likes walking in forests, what better reason do you need.*

*Joanna sees E has wandered into the forest and smiles at her*

*E waves at Joanna, then sits down by a tree*