(Untitled)

[legendarymadman]

Somehow Geoffrey figured this duty would fall on him sooner or later, and now three different elements had converged to make it his turn: he was on the Council, he wasn't running in this election, and he was, in fact, master of this stage

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[fourforone]

Speaking in front of big crowds like this feels natural and for a second, I almost feel like I ought to have a sand table in front of me and a board behind me announcing the name of our mission. So maybe it's not Operation Overlord or Market Garden, but it's just as important. I'd always figured, back home, that I'd wind up serving my country and community and if I can't get back there, I don't want to let this one see poor days, either.

"Afternoon, all," I begin easily with a smile. "For those of you not playing in the baseball league and if you aren't, join us," I take a moment to entreat. "Well, for those of you who don't know, I'm Lieutenant Buck Compton of Easy Company. Many fine friends of mine were kind enough to sign a petition so I could speak here today and have a fair shot at running and I'm endlessly grateful to them for that chance. I'm not going to stand here and give you some rigid platform because the truth is, just from what I've seen, this place seems mutable as anything, so what I will do is give you a look at my character."

"I was and am a Lieutenant in the Army. I'm not top rung and I'm not bottom, so I know how to take orders and delegate responsibility, but more than that, I know how to respect the men and women beside me when we're fighting for the same cause. I like to think that I've built myself up some credibility amidst the people I've met as an intelligent, well-spoken man. I attended UCLA in California and was studying to be a teacher before the war broke out. I will gladly field questions for you, answer with what I've got, but I'll also ask things of you when I don't have the full story because going in blind is one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make. I've done my research about former Council seatings and those are some damn big footsteps to follow in, but I think I'm ready for that task. I have never in my life backed down from a challenge and head-on, I figure I can face anything with good people around me."

I clear my throat and fold my hands behind my back, standing at ease. "Before I go on, I'd like to talk a moment about another candidate who's probably too modest about himself. Major Dick Winters," I begin warmly, "Dick is the redheaded man who'll come up here and say not enough about his character or his ability to lead men. He is, without a doubt, the single most effective, natural, modest, and incredible leader I have ever seen. I believe that Easy Company, my outfit in the second World War, would not have been the toughest sons of bitches we were if not for that man and more than that, we were men who looked out for one another. Brothers. I will freely admit that I hold more respect and love for Major Winters than I do for most people in the world outside my own mother and my sports idols of days gone by, but the truth is? He deserves it. Ask anyone who knows the man and I will dare you to find an ounce of insincerity as they speak about how Dick was born to lead men. He is smart, capable, athletic, compassionate, kind, and firm. And really, all I can ask is that if you don't think I'm your choice to be a Council Representative, think long and hard about Dick Winters. Because I can't imagine a world in which he represents you being anything less than a fair and equal place in which everyone would be happy to live."

I nod my head, grinning a little as I imagine what kind of chewing out I'm in for later. "I'm Buck Compton and I would be honored with your vote, Tabula Rasa. Thank you."

[curiously_cora]

Coraline thought it was very easy to tell Buck and her daddy apart. Besides the whole age difference it was much easier because Buck talked a whole lot and Cain rarely ever did. Somedays she was lucky to get a 'Behave kid' from Cain. Where as Buck seemed to be able to talk and talk and talk. Well much more then Cain at any rate.

"Hi Buck," Coraline said waving cheerily to him. "If you were elected what would you do for the children of the island?"

[fourforone]

"Well, a devoted Little League would be a first step," I reply easily as I unleash my most charming grin in Coraline's direction. "That one's been on my mind a while, now. I'd like to see a tightening up of school subjects with some mandatories. Doesn't mean they have to be boring, but it's good for every kid to learn math and lit," I say, more seriously now and I get a flash of Webster somewhere in my head, going on with those useless facts of his. "But I think what we need to do most is just respect the children and make sure they're being raised into fine adults because you, them, all of you kids are bound to be our next great generation."

[curiously_cora]

"But I like playing with the Grown Ups and I'm really good." Coraline said not really liking the idea of a little league that would mean that she'd have to play with the babies. Mandatory lessons also sounded boring. She made a face that said her exact thoughts on the subject. "Won't be as great as you or Joe or Mister Nixon, you're heroes. Thank you for answering my questions."

[dogbitesman]

"Lieutenant Compton," William said, when he had the man's attention. "Are you saying you don't have any plans or ideas as to what you'd do if elected? There is a limit to mutability, even on this island."

[fourforone]

I give a nod in deference to William de Worde, only knowing about him through the articles he's written and it's something else to meet him. "Truth be told, I have a list in my sock drawer," I joke warmly, but the smile fades into something more sober. "I'd like to see a stricter core curriculum at the school in addition to most other classes, I'd like to see a volunteer assembly of Island people because elected officials can only do so much and willing citizens who want to take up the call and volunteer should have a shot in helping do the Council's work. I'd like to honor more holidays for people, more accomplishments. The thing you believe in most, we should be respecting that and for me, well...I'd like one day in April to have a moment of silence and I hope that's not asking too much. Weapons registry is a fine idea and so is the ITF, and I'd love to see more bridging of departments so as to further communication and encourage special projects that bind the ties of the way this Island works."

"And if possible, an appointed judicial body as selected by the Council and composed of three members with a law and justice background for ethical, legal, and moral matters," I go on, just scratching a very light tip of the iceberg I've had in my head for a while.

[dogbitesman]

A list! A genuine selection of ideas and projects. William considered this something of a marvel in the area of island politics, and felt it was his duty to nurture it. With questions.

"When you say a stricter core curriculum, what do you think that should consist of?"

[fourforone]

"Well, and don't get me wrong because hell, I loved phys ed as a kid and was studying to be a phys ed teacher, there seem to be a couple that have the core competencies attached. I know I'd rather have my child learn to read before they learned to shoot a gun or use a sword and maybe that's not what all cultures are like, but I'd prefer that the people using those weapons could know how to read an article about them or a piece of technique submitted to a journal," I point out. "Beyond that, the simplistic of mathematics and science. People ought to know why things work the way they do. And if adults want to spend their days learning, then more power to them. It's good to see when people can admit they don't know every ounce of knowledge in the world," I go on, cringing slightly at the memory of too many an Officer who embodied that very thing.

[dogbitesman]

"You're not the first to bring up the absence of general sciences," William murmured, making a note. "Now, backing up to that list in your sock drawer... what do you mean by moral matters?"

William was always wary when the word moral was in play.

[fourforone]

"Things you might cringe at if you saw them published on the front page of the newspaper," I offer my very best opinion of the matter. "I've seen a lot of men come from different moral backgrounds. Hell, Dick is a fine man, but he's cut from a different cloth than me. Better one, really," I admit. "Say it was a medical case of a woman who had been taken advantage of. There's a legal aspect, but there's a moral aspect involved as well. And maybe we don't have the right to be judging that, but it deserves to have a light shone upon it, if only to get people's voices out there as to what their morals and beliefs are." I've done this often, this speaking for a cause. It's part of why I joined to fight a war. "Sometimes we fight for those morals and sometimes people have to fight for us. Maybe that's all I mean to say. That they ought to deserve to have a light shone on them."

[dogbitesman]

"Right, I suppose I'm just not clear on what you foresee a judicial body doing with regards to the morals of the community," William said, rubbing the left side of his temple. "Specifically, not just symbolically."

[fourforone]

"In my belief, most legal matters have a moral side to them," I point out. "Specifically," I clarify, "what a judicial body would do is dissect the moral aspects of a situation. Specifically, they would have to be well-capable of looking past their cultural norms, seeing what's best for this community, and being morally sound. They have to not forget that for every precedent they set, they are changing people's lives," I continue, giving all my attention to William and feeling slightly like I'm in a briefing. "So," I go on, grinning now. "Let me ask you something. You ever watch these things and sit there thinking 'I could do a better job'?" It was a curiosity, really, after he'd finishing reading the last stack of election-specific papers. "How come you haven't run?"