For Tasp's party: My Hero

[Kimba~]

This is about Gor, because it's about how women lead differently, how I lead.

It was tough for me to choose a "Hero" for Tasp's party, because I have several.  Esther from the Old Testament, Salome from the new.  Livia Augustus, Boudicca, Anne Bolynne, Dolly Madison, Joan Jett, Holly Near, Benazir Bhutto.

But really there is one woman who I can't contemplate her life without weeping.  Elizabeth the Great.  Without her there would probably have been no Shakespeare, no American Colonies, probably no British Empire.  And she suffered such deep misery in her personal life.

This is from her farewell speech to Parliament, when she knew she was dying:

To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it, than it is pleasant to them that bear it.

For myself I was never so much enticed with the glorious name of a King or royal authority of a Queen - as delighted that God hath made me his instrument to maintain his truth and glory, and to defend his kingdom from peril, dishonour, tyranny and oppression.

There will never Queen sit in my seat with more zeal to my country, care to my subjects - and that will sooner with willingness venture her life for your good and safety, than myself.

And this was her speech to the troops gathered to fight off an invasion by Spain:

My loving people,

We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.

I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

[Kimba~]

I was drawn to return to this post, Elizabeth's words, after that other post made me think about politics.

It may seem hypocritical to say let's not post about politics, and then make my next post about politics.  But I see a distinction between saying "Let's NOT talk about PARTISAN politics, or who is more to blame"; and saying "Let's DO talk about what we can learn from RT to make a better Gor.

Gor is ruled by Leaders.  Ubars and Tatrixes with virtually unlimited powers.  Elizabeth had virtually unlimited power.  Is that maybe a better way to govern?  Are we in the process of proving that a Republic cannot stand, because by definition a Republic is divided against itself?

Is it true that the best government is a good king, and the worst government is a bad king?  If so, does that mean that we are stuck with Republican Government [I don't refer to the Republican party, but the concept of Republican Government being a government where the people elect representatives, rather than participate in direct Democracy] as the safe, middle ground?  We'd rather have bad government than risk tyranny?

Or is it possible that the Gorean way, to have a Ubar but kill him if he turns into a tyrant, might be a better way?

[RAGNAR]

Most of the great leaders on Gor have a Council they hear, then decide what should be done most of the time.

Ubars, just as world leaders can be killed if they become tyrants... IF it can be done.

Gor, however, is a more uniform society than earth societies. The ideology of Gor, at its core, is Goreanwide with only a few exceptions, and even those exceptions still tend to lean towards the standard ideology. Did Tarl decide Gor's overall ideology was wrong and protest, set out to change the world, try to set up free elections, ban slavery, declare a holy war against the beliefs he did not agree with, or even set out to rid Gor of the extremists.... or did he take in as much as he could, experience Gor from as many angles as possible both good and bad, and accept the ways of Gor?

[Medi]

Most of the great leaders on Gor have a Council they hear, then decide what should be done most of the time.

Ubars, just as world leaders can be killed if they become tyrants... IF it can be done.

Gor, however, is a more uniform society than earth societies. The ideology of Gor, at its core, is Goreanwide with only a few exceptions, and even those exceptions still tend to lean towards the standard ideology. Did Tarl decide Gor's overall ideology was wrong and protest, set out to change the world, try to set up free elections, ban slavery, declare a holy war against the beliefs he did not agree with, or even set out to rid Gor of the extremists.... or did he take in as much as he could, experience Gor from as many angles as possible both good and bad, and accept the ways of Gor?

Tarl integrated into the Gorean society...and became the 'Goreans' Gorean as a result.