I have a question for everyone here; do you think the ends justify the means, no matter the cost or are there times when the means can never justify the end results?
I think...that sort of question often comes down to one of good or evil, really. Many times it's another way of asking if it's all right--or at least permissible--to do evil things if it means something good comes of it in the end. And I think most of that comes down to the person making the choice in the first place, really. I think there's a difference between a good person doing a bad thing and an evil person doing the same.
I think that's part of it, certainly. After all, there's a great difference between causing a death on accident and causing it on purpose, and further still, if it was on purpose, what the intent behind that purpose was.
...I think that could mean a few different things. If the people were willing, then it might be a sacrifice for the greater good. One death in exchange for many. And if the people were evil, then it might be a good deed in itself, safeguarding the many from the evil of the few.
voice. private.sword_of_zeroApril 19 2011, 05:26:41 UTC
[Pauses for a moment before he switches over to a private feed.]
Do you have any idea why I brought this question up?
[Found out within the contents of this post that one of his previous selves discussed Zero Requiem publicly and he knows she has been around for a long time.]
voice. private.sword_of_zeroApril 19 2011, 05:34:04 UTC
[Suzaku is thinking over everything that Katara has said to him. He was starting to settle into his new life here, but her words have reminded him of what he is; a monster. He's starting to feel like he has been deceptive towards Rosella and everyone else he has befriended here.]
I've done some things in the past that despite the outcome, cannot be forgiven. I am not deserving of the kindness others and yourself have shown me.
voice. private.primrosellaApril 19 2011, 05:39:27 UTC
[She's quiet for a long minute, absorbing the statement. It's clear that something of great magnitude is bothering him. It's equally clear that she doesn't want to make him feel any worse than he already does.]
If there's one thing that life in this City has taught me, it's that the things that are hardest to forgive are also the things that need it most. Sometimes...sometimes you can't ask for forgiveness. But that doesn't stop the other person from offering it, anyway. The people who don't deserve forgiveness aren't the ones who can't ask for it. They're the ones who don't think there's any reason they ought to at all.
voice. private.sword_of_zeroApril 19 2011, 05:43:46 UTC
What if the other person offers you the forgiveness and accepting their forgiveness would make you happy? I know it's a strange question to ask but I wonder if someone who has taken away the happiness of others is entitled to happiness.
[Sure, Zero Requiem brought happiness to a lot of people but there are countless dead who had their happiness stripped away from them as well.]
voice. private.primrosellaApril 19 2011, 05:48:58 UTC
You mean as a sort of punishment. That someone who hurt others should have to suffer for it, with the punishment being that he could never be happy again.
[She draws a slow breath.]
I suppose I'd ask what that would solve. Does spreading more misery really make anything better?
voice. private.primrosellaApril 19 2011, 06:12:58 UTC
And there should be. And I can't deny that it's a tempting thought, wanting to see someone suffer that way--if anyone ever hurt my best friend, or my mother or father or brother, of course I'd want to see them suffer for it. I'd want to hate them and hate them until I couldn't even stand the sight of them.
But what does it solve? What good does it do me, getting wrapped up in so much hate myself? How does it make me any better, being responsible for someone else suffering in the process? No, there should be consequences and accountability, but it's not suffering I'd want in the end. I'd want them to atone by making something better. It doesn't take anything to languish and suffer. It does take something to work toward something better, and earning forgiveness.
voice. private.sword_of_zeroApril 19 2011, 06:46:19 UTC
I can tell you that I am dedicated to making up for all the wrongs that I have done in the past and make the world I am from a much gentler one. I want to be able to do the same for this world while I am here.
[But he knows he needs more time to adjust to this new world and no longer being the knight of zero. Having Euphemia around has definitely helped with that process.]
voice. private.primrosellaApril 19 2011, 06:52:38 UTC
And don't you think it's much better that way? Especially since no amount of guilt or shame can change what's in the past. The only thing that can be changed is the future, and all we can do is try to do better, as best we can. It's a question of responsibility, on both sides of things.
[There's a hint of a smile here, in her next words.]
And I say that as someone who's had to ask for quite a lot of forgiveness herself, as time has gone by.
voice. private.sword_of_zeroApril 20 2011, 07:13:31 UTC
I can't say I agree with everything you have said but you are right about it being a question of responsibility. When someone takes an action, regardless of the intent, they need to take responsibility for what comes next.
[Doesn't sound like he is wearing much a smile just yet but his voice does lighten.]
I hope you were given the forgiveness you sought after, you have a good heart, Rosella.
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Do you have any idea why I brought this question up?
[Found out within the contents of this post that one of his previous selves discussed Zero Requiem publicly and he knows she has been around for a long time.]
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[She probably missed that post, fortunately for Suzaku.]
Is everything all right, Suzaku?
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I've done some things in the past that despite the outcome, cannot be forgiven. I am not deserving of the kindness others and yourself have shown me.
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If there's one thing that life in this City has taught me, it's that the things that are hardest to forgive are also the things that need it most. Sometimes...sometimes you can't ask for forgiveness. But that doesn't stop the other person from offering it, anyway. The people who don't deserve forgiveness aren't the ones who can't ask for it. They're the ones who don't think there's any reason they ought to at all.
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[Sure, Zero Requiem brought happiness to a lot of people but there are countless dead who had their happiness stripped away from them as well.]
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[She draws a slow breath.]
I suppose I'd ask what that would solve. Does spreading more misery really make anything better?
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Maybe not but there needs to be consequences and accountability for people and their actions.
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But what does it solve? What good does it do me, getting wrapped up in so much hate myself? How does it make me any better, being responsible for someone else suffering in the process? No, there should be consequences and accountability, but it's not suffering I'd want in the end. I'd want them to atone by making something better. It doesn't take anything to languish and suffer. It does take something to work toward something better, and earning forgiveness.
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[But he knows he needs more time to adjust to this new world and no longer being the knight of zero. Having Euphemia around has definitely helped with that process.]
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[There's a hint of a smile here, in her next words.]
And I say that as someone who's had to ask for quite a lot of forgiveness herself, as time has gone by.
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[Doesn't sound like he is wearing much a smile just yet but his voice does lighten.]
I hope you were given the forgiveness you sought after, you have a good heart, Rosella.
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