#great timing too while im in the middle of conquest

[sieglinde-freud]

why would you leave this masterpiece in the tags

fates is so funny because they built up xander as the warrior ever, strongest guy in the continent, hoshidan armies tremble before him, but also heres his rando fuckup retainer, camp lazlo or whatever, showed up from god knows where kentucky who held his own with him in a sparring match with his little spins and twirls mid fight. the man with gigantic magic demon sword of darkness barely won against some random ballerina ur daddy picked up off the side of the road like??

come on man u really lost to a man who looks like this

like i know inigos seen a lot of shit but please consider that from xander and the rest of the nohrians’ perspectives that thats gotta be so embarassing

[demiiharperr]

The Time I Hooked Up With A Guy Who Showed Me A Magic Trick

So, there was this couple that I had been friends with since high school & Every weekend they’d have get togethers at their house. You never knew who or how many people would be there and It was never anything too outrageous but, there would always be a story.

One night I was at their house and it was actually a pretty quiet night. Just us 3. We were playing our usual drinking card games when my friends invited a friend of theirs from high school over. We’ll call him Justin since he looks like Justin Long. This was my first time ever meeting Justin and he had brought a friend along with him.

All 5 of us carry on the night playing drinking games and surprisingly Justin’s friend and I got along really well. We were laughing and flirting and having a great time, all while Justin remained fairly quiet. But then, in the middle of Justin’s friend and I bonding, I faintly hear Justin ask me “Do you want to see a magic trick?”

No, this wasn’t a question that would lead into something perverted. He genuinely wanted to show me a magic trick. I practically broke my neck to answer. I was intrigued by the slight of hand but, also by the man who had been almost mute the whole night aside from this moment. The first trick was so good, I asked for more. While Justin continued to flex his magic, his friend and I proceeded to flirt.

The night was dying down and Justin and his friend were the first to head out. As they got in their cars and headed down the driveway, I turned to my friend and said

“he’s going to message me”.

“Who?”

“Justin. I’m calling it, he’s going to message me”

Call it a woman’s intuition or whatever you will, but I just knew. 20 minutes went by and my 6th sense didn’t fall short. The message arrived… a very direct message in-fact. It was Justin, and all he wrote was “come over” followed by his address.

I knew what I wanted to do with that message… I was fresh out of a 3 year toxic relationship and hooking up with a hot magician would definitely help kickstart my newly single lifestyle. But, the not-so-appealing side of the situation began to creep in. The thought of showing up to a random address of a man whom I barely knew in the middle of the night, started to feel less sexy and more of a sign of desperation on my part. So, I didn’t go.

I knew his type enough to know that 1. I would see him again and 2. that my window of opportunity would never shut. Men like him see women as conquests. They don’t care how long you make them wait because the desire to sleep with you never goes away. Even with knowing this about him, the fight to not give it up to him so easily was indeed just that. I was figuratively fighting with myself not to sleep with him. I don’t know how to create a visual of a sexy magician and his quiet yet confident demeanor was.. take my word for it… hard to resist.

As I was heading home, I realized the address he gave me was only 3 minutes away from where I lived. The convenience of him living so close made the craving practically intolerable. The universe clearly wanted me to throw my initial intentions to go home alone, out the window.

So… I caved. I messaged him.

If going to his house made me feel as if Im coming across as desperate, then inviting him to my house instead would give me the power in this situation. At least, that’s what I told myself.

I’m now standing in my kitchen with Justin and I quickly learned that he doesn’t waste any time making you aware of what he wants. I’m leaned back on the granite countertop with my legs wrapped around his waist, he moves his hands to undress me but, I politely reposition his hands.

Another attempt to regain power and another example of me overthinking, I tell him “I don’t want to have sex”. His mood shifted, which I expected, but I had no intention of wasting his time. I casually proposed an alternative, “I’ll suck your dick instead though”.

I’m on my knees and staring back at me is a Goliath cock. I then took something I had learned while in cosmetology school and incorporated it into this moment. I put on my poker face & convincingly inform him “I’ve never done this before”.

Y’see, I was taught to “under promise so, you can overachieve”, because when you under promise it’s allowing the person to lower their expectations, that way if it turns out like shit then they’re not disappointed.

But, by you under promising and their expectations low, this also gives you an opportunity to overachieve. Therefore, exceeding their expectations. When I was taught this phrase it was in reference to hair/makeup/nails but, it also does it’s purpose in this moment too.

As “Eye of the Tiger” began to theoretically play and I accepted my role as the star of the show (the main character if you will), I gave that man the Ultimate Sloppy Toppy Gluck Gluck 3000 Deluxe. I went full pornstar. I made that baby arm between his legs my bitch.

The credits were now rolling. I wiped my face and took a bow, because I knew, that. I. had. over.achieved.

The magician and I did wind up having sex the following week. It’s been 5 years since I gave my “first blowjob” and after checking in, I’m in his “Top 2”. And I believe wholeheartedly that it was 20% skill and 80% due to his expectations being low. Who knows, maybe even less skill than that.

[erintoknow]

“What am I not great at?”

I start my new job on Wednesday, until then, have more Fallen Hero: Rebirth fanfic. Early Sidestep Era, featuring Anathema, MC, Ortega

“And she just waltzed right up to him, said ‘oh, I don’t believe you’ and then kissed him! I mean, I know I couldn’t believe it.” You adjust the back of your hood, making sure it’s still firmly in place. In the background you can still hear the rush of water from the fire hoses as the LDFD finish dousing RabbleRouser’s latest arson attempt. You take a deep breath, trying to will yourself to be calm even as the flash of the police lights in the corner of your vision work to keep you on edge. You’re Sidestep now. You’re a hero. You’re friends with the Rangers even. You should have nothing to fear from the police.

Anathema sits down across from you on an unbroken piece of brick fencing, an artifact from before The Big One, kicking her legs back and forth against the brickwork. “Yeah, that’s Charge for you.” A mischievous glint appears in her eye. “I hope that news copter caught it. It’s been awhile since I had something to put on the fridge.”

You look up at her, districted from your breathing exercise. “Huh?”

The imp of a woman across from you breaks into a cackle. “The fridge, girl! Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the fridge yet!” She points behind you at an imaginary refrigerator. “Any time ol’ Jules gets her mack on I make sure to put a little reminder on the fridge for everyone. I think this will be like, the eighth or ninth since I started doing it?” She shrugs, tossing a pebble at a broken sign laying in the rubble.

You pace back and forth, talking with your hands. “I don’t understand. In the middle of a fight? With… a super-villain? What if he–” You cut yourself off, then think to add “Wait. Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?” 

“Yeah, well…” Anathema gives you a pointed look, “I don’t know if you noticed this, but Charge isn’t too great at the whole ‘relationship’ thing.”

“That’s not the only thing she’s not great at.” You retort. If she could have just followed the plan for once…

“What am I not great at?”

You give a little jump as Ortega claps you on the shoulder. You don’t know if you’ll ever get used to how she can just pop up on you like this without being able to sense her coming. You move aside, partly to include Ortega in the conversation, mostly to get her ash-covered hand off your shoulder.

Anathema tries to put on her best innocent face. “Oh nothing, I was just hearing all about your latest conquest from Sidestep here.” You want to sink under the rubble. Traitor, you mouth at her. Though the effect is slightly ruined by your full-face mask.

Ortega at least has the decency to look suitably embarrassed. “Haha, yeah. It was the quickest way I could think of so I could zap ‘im.” She glances at Anathema, happily swinging her legs back and forth on her brickwork perch. “Hey, listen, Themmy, you aren’t going to–“

“You know the rules, Charge!” Anathema cackles. 

“It was just a dumb kiss,” Ortega protests, crossing her arms. “It’s not like it means anything.”

“It was ‘just’-? That was reckless as hell, you idiot.” You say, finally speaking up.

Ortega turns to look at you with what she must think is a reassuring smile. “Hey, you don’t need worry about me. I’ve been at this awhile now.” She raises an ash covered arm to rub at the back of her neck, it’s a struggle not to slap her hand away, she’s going to get soot in the ports back there. “I’ve learned when it’s safe to smooch,” she finishes with a wink in your direction. For some reason it feels like your heart skips a beat.

“You aren’t– You can’t be sure-” You sputter and force yourself to stop talking for a moment, frustration mounting as you ball your hands into fists.  You try again. “You can’t just– you can’t read people, not like I can.”

“Well then…” She walks past the two of you and picks up a damaged crosswalk sign off the ground. “I guess you’ll just have to stick around and check for me next time, okay, Ari?” You want to deck that grin right off her face. Where does she get off being this smug, or using that name out in the open like this? “Alright,” you swear can hear the smile in her voice as she tucks the metal plate under one arm, “I gotta finish this up or we’ll never beat the rush hour for dinner.”

Wait. What?

“We?” You ask and you can’t keep the surprise out of your voice.

“Yeah, ‘We’. The three of us are eating out tonight.” Ortega turns and jabs the sign at both you and Anathema in turn.

“You can’t just decide that!”

You look to Anathema for back-up and only sense your own surprise mirrored back at you, “Don’t look at me,” she says.

“Sure I can,” Julia grins and tips her hand in a mock salute. “Perk of being the Marshall.” She turns with a wave and saunters over to the police van where a very unconscious RabbleRouser is being strapped to a gurney. 

You take a step towards her as she walks away and shake a fist at Ortega’s back. “That’s not what that means you idiot!” You yell after her. “And I’m not a Ranger anyway!”

As soon as Ortega is out of the hearing you let your shoulders slump and take a seat on a free piece of rubble as hold your head in your hands. Where did you lose control of the conversation? Was it really the moment Ortega stepped in? You’ll fix her. She thinks she can bribe you with food? She’s not the boss of you. You’ll just slip away again like always. Stupid, smug, full-of-her-self, busy-body, with her stupid pretty face. Could have gotten herself killed and has the nerve to act like everything’s just–

“Oh man,” Anathema cackles and you jerk your heard up. Were you talking out loud? Oh no.

“What? What?” You stiffen and then your face slowly reddens as you get a better sense of what she’s thinking. 

Anathema is looking at you with a mixture of amusement and pity written across her face. “You know, you’ve had me wondering for a while, but, wow, you have got it bad, girl.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you manage to force out.

“You don’t have to be all embarrassed about it,” Anathema needles, “it’s not like Charge knows how to turn off the charm.”

“I do not– Orteg-Charge is just a friend. If even.” You insist, willing Anathema to be wrong. You’re not interested in… that. No way. Never mind with a woman. –Another woman, you correct yourself.– And especially not Ortega. The idea makes your stomach twist in knots. It’s too terrifying to contemplate. 

“Mmmm…” Anathema drums her hand on her chin, thinking. “Charge is a little harder to read then you are, since that’s like her–“

“Excuse me?” You don’t think you’ve ever been so insulted in your life.

Anathema laughs and claps her hands. “Yeah, see? Exactly.” You glare at her, silent, unable to correct the record. She takes this as permission to continue. “anyway, if you want my opinion; Charge is real good at uh, ‘charging’ into relationships,” she waggles her eyebrows at you to make sure you got the pun, “but, she’s real bad at staying there. I mean, great smile, killer bod, sure, but given that and well…. you also have to consider-” Anathema sweeps out with her hand and shoots you a glance from the corner of her eye. “People like us aren’t really… built for the spotlight, you know? Not like she is.”

You follow Anathema’s gaze to where Ortega’s discussion with the police has given way to a pair of news crews pressing microphones in her face. It occurs to you that Themmy is more right than she could know. Now matter how human you could learn to be, there’s some parts of their world you’ll never be able to go. You turn away from Ortega to stare at your lap, running a finger down your thigh, tracing a pattern only you can see there.

Anathema gets up from her spot and crosses the distance to you, and you let her tap you lightly on the shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me, Sidestep.” That gleam in her eye returns for a moment, “Or… should we start calling you Starstruck?”

You glare up at her. “Just die.” You hiss.

Anathema’s mouth turns upwards in the smallest smile. She raises her empty hand in mock contrition. “Little chance of that, I’m afraid.”

[kingofthewilderwest]

Hello, Haddock! Now that Voltron (sadly) ended, how would you rank the seasons? Also, could you tell how many times you've rewatched them?

Hey there, friend! WAY happy to chat Voltron and all its seasons!

Unlike most fandom culture, I’m not a chronic rewatcher, and the default assumption is that I’ve only seen any show once. It’s rare for me to see shows more than once, honestly, even ones I love. I certainly will be watching VLD more times, but because of my normal watching habits, I’ve seen a large portion of the show only once. I’ve seen S1 probably about 5 times, S2 thrice, S3-4 twice, and S5+ once. I’ve seen “The Last Stand” from S7 twice.

These are rankings based somewhat upon my emotional attachments and not simply objective elements like narrative structure! XD I already know my preferences are going to be different than lots of people in the VLD fandom, haha. These rankings are also based on memory, which is pretty strong admittedly for VLD, but it leaves room to change with a rewatch.

EIGHTH PLACE: VLD Season 8

Let’s be clear: I don’t dislike Season 8 and there’s much I enjoy. Give it up for S8 love!!! Standout episodes to me include “Launch Date,” “The Prisoner’s Dilemma,” and “Day Forty-Seven.” The women going shopping together and Pidge dressing as 1980s Darrell Stoker made my life. Not to mention… it was fun spending time with the MFEs; they didn’t take a disproportionate amount of time, but gave us good moments to make us love them. I’m thankful for the S8 ending giving us both a sense of wrap-up for the plot conflicts, but also looking forward to what our Paladins will do to rejuvenate the galaxy. There’s much I’m thankful for with S8.

That said, S8 isn’t my jam as much as other seasons. I’m not much of a shipper and I wasn’t into the Allurance, nor did I get pulled into the magic-heavy plot conflict with Haggar and her Alteans. And while S7 does give great screen time to Allura, it felt a little less like an ensemble cast and more like a spotlight on her. Enemies’ minds changed too fast for me to feel realistic, and the magic-wonky plot didn’t feel as gripping and intense as S7. It’s the reason I’m placing S8 here: from my own preferences, I attached with other seasons more.

SEVENTH PLACE: VLD Season 5

For whatever reason, S5 didn’t make as much of an impression on me as other seasons. I wasn’t as invested in concepts like “Kral Zera” and “White Lion.” Given as S5 is an odd numbered season in the middle portion of Voltron, it has an innate disadvantage: it’s written in all but name as the first half of a season, which means story arc ending payoffs wouldn’t happen until S6. I also feel like S5 is where plot writing is at one of its most tangled or muddied, given as there’s lots being juggled and introduced conflict-wise and lore-wise and universe-wise and character-wise.

However, S5 - like all seasons - gives us cool stuff. We got Matt (one of my favorite characters) participating in an adventure, lots of Lotor screentime, and a callout to 1980s DOTU that I never thought they’d be able to turn into a good episode (“White Lion”). And!!! We get to meet!!! KROLIA!!!

SIXTH PLACE: VLD Season 3

I have particularly fond attachment to S3. This is the season where I started getting actively involved in Voltron fandom discourse, giving my own take on Project Kuron theories. This is the season that gave us the first glimpse of the Classic Voltron formation - Keith in Black, Lance in Red, Pidge in Green, Allura in Blue, Hunk in Yellow. I felt a thrill go through me as Keith, for the first time, said “Form Voltron!” Also… Lance really stepping up to show his leadership potential??? So good. And this is the season where we meet Lotor, another long-anticipated character… and oh my goodness is his character introduction gold. So there’s lots of stuff I hold strong affinity for in S3.

The reason I have to rank Season 3 back here is because it’s more about the Paladins floundering around than anything else. It’s meant to create a new sense of chaos and instability… their leader Shiro is gone, and now there are new unexpected threats like Lotor to handle. However, at the same time, since half of the season is just the Paladins floundering around not knowing how to work together, it makes me less attached to particular episodes. None of the episodes are favorites or standouts to me on their own. There’s lots of cool moments throughout S3, but I think the only episode I notably emotionally attach to is “The Journey.” But still? Good season!

FIFTH PLACE: VLD Season 1

I can’t believe I have this amazing season all the way back here. I want it to be higher, except that I do have to rank other seasons above this one. 

Season 1 is what gets everything started. It sets the stage for what Voltron’s all about, teaching us about lions and robeasts and Zarkon and the Galaxy Garrison and all that good stuff from 1980s nostalgia… all the while creating a new vibe and energy to the franchise. In retrospect, S1 feels much calmer and less high-stakes than the rest of the series (especially post S2). However, it’s a solid season with good episodes that never feel less solid and good. We get great Hunk material with him finding conviction; great Shiro and Pidge moments as they share different worries over the abduction; hilarious Keith and Lance clashes; lots and lots and lots of good things. It’s a very solid season, especially once we launch off Arus.

FOURTH PLACE: VLD Season 6

If you want to know how tight my season rankings are to each other, S6 was almost listed second place.

I attach to specific episodes in particular for S6. I love the visuals in “Razor’s Edge.” I died howling with laughter in “Monsters & Mana.” I fell into so many emotional feels regarding Keith and Shiro in “The Black Paladins.” We get one of the all-time best emotional, action-oriented episodes of VLD… and one of the most amazing, hysterical filler episodes in S6. Despite being seven episodes long, S6 is an incredible ride and adventure start to end. It’s hard to believe so much occurred in that amount of time!

There’s hoards of great stuff in this season. We get the Kuron arc resolved, with lots of emotional content between Keith and Shiro. We get the Lotor arc resolved, learning whether or not he can be trusted, with great Lotor and Allura time. We get Keith returning to the Paladins. We get the introduction of Romelle, which all DOTU lovers have been waiting for forever.

THIRD PLACE: VLD Season 4

I have to put VLD S4 here because of its emotional power. There are damned AMAZING moments this season, alongside some of my favorite episodes and moments of all time. I know I and some of the other fans aren’t huge on “The Voltron Show!” But fuck it, guys, S4 gave us “Reunion” and “A New Defender”!!!

Matt is a delight this season, from his first meeting of Allura, to his tour around the Castle of Lions with Pidge, to his technological connections with his sister and Hunk, to his participation in the Rebels’ fighting forces. We also get some of the funniest moments for me in Voltron, between learning how to milk Kaltenecker and seeing HOW Pidge finally managed to rig up the video game system.

Then there’s the opposite end of the emotional spectrum. “Reunion” is the single most emotional episode in all of Voltron for me. Even though I’d seen screencaps of Matt prior to watching S4, I felt as shocked and heartbroken as Pidge to come to his gravestone. There’s so much POWER to this gravestone scene; it’s one of the moments that resonates with me the most even after I’ve finished the whole show. It might even be my Number One FAVORITE moment in the entire show. It’s not my place to analyze that scene here, but DAMN. 

Furthermore, the climax with the battle of Naxzela was INTENSE, with Keith almost sacrificing himself getting me screaming. That was such a great battle and climactic moment in VLD. This was a great culminating moment, in which the series has officially built up from a small team to a universe-wide conflict.

We get standout moments with Keith being badass with the blades, Matt taking initiative, Pidge seeking out her family, Allura helping Voltron flee the gravity field, Kuron becoming increasingly more suspicious. VLD S4 ramps everything up from the emotions to the excitement, resulting in an awesome and intense six episodes.

SECOND PLACE: VLD Season 7

It’s really hard for me to put this as second place instead of first place. I originally had it in first place. I want it to be first place. I LOVE the second half of S7 so much. This is, possibly, my favorite season from an emotional standpoint because wow.

It’s all-around outstanding. S7 showed us how far the Paladins have come as heroes; they operate with great teamwork, skill, and professionalism that is oh-so-cool to see on screen. They’re still the characters we love and cherish, but they’ve grown SO MUCH since their first days on Voltron. This is fully-fledged heroes doing fully-fledged battles and it’s GREAT.

S7 gives us standout moments to so many characters, including Hunk, Shiro, Sam, Colleen, Veronica, and Keith. We even get some good adventure time with Romelle! And as far as character interactions are concerned, we get touching moments between Keith and Lance, Keith and Hunk, and so many other combinations.

The story raises the stakes to higher levels than ever before, with an emotional and exciting conquest of Earth. There’s nothing more horrible and high-stakes to audiences than a homefront war. We feel extreme pain for Hunk with fears for his family, and Shiro for the loss of Adam. We feel the great sense of danger and desperation starting with “The Last Stand.” We feel the drama of a long and extended climax fighting for Earth’s freedom, including moments where the Paladins control the Lions outside their body (so cool), Shiro commands the ATLAS (SO cool), and the ATLAS also transforms into a fighting robot (SO FREAKING COOL!). This has some of the most exciting, badass stuff of Voltron ever. I love it.

Highlight episodes for me are “The Last Stand” (two episodes without the Paladins about Earth fighting for its freedom? this was fucking amazing), “Trial By Fire,” and “Lions’ Pride.” Essentially - all of the second half of the season.

FIRST PLACE: Season 2

Season 2 is probably THE MOST solid season in all of VLD. 

Almost every episode is good, memorable, fun, lovable, enjoyable, classic. It highlights the full ensemble cast. It creates an EXTREMELY exciting, exhilarating, fun climax. It is a strong narrative season, cleanly and proudly finishing the first 26 episode long arc for VLD. This season shows VLD at its best. Since it consistently delivers, there’s nowhere else S2 belongs except the top.

We get great Shiro time, what with his arc spent learning to trust Black… leading to him being a badass unlocking the Lion’s wings and taking Zarkon’s bayard. We get great Pidge time, whether it’s her freaking out over video games or drawing deeper into the beauty of the world - technology and biology both. We get great Keith time, with him fighting for answers in the Blade of Marmora and infiltrating Zarkon’s base in an extremely dangerous mission. We get great Hunk time, between unlocking his Lion’s claws and taking initiative in the Weblum adventure. We get great Lance moments, where he shows us he truly can be a sharpshooter for the team. We get great Allura moments, especially in how she fought against Haggar in the finale. This season rocks it for EVERY Paladin.

Not only does every individual Paladin get good spotlighting, but S2 also rocks it with character interactions. How Allura handles Keith being Galra is a memorable moment of character development for both of them. How Hunk and Keith interact in “The Belly of the Weblum” is a delight. How Shiro loses his cool with Slav is hysterical. I can never complain to Lance and Hunk combinations, like in “The Depths.” And of course every episode focused on Keith and Shiro gives us good feels.

Standout episodes for S2 include “The Ark of Taujeer” (THE COLORS), “The Blade of Marmora,” “Blackout,” “Space Mall.” I cannot believe I watched an episode where the character dressed as space pirates and rode on a flying cow to escape a mall cop. That happened. It’s a delight. And S2 kept rocking it with the humor, down to Pidge creating all her Paladin buddies out of space junk and imitating them. But S2 also gives us some of the most memorable moments of VLD storytelling, what with “The Blade of Marmora.” That episode is a staple for many reasons. Not to mention… all of S2 works together cohesively for the long-term arc structure.

And then there’s the climax. So well-done. So exciting. So immersive. So intense. So cool. So badass. Great colors, great flow, great plot, great everything start to end. I was in a THRILL at the end of S2 because this climax was so unbelievably fun. In retrospect it’s got competition with S7, and S7 probably takes the cake now… but fuck it, S2′s end will always be awesome.

Every single season in VLD gives me something to be excited about. There are things to love each step of the journey. I’m thankful for every episode from S1 to S8. 

What a ride this journey has been.

[clockworkkatana]

why did rome fall (I already asked your girlfriend but wanted to compare notes - no cheating guys)??

constantinople

i mean, okaythere isnt one specific reason by any means - rome wasnt built in a day and neither did it fall in one - but rather a whole host of them, all incredibly complex and nuanced and im going to be here for fucking hours arent i but mostly its constantinople and the audacity of naming a city after yourself and instantly moving there and declaring it the new capital of your empire and when i say that i mean actually just splitting your empire in two because you wanted a change of locale

also full disclaimer i prefer classical antiquity to the constant teenage deathdrama of late antiquity if your teen angst bullshit included political intrigue, murder plots, assassination by stabbing, assassination by poisoning, assassination by strangling, assassination by decapitation, assassination by the praetorian guard, forced abdication, forced abdication and execution, forced abdication and mutilation, forced abdication and blinding, torture, exile, and im literally still just listing ways emperors were deposed do you potentially see a possible trend and/or theme that could possibly be indicative of a federal fucking issue with regards to the roman political theater: a circus, or rather, the panem et circenses of every history major who ever thought it was maybe a little telling that “murdered roman emperor” is its own fucking category on wikipedia with subcategories to spare

also second full disclaimer im qualifying ‘fall of the roman empire’ as ‘fall of the western roman empire’ because byzantine is its own thing and im not particularly interested either in that portion of it or typing up a whole new dialogue just on the eastern roman/byzantine/ottoman empires because its too far removed from the prelapsarian concept of rome and the aesthetic ideal of the roman empire to count in my opinion

anyway

we begin, as a great deal of roman history lessons begin, with a murder(there are diatribes i could go on about how really when you think of it all of roman history begins with a murder - romulus to remus - so is it any wonder her demise begins the same way but im not even started yet so thats a bad idea just on general principle)march 19, 235. mogontiacum, the citadel that would become the city of mainz in germany. a tent flap is thrown open, and forth strides a young man in a fury like one possessedhe is severus alexander, 26, emperor of rome, and hes fucking pissedwhy so upset? enter a man named maximinus thrax, a barbarian from thrace and a goliath of a manmostly illiterate, but then soldiers never cared for literature, and it was soldiers who rallied around maximinus, soldiers who murdered severus and his mother for choosing diplomacy over open war, soldiers who proclaimed a barbarian from the black sea the new emperor of rome, and soldiers who legitimized that claim in the senate

thus begins the crisis of the third century, a fifty-year period that sees no less than 26 claimants to the imperial throne (the empires youngest emperor reigns during this time, gordian iii, who took the throne at 13 and ruled for six years before his death and was, by my account anyway, a nice kid), the fracture of the empire into the competing factions of roman, gallic, and palmyrene, a great deal of plague, a slew of invasions from the north, and some good old-fashioned economic depressionso basically a tuesday

i wont get too into the brunt of everything because im gonna be here all night as it is but while, yes, the crisis was indeed averted and the empire restored by diocletian in the early 284, the crisis of the third century marked a huge shift in the history of the empire as a whole (from augustus to severus alexander was 26 names and 262 years, from maximinus to diocletian was 23 names and 49 years) and is actually the turning point from classical antiquity to late antiquity, which i mean is telling in and of itself but frankly its only due to diocletians reforms that rome managed to survive the next 150 years as it did but im getting ahead of myself

diocletian was, by all accounts, a good ruler: he came up from nothing, the son of a peasant farmer who rose up through the legion ranks before being declared emperor after the deaths of carus and numerian he only reigned a single year as the sole emperor - he appointed his friend and fellow soldier maximian as augustus of the west, and from there he delegated further, appointing junior co-emperors called caesars (romans had a thing for titles based on previous rulers - part of the imperial cult, in a sense) to create a tetrarchy, a rule of four which actually worked out for him? with maximian and constantius dealing with germanic tribes in a scorched earth campaign along the rhine and galerius fighting the sassanids to the south, diocletian was able to secure the border (didnt even have to build a wall, fancy that) and focus on much-needed imperial reform, though perhaps his greatest achievement is that he was the first in the history of the empire to abdicate and retire peacefully and voluntarily, living out the rest of his days in the small town of spalatum (now split in croatia)

without diocletian, things, as they tend to, go to shityet another roman civil war burns itself out for the next 8 years or so before we get constantine the great, who takes a bunch of diocletians work and either rolls with it or upends it based on whether or not it suited him at the time, and its with constantine where the empire really starts hemorrhaging

personally i think constantine gets too much credit there are like maybe three people in history who deserve the title of ‘the great’ and just because you got venerated by the dominant religion in all of western civilization doesnt mean youre great it just means youre not a fan of persecution and i mean thats cool but im not a fan of persecution and im certainly not so titled, no i just get dubbed ‘the pure’ because i dont hit on every maiden from here to camelot listen lance buddy gwen was better off with arthur and you just need to get the fuck over yourself alreadythis turned into a roast track for lancelot all of a suddenanyway constantinea lot of it is because of the whole religion thing which ill go over briefly but likeyes he pulled off a lot of reform that did a lot of economic and social good and he stopped the persecution of christians which i mean yes is a good thing and yadda yadda yawn listen he fucked up big time with constantinople alright you could narrow down a lot of this answer to just the word ‘constantinople’ and frankly youd be the better for not reading and having forced me to write what has to be like at least a thousand words by now but all in all constantinople in my mind marks the period where shit really starts tanking because up until then - with the crisis and the tetrarchy, etc - the empire had been divided but never so explicitly and finally separated. this is a major turning point for the empire as it actively splits the whole of rome pretty much down the middle - diocletians tetrarchy had done this before, yes, but not nearly as callously nor as resolutely: once every great while a strong emperor would reunite the west and east under one ruler but eventually hed die and it would be civil wars all over again until we came back to east and west

from constantine it was a slow march towards the grave for rome - the crossing of the rhine, a constant plague of invasions and failed wars that slowly chip away at her lands and resources and put considerable strain on her already absolute shite economy (turns out an economy dominated by slavelabor and conquest isnt feasible when you lose all your wars and your empire is splintering before your eyes)

the last “true” emperor of what i, anyway, consider rome - and even that is up for debate - is romulus augustulusonly 14, and his claim disputed everywhere beyond italy, but it seems fitting, to me: named for romes founder, called ‘little augustus’ after her first emperorhe is deposed - but not killed, exiled to a seaside castle where he disappears from historical record - by odoacer, who becomes the first king of italy, as there was no more empire to rule, and with the death of the office of emperor so dies the state of the empire

this is a vast oversimplification of a lot of things and you should also read radias answer which is probably better than this one - i summarize a lot in my theses and probably need to work on thatbut yeah pretty much there you have itblame constantinople

[intothenoise]

What is Required is Peace, Not Pacification in the Holy Land

(This post was originally published as part of IMES’ Regional Brief for June 2019, written by Jesse Wheeler)

News

At the time of this writing, the latest pronouncement from the US administration regarding the long-anticipated Israeli-Palestinian peace plan – nicknamed “the Deal of the Century” – is that its content and substance will be announced in June 2019, heretofore hidden behind a “not-so-secret” veil of secrecy. Soon, we will learn if this is indeed the case. Pundits and partisans, left and right, have speculated as to the content of the plan, with many pondering its chances for success and others pronouncing it dead on arrival – as based on what has been witnessed thus far concerning the recognition of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, defunding UNWRA, and sidelining Palestinian leadership. Meanwhile, Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom published what they report to be a leaked draft of the plan. 

Regarding its content and substance, journalist Jonathan Cook paraphrases the main elements of the plan as including:

Support for full Israeli annexation of large swaths of the West Bank and the full incorporation into Israel proper of Israeli settlements, currently illegal under international law.

The establishment of an entity, being referred to as “New Palestine,” consisting of discrete districts cut off from each other and surrounded by settlements. “New Palestine” would constitute 12% of historic, mandate Palestine.

Economic funding ($30 billion over 5 years) funneled into “New Palestine” provided primarily by the cash rich Gulf-states. Israel currently receives $38 billion in aid, which would likely continue.

Jerusalem would remain the capital of Israel. Israelis would ostensibly not be allowed to buy Palestinian homes, but the Palestinians of East Jerusalem would become citizens of New Palestine, not Jerusalem.

The Gaza strip would be opened to territory in northern Sinai where there would ostensibly exist an industrial zone and airport for use by Gazans.

Palestinian refugees in the surrounding countries would permanently become the responsibility of those various countries.

Should the Palestinians refuse the deal, Jonathan Cook reports, “The US would cut off all money transfers to the Palestinians” and “the US would authorize Israel to ‘personally harm’ the leadership of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

If Israel fails to abide by the agreement, they too would ostensibly lose funding.

Likewise, it is reported that Saudi officials delivered a report to Mahmoud Abbas, who, unsurprisingly, rejected it outright. After seeing the plan and raising objections, Abbas presented a counter-offer to the Americans, “who refused to discuss it and warned that ‘the plan is not for negotiation; it’s for implementation.’” As further reported by Middle East Eye, “[US Envoy to the Middle East] Jason Greenblatt said that the US peace plan is designed to benefit the region as a whole, and does not require the consent of the Palestinians,” adding that, “The Palestinians are no longer the deciding party. We have a plan for the region and the Palestinians can join in if they want, but they are also free not to.”

Analysis

As a “peace-plan” between Israelis and Palestinians, I think it is fair to say that without Palestinian involvement the document will be dead on arrival. To those cognizant of the Palestinian perspective, it appears as though the stipulations listed above would simply add international legitimacy to the Israeli Occupation and settlement enterprise as they currently exist, joining a long history of internationally sponsored agreements – detailed by Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi in The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: from the Balfour Declaration of 1917, declaring the desire on the part of Great Britain to create a “national home for the Jewish people,” then 5% of the population, in historic Palestine; the UN Partition plan of 1947, granting 55% of the most desirable land to what was by that time 31% of the population; UN Resolution 242 after the 1967 War that witnessed the advent of the Israeli Occupation, pressuring the Palestinians to abandon their claims to historic, mandate Palestine in eventual exchange for a state of their own within the remaining territory (22%); to the Oslo Accords of the early 1990s, which granted a veneer of legitimacy to the Israeli occupation in exchange for the pretense of a Palestinian state with “authority” over an even smaller swath (40%) of the remaining 22% of territory after 1967. To the Palestinians, Kushner’s 12% plan represents just an additional stage in their continued and ongoing displacement at the hands of a militarily powerful settler-colonial enterprise. For this reason, Palestinian leaders have been calling the plan little more than “conditions for surrender,” or a “surrender note.”

However, as Haaretz columnist Anshel Pfeffer asks, “What if the Trump plan should work after all?” – not as a “peace-plan,” but as a means of removing the Palestinian problem from the international agenda and creating space for regional Arab-Israeli cooperation. Pfeffer writes,

As far as the authors of the plan are concerned, it’s not about delivering a just and equitable solution for the Palestinians. Success for them would be removing the Palestinians and their predicament from the international agenda at the lowest price possible. That price is a series of semi-autonomous enclaves in Gaza and, at the most, half the territory of the West Bank, and as much Saudi, Emirati and Qatari cash as it will take to keep them quiet.

Theological Reflections and Missiological Implications

Residing at the heart of our mission as followers of Christ is the pursuit of reconciliation. Anything short of this is dereliction of duty. As theologian Veli-Matti Karkkainen explains in his chapter, “Reconciliation as the Church’s Mission in the World”:

Casting the doctrine of atonement in proper Trinitarian framework and in the context of God’s faithfulness to His creation helps us widen and make more inclusive the work of atonement by focusing on the multifaceted meaning of the term ‘reconciliation’ – healing and bringing together broken relationships. Of all the metaphors of salvation, reconciliation has the potential of being the most inclusive and comprehensive, encompassing such ideas as “cosmic reconciliation, the Hebrew notion of shalom, the meaning of the cross, the psychological effects of conversion, the work of the Holy Spirit, the overcoming of barriers between Christians, the work of the Church in the world, peacemaking, movements towards ethnic reconciliation and the renewal of ecological balances between humanity and its natural environment.” Underlying many of these facets of reconciliation is the motif of restoration of relationships.[1]

This is the future vision towards which we must presently strive, in Palestine-Israel as much as elsewhere. For his part, celebrated Mennonite peacebuilder John Paul Lederach defines reconciliation as consisting of equal parts truth, justice, mercy and peace.[2] Without all four aspects in play, any attempts at reconciliation will remain tenuous and inadequate.

Furthermore, drawing on insights from Salim Munayer and Lisa Loden, it is often the case in intractable conflicts that two distinct narrative frames are at play in interpreting and understanding a conflict. This is the situation in Israel-Palestine. Palestinians and their sympathizers, for instance, interpret history and assign blame in one manner, while Israelis and Israeli sympathizers interpret history and assign blame in an opposite manner. And, as both personal and collective identities are so intimately tied to the narratives through which individuals or groups interpret their experiences of conflict, coming to terms with alternate readings of history can be extremely challenging and at times psychologically and emotionally destabilizing. As such, a proposed solution that might seem reasonable and level-headed to one, would appear disastrous to another. In this way, Palestinians will naturally interpret the “gift” of North Sinai through the lens of al-Nakba, as an additional instance of ethnic cleansing, another attempt to drive Palestinians from their ancestral homeland. Likewise, Israelis will often interpret the “one-state solution” through the lens of historic anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish pogroms ultimately resulting in the Holocaust, as a desire to destroy Israel. Palestinian and Israeli communities each embody zero-sum narratives of national destruction.

To paraphrase philosophical ethicist Alasdair MacIntyre: in any disagreement or dialogue, agreement requires “enabling those who participate in it both to give voice to their own concerns and to understand those of others.” Otherwise, the dual evils of suppression or disruption will inevitably rear their ugly heads.[3] It is precisely for this reason that both sides must be present at the negotiating table if any semblance of a just peace is to be reached. Therefore, for the sake of mercy and peace, both Israeli and Palestinian narratives must be taken into consideration and valued. Yet, for the sake of truth and justice it must also be acknowledged that not all narratives are constructed equally. Some promulgate a sense of continual victimhood, real or imagined. Other narrative constructs facilitate “virtuous violence,” increasing the likelihood and longevity of violent conflict. And, some narratives quite plainly serve the interests of empire, legitimating conquest, exploitation and theft. In such a scenario, peace without justice is little more than pacification, for “as long as glaring economic and social imbalances persist,” Fr. Daniel Groody reminds us, “peace is impossible.”[4]

________________

[1] Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Christ and Reconciliation: A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 2013) 364

[2] John Paul Lederach, Reconcile: Conflict Transformation for Ordinary Christians (Harrisonburg: Herald Press, 2017) 83

[3] Alasdair MacIntyre, Ethics and Politics: Selected Essays Vol. 2 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006)

[4] Daniel Groody, Globalization, Spirituality and Justice, (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2007) Kindle Location 3061.

[isaacathom]

also almost hundred percent that Tsitas’ ancestor (not the condesce - Tsitas isn’t the Heiress. mostly because i dont want to fuck with that) had a very strong relationship with Endlyn’s. 

Endlyn’s (The Lawmaker, at present) did what you’d expect - Made Laws. This is because she’s fairly middle on the spectrum, low enough that she understands low blood thinking, high enough that the blue bloods stand her. But she has limited reach - she’s basically completely restricted to Lowblood Policy. That is, until Tsitas’ ancestor (the Director? Eminence? idk which) finds her. A lowblood notable for her extreme loyalty is a prize indeed, and what better claim for a high blood? She essentially sponsored the Lawmaker, allowing her job progression unlike any of her caste, while making it clear she was her pet. The Lawmaker was hers to command. What the Director wanted as law, was minted as such. It’s likely this sort of activity is what got the Lawmaker killed - while following the Director’s instructions, she stepped on the toes of another highblood (likely Iliyas’ ancestor), perhaps ordering him to do something for her. It didn’t sit kindly. The Director had much blood on her hands when she was finished taking revenge for the murder of her ‘pet’. The relationship was likely somewhat closer than that - it would have been publicly restricted by the perception of caste distinction. The most the two could ever have been is moirails, leaning on and aiding the other. The Lawmaker was a shoulder to cry on, an unjudging soul - how could she judge those of such high status? The Director was a bringer of unholy vengeance. They worked perfectly together.

Meanwhile Iliyas’ ancestor is his damn near inverse in terms of personality. Iliyas’ selfishness and exploitation of others brought to the forefront, made truly manifest. A greedy seadweller, a Conqueror (but that /doesnt fuckign fit/. Champion?), who took what he desired and cared little for its effect. Such was his mistake to take the life of the Lawmaker, unaware she was the Director’s property, only aware that the possession of the life of they who writes law was a treasure, indeed. Before this fatal error, he likely took from many of the other ancestors. Rhiana’s would be a strong contender for that position - perhaps she too was slain at the Champion’s hand. But in that instance, it was likely the event that gave him this title - her ancestor was almost certainly a rebel, however minor. (I want to say Guerrilla, but with Serren’s quirk combining double r’s? for an 8 set). A leader? Unlikely so high. But she had influence, she had power, she had appeal to the people. Her death - and the subsequent deaths of those who had aided her - made him a Champion. She was not a martyr, however, for she had as yet done little. An idea. Her death was quiet, a nameless among many. A ghost of what could have been. That, or perhaps she HAD succeeded - the Lawmaker, responsible directly for a lot of suffering through what she wrote, slain by a vicious rebellion. Rightful retribution from the Champion. Which then begs the question - how does the Champion fall? Perhaps this is where Lyndel’s ancestor comes in. A long and twisted revenge for a lowblood lover. A straight forward slaying and self banishment, a soul never again seen by the law and indeed by the stars.

ok how about the flowery leaves. lets make it simple. So, the Director takes in the Lawmaker as a sort of sponsor, allowing the Lawmaker a great amount of power. As a figurehead (and comparatively vulnerable), the ‘Guerrilla’ slays the Lawmaker as part of her rebellion. This backfires, as the Director sends her Champion to wreak retribution. The Champion is then likely himself slain by Lyndel’s ancestor, in a display of absolute back stabbing fuckery rarely seen. What power. She excuses herself from proceedings and is assumed to die alone in the wastes.

so thats 5. that leaves three - Junzha, Dahnte, and Zekari. There’s more to the Director’s lifespan (shes nigh fuschia, after all) but. yknow. fuck em.

You’d assume Dahnte would be her Champion, and perhaps thats how Dahnte actually envisions himself - as Tsitas’ Champion, since Iliyas is so.... lackluster. but that was not his ancestors role. Dahnte’s ancestor was himself the lackluster one, a weak highblood who formed relationships with lowbloods in order to survive. He surrounded himself with the psychically superior, safe in the knowledge that they couldn’t affect him personally, but that they could hurt his enemies. Among these is almost definitely Zekari’s ancestor, who isn’t a particularly powerful telekinetic, but strong enough to attract the attention of the needy. Whether this also includes Junzha’s ancestor, im unsure, though to figure that out i need to figure out what the fuck power Junzha actually has now. lets assume Yes for now.

SO he has this squad of powerful lowbloods to defend him from people who would do him harm. It is then not difficult to believe that he gets cocky with his army, picks a fight with someone he shouldn’t (perhaps Champion, perhaps Director herself?) and his group is summarily completely destroyed. He flees. He is, at this point, the Recreant. A coward, a fool. What happens once he flees is unclear - perhaps he encounters the Apostate, Lyndel’s ancestor. Though if we have it be that the Recreant attacked the Director (and got one or both of Zekari and Junzha’s ancestors killed), i think that the Guerrilla’s campaign should be for their justice. Rhiana is a spirit of vengeance. this is why her ancestor isn’t a martyr - theyre a reactionary, and theyre just as violent. Slaying the Lawmaker. leading to the Champions subsequent mass slaughter of bronze and burgundies. Leading to the Apostate to swap sides - she relates to the Guerrilla’s struggle, even if she had disagreed with the method. She openly betrays the Champion, killing him in his own hive, in his own base of power. It’s a fucking powerful move. And then she flees.

So like, woulllld they meet beyond that point? The Apostate and the Recreant, alike as traitors but distinct by their courage. They both basically disappear from history at this point, so its not IMPOSSIBLE. its also not impossible that the Recreant already had his shit pushed in before that point. like in the gap between his army’s defeat and the betrayal of the Champion is completely possible that he just fucking died somewhere. the Apostate seems far more capable, though her death likely comes swiftly as well - she won only through subterfuge.

ok, so say thats their ends. Junzha and Zekari. whats up, lads.

i think a god idea for Junzha’s is a man conscripted into the Recreant’s foolhardy gang. His talents lie not in combat, but in civility, in aiding the restless and the weary. It allows him to protect himself, but few others, when the Director’s fury rains down. He rises amongst the bodies of his fellows, alone. She claims him as a trophy of her conquest, and he is given new purpose. His talents bolster the Director’s own forces, ease their sufferings. But never his own. His soul is always black, and further still when the Champion claims it was his capture that caused the death of the Lawmaker. he is the Catalyst. he allows others to act, causes it. but he is confined, constrained. his service is loyal, but not out of love, and he is the one ancestor who dies of completely natural causes - alone but for his work. he is sometimes known as the Destroyed - for naught remains of his mark, except the knowledge that it never existed.

which leaves Zekari. i think, perhaps tie him back into the lawmaker. something she had done directly, which might invite the Guerrrrrilla’s vengeance. a law she passed. was it on the Directors command, or her own deduction? its unclear. whatever it was, it put his ancestor into hot water. the sort of hot water a high blood patron can rescue you from. A noble Indigo blood, perhaps? It was desperation that forced him to join the Recreant’s ill fated guard, and he certainly never enjoyed the position. but were he to leave, what would be left? Jail, culling, or a position in a worse army, that of the Director or Condesce herself. She had a place for telekinetics like him, and he wanted no part. So he played along, followed this would be captains orders, and found himself at the end of the Directors weapon. The wrong end. the Dead end. Forced for no other choice, slain by his only other opportunity. He would have found use in the Directors army, but he would have been equally unfulfilled by his role as the Destroyed became. poor souls. The Desolate, perhaps. ofc it does sorta depend what he did to end up in a situation where his only option was to becoming the Recreants whipping boy. Based purely on Zekari’s character it makes sense for it to have been him trying to help - trying to help someone. Who, specifically? hmm. doing it for the Destroyed could be an interesting idea - an extension of Zekari <> Jun. and also how the Desolate ultimately fails, because the Destroyed ends up in the army with him, ends up seeing him die, and ends up withering away in some back tent for another army. yknow. cause you fucked it. nice going, homie. he basically loses time and time again. perhaps he caused someones death? that could be fun. basically killed a guy to save the Destroyed’s life. but, of course, its a high blood, and on the Lawmakers respect for the hemospectrum, this is a crime of an extreme degree. the punishment? oh, they vary, and the Lawmaker almost salivates at the thought of all that could be wrought upon those who do not heed her words. thats fucked up. holy shit.

so yea. The Desolate kills a high blood. unrelated, just. some guy? some asshole. probably just straight up flattens him. lift, drop, splat, instant warrant for arrest/culling/what have you. so how does he get away? by basically signing away his life to the nearest highblood willing to employ his services, who promises not to work him to the bone. he doesnt have much choice. if he can claim being in the employ of someone, its a substantially lesser crime, or something like that. at that point, its just High Blood Business. all for ol Destroyed over there, who is then promptly recruited himself for his general skills, to the Desolate’s dismay. had he known the fate he was going to give his friend, he’d have let the highblood kill them, and then exacted revenge. 

ok. lets say thats all good. thats, in descending order by blood - The Director, the Champion, the Recreant, the Apostate, the Lawmaker, the Desolate, the [a bunch of screams], and the Destroyed.

ok, naming the Guerrilla. it doesnt work with her quirk, purely because i cant think of any good reason to combine the two rs, even though Serren has two rs as well? it doesnt make sense to me. lets find something else. the Fugitive? describing how she spent a nice chunk of her time on the run. it also makes her sound more guilty, which i like (how often you got an innocent fugitive, yknow). i think i like that ok, The Fugitive she is. nice.

ok, thats all of them? now the big one - how does the Director die? she’s nigh fuschia (high enough to enjoy status, NOT high enough to be killed by the Condesce YET). lives long time. she cannot die naturally, unless all these ancestor events are so positively ANCIENT shit. so she has to die somehow. from what? the ideal candidate for bloody murder is the Apostate, since her whole deal is that she was on their side and betrayed them following the culling of the Fugitive and those /remotely/ connected to her. but she cant kill the Director quickly - that interferes with the Destroyed’s slow death in her service. unless she bides her time. which i do kind of dig. but if she bided her time and then slew the Champion in his own hive (or office, i guess), theres still the issue that its..... highly unlikely she could overpowers the Director, just by pure virtue of being a Teal Blood vs a Nigh Fuschia. the raw strength is just off the charts. especially for a desk pushing Teal whose main job in the Director’s service was to pass messages. Errand boy. so it would require EXTREME planning, like beyond cosmic coincidence, to give her to chance to kill the Director. perhaps this is a confrontation that passes wholly into myth - all that is known is that the Director died. whose to say the Apostate didn’t expire in causing this? it is only assumed that she escaped and lived free the rest of her days. Maybe she beat her in a battle of wits. maybe she blew them both up. maybe she tricked the Director into a building and levelled it on top of her. who knows? both ‘died’ that day, one way or another. for the Director lay slain and bloodied by the side of her Champion, and the Apostate was noone to be seen. perhaps the two died together, the Champion to the end fighting to defend his ... yknow. thingo. theres a word. charge? fuck it. He died defending the Director, a round, loyal success. in contrast to his descendant, whose loyalties would skew to the other end of the hemospectrum. nice.

that works.... well enough??? nice.

[intothenoise]

Recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli or Syrian is about much more than Real Estate

(This post was originally published as part of IMES’ Regional Brief for April 2019, written by Jesse Wheeler)

News

On Monday, 25 March 2019 United States President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized the Golan Heights as Israeli territory in a deeply controversial move contravening decades of official US policy and international consensus. Officially Syrian, the territory has been occupied by Israel since the June War of 1967 and, in a move heretofore rejected by the international community, was annexed by Israel in 1981. At that time, the United Nations Security Council declared the annexation as “null and void and without international legal effect.” Unsurprisingly, the recent US decision has been widely condemned throughout the Middle East.

Following an official complaint by Syria, who called the move a “flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions,” the council met on Wednesday 27 March 2019 to address the situation, whereby the US recognition was roundly denounced by all fourteen remaining members of the Security Council. The other members unanimously reaffirmed past UN resolutions related to the Golan Heights and accused US actions of violating international law, expressing concerns “about the broader consequences of recognizing illegal annexation.”

Analysis

Haaretz reports a senior Israeli diplomatic source as saying, “The U.S. recognition of Israeli’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights proves Israel can retain occupied territories captured in a defensive war,” a curious statement naturally raising concerns as to the implications of this decision for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Essentially, is Israel seeking full annexation, and will this be a move supported by the US? This statement very naturally calls into question the feasibility of any possible peace plan (supposedly to be announced this month) as well as any possibility for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

Importantly, the above statement forces us to revisit our historiography surrounding the 1967 war. Whereas according to the Israeli narrative Israel engaged in a necessary “pre-emptive strike” against an immanent Arab invasion, Arab narratives of 1967 view the war as an unjustified act of colonial aggression and a blatant attempt at territorial expansion in line with stated Zionist intentions. Israel makes the claim that because the territories were seized during the course of a “defensive” war against what they say was unjustified Arab aggression, holding on to the territories is necessary for security. Therefore, Israel should not bound by international law.

Historical reality is always significantly more complicated than self-justifying narratives allow. But, despite the fact that tensions were high and the saber rattling intense, available historical evidence does seem to convincingly make the case that Egypt and other Arab nations had made no plans and had no real intentions on invading Israel. And, Israeli leadership, backed by US intelligence, was very much aware of this fact. Finally, it appears the case Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser’s military parade through downtown Cairo was primarily meant for propagandistic, domestic consumption. “War with Israel,” writes Oxford historian Eugene Rogan, “must have been the last thing Nasser wanted in 1967, yet he was hostage to his own success.”

Regardless, international law does exist for a reason. In the aftermath of the Great Wars of the early 20th century, with the memory of Hitler’s annexation of the Sudetenland, Austria and Poland fresh in everyone’s mind, the community of nations sought to establish an international mechanism through which transnational disputes could be handled diplomatically and authoritatively. Hence, the United Nations. According to legal analyst Scott Anderson in an interview with Public Radio International:

When the international community adopted the UN charter, it was trying to restrict a number of behaviors that proved destabilizing to the international system up until the UN Charter and the World War II period. No. 1 on that list was the annexation of territory through the use of military force or military conquest. It’s a fundamental principle embedded in Article 24 of the UN Charter which says that states should not use the use of force or threaten the territorial integrity and political independence of other states. That is the principle underlying a lot of the rules governing our international system that is arguably being put in tension with this decision on the part of the Trump administration.

The first major crisis of the infant UN, its original sin if you will, and what may ultimately be its undoing was that of the ongoing crisis in Mandate Palestine – thrust upon the new international body by an Imperial Britain eager to wash its hands of responsibility for an increasingly volatile situation birthed under its watch. For this reason, the issue of annexation is so much greater than that of a territorial dispute over a small strip of highland terrain in the Levant, but it speaks to the ongoing viability of the international system and legitimacy of what remains of the post-war dream. Legitimizing territorial conquest guts the international system of its moral authority, leaving in its wake a reassertion of the principle that “might makes right” and the reemergence of “balance of power” diplomacy.

Theological Reflections and Missiological Implications

Having been reared in my youth upon the apocalyptic fantasies of right-wing American religion, it is not difficult to predict that many will praise President Trump’s decision – this is the base to which he is appealing – and view any potential confrontation with the United Nations as the natural playing out of a pre-determined apocalyptic script. While it is true that this script has already been written, it is not the result of a coded reading of scriptural prophecy but rather the product of popular apocalyptic preachers and Christian media celebrities of the last 50 years. Within such circles, the UN has long been demonized as pre-curser to an imagined one-world government over which the anti-Christ would eventually reign as well as for its continued opposition to Israeli expansionism.

What the evangelical church needs to do, those of us who respect the authority of scripture too much to allow for its continued misuse, is to reclaim the Bible and its interpretation from apocalyptic entrepreneurs. In fact, biblical apocalyptic is amazing – and brilliantly subversive – when read responsibly. Furthermore, we must reorient our socio-political ethics upon the teachings and example of Christ Jesus. Any apocalyptic or prophetic reading of contemporary events which would ask us to disregard a plain reading of Christ’s ethical directives must be questioned, most especially anything which would lead us to promote violence over peace or domination over justice.

If I can be so bold as to propose a more biblically faithful paradigm for thinking about the United Nations, I point here to two central principles of Just Peacemaking theory as developed by late Christian ethicist Glen Stassen, principles with a demonstrable track record for reducing violence and conflict. Principle 7 of the Just Peacebuilding paradigm is to “work with emerging cooperative forces in the international system,” while principle 8 is to “strengthen the United Nations and international efforts for cooperation and human rights.” Although we have every reason to suspect the motives, machinations and oftentimes palpable hypocrisy of the various players involved, an international mechanism through which international challenges could be handled diplomatically, collaboratively and collectively is nevertheless a positive development.

To conclude, I point you to an excellent post by my friend and former colleague Wissam al-Saliby, who now serves as UN Advocacy Officer for the World Evangelical Alliance: Rights over Might: The United Nations, Religious Freedom and our Role and Responsibility.