Post by Rhumal Sunfist on May 5, 2009 22:50:13 GMT -5
///Two copies are written, one in very elegant Taurahe glyphs and another in a peculiar, unidentifiable script///
Much talk has come to my ears these past few sun's-passings about this so-called "war" between the Horde and the races of the Alliance. I have heard many proud warriors state with complete conviction as to the reasons we are in conflict, and for them, I am sure these are reasons enough. Reasons enough, too, for the young--but wise--Warchief as well as our own High Chieftain. I do not question why two great beasts are engaged in conflict; it is inevitable that those with power do so, as they vie for resources and security from one another.
But I have long doubted the wisdom of this eternal struggle, and I worry for my fellow kinspeople--we Tauren--and what will become of us. We are regarded as clear thinkers; level-headed and slow to anger, brave and loyal, with our hearts in the land which we have striven to protect for so very long. We are being marched down a blood-covered road, and I fear that we may lose our wisdom if we do not stop to question what we do in the name of the Horde. We are wise and just in fighting to stop the Legion, the Scourge, the Qiraji, and others like them. These foes are bent upon our destruction in all that they do, and it is no secret.
But the people of the Alliance are not the same. I have--on many occasions--interacted with these beings; humans, dwarves, gnomes, draenei, and our druidic brothers and sisters, the night elves. Some interactions were...unfortunately typical, either watching them fight others of the Horde, or being assailed myself on occasion. But these events are far from universal, and I would daresay that they do not describe even half of the population of our "foe".
We must realize that while we perceive them as being a "Them" and ourselves as "Us"...it is also true that we are "Them" and they are "Us". They too lead lives like our own, spending time with friends and family, adventuring, enjoying good times, pressing on through tough times. I have often had friendly interactions with these people, who I believe are just as curious of us as we might be of them.
Far too often have I heard members of the Alliance referred to as "monsters" or "hated foes". Humans raid a village. Night Elves attack an encampment. These things have happened before, and they will happen again, many times. But know also that we have done the same things, and we are often blanketed with the same stereotypes that we use to blanket others.
It is time to do to others as we would have them do to us.
There is still a place for honor and for peace in this world, at least among thinking beings. We will struggle against the terror of the Legion, the hideous Scourge, and endless Qiraji for many years to come; war will be no stranger to us. We must police our own kindred, to stop them from escalating that which need not be taken further. Will our voices be heard by the human king, or by the Warchief? Perhaps not.
But living with honor and wisdom, to do what is right, does not always mean doing what is popular.
Blessings of the Earthmother upon all who read these words, and may the Sun-Spirit bring us all a clarity of vision to do what is right.
-Rhumal Sunfist
Much talk has come to my ears these past few sun's-passings about this so-called "war" between the Horde and the races of the Alliance. I have heard many proud warriors state with complete conviction as to the reasons we are in conflict, and for them, I am sure these are reasons enough. Reasons enough, too, for the young--but wise--Warchief as well as our own High Chieftain. I do not question why two great beasts are engaged in conflict; it is inevitable that those with power do so, as they vie for resources and security from one another.
But I have long doubted the wisdom of this eternal struggle, and I worry for my fellow kinspeople--we Tauren--and what will become of us. We are regarded as clear thinkers; level-headed and slow to anger, brave and loyal, with our hearts in the land which we have striven to protect for so very long. We are being marched down a blood-covered road, and I fear that we may lose our wisdom if we do not stop to question what we do in the name of the Horde. We are wise and just in fighting to stop the Legion, the Scourge, the Qiraji, and others like them. These foes are bent upon our destruction in all that they do, and it is no secret.
But the people of the Alliance are not the same. I have--on many occasions--interacted with these beings; humans, dwarves, gnomes, draenei, and our druidic brothers and sisters, the night elves. Some interactions were...unfortunately typical, either watching them fight others of the Horde, or being assailed myself on occasion. But these events are far from universal, and I would daresay that they do not describe even half of the population of our "foe".
We must realize that while we perceive them as being a "Them" and ourselves as "Us"...it is also true that we are "Them" and they are "Us". They too lead lives like our own, spending time with friends and family, adventuring, enjoying good times, pressing on through tough times. I have often had friendly interactions with these people, who I believe are just as curious of us as we might be of them.
Far too often have I heard members of the Alliance referred to as "monsters" or "hated foes". Humans raid a village. Night Elves attack an encampment. These things have happened before, and they will happen again, many times. But know also that we have done the same things, and we are often blanketed with the same stereotypes that we use to blanket others.
It is time to do to others as we would have them do to us.
There is still a place for honor and for peace in this world, at least among thinking beings. We will struggle against the terror of the Legion, the hideous Scourge, and endless Qiraji for many years to come; war will be no stranger to us. We must police our own kindred, to stop them from escalating that which need not be taken further. Will our voices be heard by the human king, or by the Warchief? Perhaps not.
But living with honor and wisdom, to do what is right, does not always mean doing what is popular.
Blessings of the Earthmother upon all who read these words, and may the Sun-Spirit bring us all a clarity of vision to do what is right.
-Rhumal Sunfist
