From:	Ed Matuskey <MATUSKEY@***.EDU>
Subject:	Elemental drafts
Date:	Mon, 19 Apr 1993 15:04:06 -0700

Sorry, folks, I know many of you are getting tired of the whole slavery thing,
but Carter brought up a point that I couldn't let past. I'll paraphrase (I've
never figured out how to reply quoting parts of preceding posts. Ah, well)
Carter's point:
We shouldn't feel bad about sending spirits into battle, because that's
what our own military does. Why treat spirits better than citizens of our
nation?

Well, for one, the spirits aren't a part of our nation: they aren't citizens.
And, contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to stay out of the military
There is no draft, so the only ones in the military are the ones who chose
to go there: spirits get no choice (an assumption, I grant you). We're
basically taking citizens from another country, and getting them to fight in
our wars for us, when we order elementals to fight. Yes, I am working under
the assumption that elementals are intelligent before they are summoned: I
hold that the fact that elementals become free spirits after they free
themselves, and the fact that they try to free themselves, is enough
evidence to support that idea (your opinion probably differs).
Carter's point: I'm thinking like a human, imposing my own ideas of morality
on the spirits, who view things totally differently.
Of course I'm thinking like a human: I am (last time I checked, anyway....)
And you don't have any proof that elementals DON'T mind the treatment. This
is why I didn't respond very much to your post: we've come to a point where
facts are lacking, and so we can't do anything more but scream "I'm right!"
over the other person.
Allies (again, groan!): Just because some magicians treat their allies like
garbage, doesn't mean the others should be penalized. Or: Just because some
magicians are nice to their allies doesn't justify the practice. You can
take either point, and argue till you're blue in the face, and not get
anywhere, so I'll let it drop. (crowd roars)
All right, I think I've covered it all: if not, I'll either talk more, or I
won't. It depends on how much people want to keep talking about it.
-Ed
-Highlander
The whole thing about deckers was said as a joke that Jason took seriously:
same as the subject heading war. On the whole, I guess deckers aren't any
more moral than enslaving mages (I couldn't resist!), just immoral in
different areas.