#Moral Conviction

[happy-mokka]

This goes for all genders/sexes btw.

[tmarshconnors]

Reflecting on a Year of Change: Anthony Albanese

In August 2023, I penned a blog post titled "Anthony Albanese Should Be Removed from Office." At that time, I was staunchly convinced that the Liberal Party of Australia was the best political choice for the nation of Australia. While my political convictions remain unshaken, recent developments have led me to reflect on the role of Anthony Albanese, particularly his instrumental efforts in securing the release of Julian Assange.

A Year in Perspective

When I wrote that post, my criticisms of Anthony Albanese were driven by concerns about his leadership and the direction he was steering Australia. As a firm supporter of the Liberal Party of Australia, I believed that a change in leadership was necessary to ensure the country’s prosperity and stability. The policies and principles of the Liberal Party, in my view, aligned more closely with what I envisioned for Australia's future.

The Julian Assange Factor

However, as the months passed, a significant event unfolded that prompted me to reconsider my stance on Albanese's leadership—his involvement in the release of Julian Assange. For years, Assange's situation has been a contentious and polarising issue. 

The founder of WikiLeaks, Assange has been both vilified and lauded for his role in leaking classified information that exposed various government secrets. Mainly the US government.

Assange, who arrived in Australia on Wednesday evening, initially faced up to 175 years in prison after being charged with 17 counts under the U.S. Espionage Act and an additional hacking-related charge. He pled guilty to a single espionage charge and was subsequently released. Personally he’s a hero of mine but I digress.

Anthony Albanese's efforts in securing Assange's release cannot be overlooked. 

This was not a small feat; it required diplomatic finesse, political courage, and a deep conviction to human rights and justice. By working towards Assange’s release, Albanese demonstrated a level of advocacy and dedication that is commendable.

Why This Matters?

Assange's case is complex, intertwining issues of freedom of speech, journalistic integrity, and governmental transparency. Many viewed his prolonged detainment as a stark example of the lengths to which powerful entities would go to silence dissent. 

Albanese’s role in facilitating Assange’s release highlights his willingness to stand up against such injustices, even when it may not have been the most politically expedient path.

Admiration Despite Differences

While my political allegiance remains with the Liberal Party, I must acknowledge and admire Anthony Albanese for his actions regarding Julian Assange.

 It takes a leader of significant moral conviction to push for what they believe is right, especially in the face of international scrutiny and potential backlash. 

Albanese's determination in this matter has earned him a measure of respect in my eyes, despite our differing political views.

Moving Forward.

As we continue to navigate the complex landscape of Australian politics, it’s essential to recognise and appreciate the positive actions taken by our leaders, regardless of our political affiliations worldwide. 

Anthony Albanese's instrumental role in the release of Julian Assange is a reminder that leadership is multifaceted and that even those we may not fully support can make commendable contributions to society.

While my belief in the Liberal Party as the best choice for Australia remains steadfast, I am compelled to applaud Anthony Albanese for his commendable actions in the Assange case. 

It is a testament to the complexity of political leadership and the importance of acknowledging good deeds, irrespective of political divisions.

[lgbtlunaverse]

The thing we have to remember about MXTX calling wangxian "ideal characters" in a moral sense in an interview is that her previous work was scum villain. And in comparison... *looks at Bingqiu*

Yeah, wangxian have never done anything wrong in their life.

[pratchettquotes]

Frantic signals from outlying portions of her mind began to break down her iron-hard conviction that bad things only happen to bad people.

Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters

[msfcatlover]

Oh look. Reverse!Robins.

Bruce: “No murder.”

Damian: “No murder.”

Cass: “No murder.”

Tim: “No murder.”

Jason: “No murder for babies.”

Duke: “No murder until you can write me a researched & cited essay on why it is necessary for the greater good. Five page minimum.”

Dick: “I’m gonna murder.”

Red Hood!Steph: “I LIKE THIS ONE!”

[utilitycaster]

i gotta say my response to people who are like "corellon showing up is GOOD because it shows there's no easy answer" is like. pardon me. were you previously under the impression there was an easy answer?

[vegansoc]

catch me at the family function being pitied for having ethical stances

[rodspace]

Honestly I’m really apprehensive laughing at the crazy eyes part given that Matt is part Filipino. Seeing screenshots of the eyes gesture on Twitter seems a bit problematic. I can’t speak for anyone else tho especially those of that community tho

[girderednerve]

rewatching black sails & really admiring how many insects are in it. like it's not enough insects but most shows have zero insects unless it's an Oh No, Bug! scene. black sails has flies buzzing around. ambience

[alasforsooth]

Congrats. Fawking idiots.

[dellamortethelesser]

I will give authors and fic writers five dollars if they can remember that their characters are not genre aware and have no idea what an alignment chart is

[holygroundgone]

just absolutely fucking obsessed with the 0.5 evil marriage bad end deep in love deep in suffering of it all, everything that could've possibly went wrong went wrong and they're in it together

[rosemaryreality]

FINALLY!!! I've finished the final thing i had to do for a course.

Now i can finally work on that post tearing apart every ridiculous claim about Megumi's answer to Todo's question. I am cooking with that one, trust ��

[vorbarrsultana]

i miss the time when "sweet", "shiny" and "naive" weren't the adjectives frequently used to describe finrod felagund of all elves

[criticalrolo]

listen I know conventional wisdom is that it’s better to bend than to break but I’ve really got so many feelings about characters that refuse to bend or compromise on their morals and principles, to the point that they’d RATHER break (and maybe they do!!), especially when juxtaposed next to a character who will bend and bend and bend forever, never technically breaking, but twisted into something so different that they’re unrecognizable

[muninnhuginn]

So, the thing with Qiu Qingzhi vs Qiu Shenji is that they *are* different characters in a lot of ways. Qiu Shenji is more explicitly morally complex whilst what we see of Qiu Qingzhi is much lighter grey, all considered. But the root of their sense of morality remains, for the most part, identical.

In both cases, they have people they prioritise as "their" people. And for these people, they would sell the world. In the cdrama, this applies to Li Bing and the former slaves/convicts. In the manhua/donghua, it's the people working beneath him (such as General Lang in her former role).

Qiu Shenji is very much running the numbers game in a way that implicitly devalues the lives of civilians, purely because of the potential that the civilians could themselves be sleeper agents. He's been burnt before by doing the "compassionate" thing and so now would rather his troops get away safe, even at the expense of potential innocents. He even outright says something to this effect in his discussion with Minister Xu. If it's not their blood on the ground, then it's his.

To be quite frank, it's entirely possible that Qiu Qingzhi is off doing similar maths in the background of the cdrama, and it's an adaptational choice not to make that too explicit. But at the same time, Qiu Qingzhi's chosen people are not *necessarily* the same as Qiu Shenji's. And so the people he is willing to sacrifice to achieve his aims and protect those close to him differ accordingly.

The cdrama doesn't overly concern itself with asking questions of morality, being focused on more personal stakes overall, rather than weighing up any lofty ideas of what constitutes "ends justify the means" or the distant idea of a "greater good".

But just looking at the wider framework here. Qiu Shenji and Qiu Qingzhi are both a lot more politically aware than Li Bing and this heavily informs their actions. Li Bing can afford to rally for justice because of the space that's been made for him to do so. Qiu Qingzhi and Qiu Shenji do not have that option.

In Qiu Qingzhi's case, it's because his upbringing as a slave cannot be cast off. (Both he and Lai Zhongzhu have this in common. Where the donghua/manhua go for morality and politics, the cdrama goes more for class commentary. Qiu Qingzhi and Lai Zhongzhu both claw their way up from their birth stations and yet neither can remain there for long. They would never *truly* be accepted, not matter what actions they take to prove their loyalty). He has seen how disposable he and his fellow slaves are considered to be and so knows he cannot put a foot wrong.

In Qiu Shenji's, it's because he knows full well how easily he can be implicated by his former relationship with the Li family. (Something that the actual Li Bing was politically astute enough to pick up on years before any rebellion had taken place) And, honestly, even with his other reasons, I wouldn't be surprised if that also plays somewhat into why he's so overzealous in quashing rebellions. The idea of taking down rebels so viciously that he cannot ever be accused of being one himself.

Both Qiu Qingzhi and Qiu Shenji act strongly in their determination to achieve their aims. They want to shoulder the hard acts because they believe that they *have* to be done, but at the same time, are entirely willing to take on that burden *alone* without demeaning those who feel differently.

For Qiu Shenji, General Lang mentions she couldn't stomach his rebel-quashing tactics and so he made sure to obtain her a position elsewhere. She says he had also done this for others and seems thankful, even as she must know she is still complicit. Qiu Shenji knows how he is seen by the general populace, but thinks it an acceptable sacrifice for maintaining peace.

For Qiu Qingzhi, he made his deal with Yi Zhihua and then locked out Li Bing entirely, despite all their history. He would rather Li Bing hate him but be safe than let him in and put him at risk.

Both Qiu Qingzhi and Qiu Shenji commit to drown themselves in the blood of others so that they can protect "their" people. They made their decisions long ago and remain committed. Even choking, caged in a trap slowly tightening around them, they will not flee.