Hammer, Stone, Anvil, I: The Assembly
Posted on 03/30/2020 @ 3:38pm by
Mission:
Sum of our Experiences
Location: Bajor, Vedek Assembly
Timeline: Day 1 at 0000
Stardate 52646.57
Old Earth Calendar: August 24, 2375, nearing midnight
Tahlin was bone-weary. She'd never had much appetite for politics, though if pressed, she could argue with the best. It was a necessary skill, given her father's position as a vedek, and at the moment, one representing interests in the Vedek Assembly. He'd brought Tahlin along as an observer, though Prophets knew why. She wasn't honestly sure what she could add to the proceedings. It was just a bunch of arguing back and forth, though she did actually find the topic interesting.
The issue at hand was two-fold. The primary argument was whether or not Bajor should join the Federation. Tahlin, in general, supported the proposal, though she could see the arguments of more nationalistically-minded Bajorans, especially considering the ravages the Cardassians had inflicted on the planet and the population. However, in her heart, the teenager knew the Federation was much better than the Cardassians--they were, after all, fighting a war on the Bajorans behalf against the Dominion and Cardassians. Besides, the Emissary was from the Federation, and while Tahlin had never met him, he was reputed to be a man of honor and worthy of respect.
The second issue before the Assembly was more thorny. The Federation had certain rights that were guaranteed to every citizen, and while the Vedek Assembly had agreed to all of them so far, there was one which was taking longer. To Tahlin, it was a simple question of allowing those who loved the same gender the same rights, responsibilities, and privileges, both temporal and spiritual, as her parents enjoyed. However, it appeared as though some of the very conservative elements within the Assembly were having difficulty with this. The Kai's representative--and how odd, Tahlin thought, for the Kai to not be here herself and speaking on perhaps the greatest debate of the decade--had voiced his opposition to the whole thing, though he had included other arguments than opposition to homosexuality.
Homosexuality had been legal on Bajor since the end of the Occupation. Tahlin had been present for a few weddings, usually parents of friends from school--although there had been that very eager couple in her brother's class. This was a very conscious choice on Tahlin's part; her brother had told her three years before, in secret, that he was attracted to a boy in his class, and that these feelings were returned. Tahlin had vowed to keep the secret. She knew her father, at least, was opposed to allowing full and equal treatment, though he hadn't been all that vocal about it... Yet.
The previous speaker, a younger woman with striking eyes, sat down after delivering an elegant and impassioned speech on the benefits of joining the Federation. Tahlin watched her intently, admiring her form and hair style, and... Curious--was that desire that had gone through her?
The debate proctor looked at a PADD. "Our final speaker, Vedek Lae'Or. And then we will vote... Vedek Lae'Or?"
Tahlin's father rose and whispered to her, "Keep the faith, daughter." He then went forward, took up the speaker's stone and began to speak.
Tahlin would have liked to have remembered his speech, if for nothing else than the simple fact that it was her father. However, with the late hour, the candles in their ornate holders burning, and the events that would come later, it was a blur. She would, in later years, listen to the speech numerous times on recording, and it lost none of its potency. It was powerful--almost overwhelming in places--and it was a wonder that he wasn't more convincing.
"Have we not freed ourselves from the shackles of oppression?" her father cried. "Have we not thrown off the Cardassians, and can now stand on our own legs?! Are we infants, helpless and weak, that we need to become part of the Federation? Or are we proud Bajorans? Are we not here because we have every intention of continuing to be proud? What are we, if not a people embraced by the love of the Prophets? Will not the Prophets guide us to a golden age? Without the Federation?"
"But what of this love?" he continued in a softer tone. "What of it? Does this love extend to all of us? Some would say that it does, but I say different. For those who will not conform, they should be cast out. Is this not written in Shalash's Tenth Prophecy? Did not the Vision of Kai Tembaoth show us the true way?"
"Tembaoth was a zealot, a jealous and bitter soul!" cried someone from the gallery.
"Yes, he was struck from the roles of Kai after the Perekian Republic came to power," came another shout. "You may have swayed opinions on the question of the Federation, but not with this!"
The proctor had to step in, to allow Tahlin's father to finish his speech. He did not let the hostility of the crowd dissuade him from his points, even as gasps and murmurs at his continued espousing of questionable to outright banned rhetoric spread. Finally, when the vote was tallied, both questions were passed... The Federation membership question was closer, but not by much.
"Is there any business that we need to discuss further?" asked the proctor. "Vedek Lae'Or?" Tahlin's father had risen again.
"It is clear to me, Proctor Telgin, that this chamber which I have long respected has become a den of unbelievers and spineless, weak fools. That stone which you so cherish, which you hand to speakers, has been betrayed. I am that stone, Bajor is that stone. It has been ground against the anvil of politics with the hammer of creeping, oh so precious liberalism." These last words were spat in a mocking sneer that would do a Cardassian proud. "I am left with no choice... I am resigning from the Vedek Assembly, effective immediately. Come, daughter, let us leave these mortal souls to their fates."
