Friday 28 April 2017

Sloth

I think Lincoln did what he thought was right, even though it meant losing half the country

I think you don't do what you think is right if it means losing Michigan's electoral votes.

Sloth is one of the 7 Capital Sins

It is the most difficult sin to define, and to credit as sin, since it refers to a peculiar jumble of notions, dating from antiquity and including mental, spiritual, pathological, and physical states.

One definition that may be given to sloth is habitual disinclination to exertion.


STANLEY [VO]
It can't be easy being you.

BARTLET
I told you...

STANLEY
I don't mean the job. I meant, uh, you know, being inside your head.

BARTLET
What's wrong with my head?

STANLEY
I don't know.

BARTLET
Of course not. 
That would be three hundred and eighty-five dollars an hour.

STANLEY
They keep moving the goalpost on you, don't they? 
Get A's, good college, Latin honours.

Get into the London School of Economics. 
Get a good teaching job. 
Ivy League school, tenure. 

Now you gotta publish, now you gotta go to Stockholm.

BARTLET
It's not good for a person to keep setting goals?

STANLEY
It probably is, but it's tricky for somebody who's still trying to get his
father to stop hitting him.

BARTLET
Well, I'm told that most men lead lives of quiet desperation.

STANLEY
Yeah, but that's most men. 
That's not you. 

That's the other people, the ones who feel stress. 
You're destined for something else.

BARTLET
I have abilities.

STANLEY
And now you have an opportunity to use them.

BARTLET
I think I have.

STANLEY
That room I passed down the hall, on the left, it's got a name, right?

BARTLET
I think you're talking about the Lincoln Bedroom.

STANLEY

Right. 

This is a hell of a curve you get graded on now.

Lincoln freed the slaves and won the Civil War. 

"Thank you. Next! 
And what will you be singing for us today, Mr. Bartlet?"

"Well, we've had six straight quarters of economic growth..."

BARTLET
That's not easy.

STANLEY
Okay.

BARTLET
It's not easy.

STANLEY
I believe you.

BARTLET
I think I've made tough choices.

STANLEY

I think Lincoln did what he thought was right, even though it meant losing half the country

I think you don't do what you think is right if it means losing Michigan's electoral votes.

BARTLET
You don't know anything.

STANLEY
I'll be the first to admit that.

BARTLET
I'm not trying to get my father to like me.

STANLEY

Good. 

'Cause it's never, never gonna happen.

Gluttony

Envy




He's trying to foist a fatherless boy upon us.
Do you want a bastard as a king?
Swear faith to me and you shall have mercy. I need Battle Lords such as you. A noble Knight swear faith to a squire? Never! Never!



You are the King, not I.


But where to start?



Well, what do you think has happened since you ran off?




Sir Ector and Kay - They must be waiting all this time.



Most of the great knights were against me.


Except Leondegrance of Camelyarde.




But if he supports me, the others will turn against him.


Even now they lay siege to his castle.



I need him. We must help him.


There you are. That was easy too, wasn't it?



We have to get back.


That's it. Now.... 


There they are.



Well, you go and show them.


Arthur, I knew you wouldn't fail us.



Go on.



I picked out a horse for you.

    

All these men are loyal.


Now what do you want us to do?



       

We waited here for you.

           


Any Man Who Would Be a Knight



And follow a King 


Follow Me.



Arthur[holding Sir Uryens at swordpoint, during the siege of Leondegrance's castle] Swear faith to me, and you shall have mercy! I need battle lords such as you.

Uryens[sarcastically] 
A noble knight, swear faith to a squire?

Lot
Never! Never!

Arthur
You're right. 

I'm not yet a Knight. 

You, Uryens, will Knight me. 

Then, as Knight to Knight, I can offer you mercy. 
[hands the sword Excalibur to a shocked Uryens, kneeling before him]

Merlin[astonished] 
What's thisWhat's this?

Lot: Keep it, Uryens!

Uryens[after struggling with his thoughts for several seconds] 

...In the Name of 

• God, 
• Saint Michael, and 
• Saint George

I give you the Right to Bear Arms, and the Power to Mete Justice.


Arthur
That duty, I will solemnly obey...as Knight...and King.

Merlin[still astonished] 
I never saw this!

Uryens
Rise, King Arthur. 
[kneeling, as do all the other knights] 

I am your humble Knight...and I swear allegiance to the courage in your veins. 
So strong it is, its' source must be Uther Pendragon. 

I doubt you No More. 
[kisses Arthur's hands]

Greed


SIR KAY, LOYAL KNIGHT OF CAMELYARDE :
Keep a distance, Mordred.
                   

MORDRED FITZROY, KING'S BASTARD :
I have come to claim what is mine, Father.
                   
ARTHUR, KING OF THE BRITONS :
Show yourself.

I cannot give you the land...

...only my love.

MORDRED FITZROY, KING'S BASTARD :
That's the only thing of yours I don't want.

The Quest Knights have failed.

They're all Dead.

You are Dead, too.

I shall come back and take Camelot by force.



"No weapon forged by Man will harm you whilst you wear this armor." 

Exotic Antediluvian Magickal Alien Sword? 
No protection whatsoever.

Pride


Lust




Wrath

Star Trek II : The Wrath of Kahn



How Assimilation Became a Dirty Word : MANIFEST DESTINY


We are The Borg. 

Lower your shields and surrender your ships.

We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. 
Your culture will adapt to service us. 

Resistance is Futile.


Assimilation : The Arthurian Dream

 



[Captain's office]

(Sisko switches on a wall monitor.) 

EDDINGTON [on monitor]: 
Captain. 

SISKO: 
Mister Eddington. 
I have just one question. 

Why? 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 
Will knowing my personal motivation change anything at this point? 

SISKO: 
No, I don't suppose it will. 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 
Then let's table that for now. 

The only reason I've contacted you is to ask you to leave us alone. 


Our quarrel is with the Cardassians, not the Federation. 


Leave us alone and I can promise you you'll never hear from the Maquis again. 

SISKO:
 Unless you see another shipment you want to hijack. 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 
You keep sending replicators to Cardassia and you're going to have a lot more to worry about than hijackings. 

SISKO: 
I don't respond well to threats. 
I thought you would know that by now. 
But I'm beginning to see that you don't know me at all. 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 
I know you. I was like you once, but then I opened my eyes. 
Open your eyes, Captain. 

Why is the Federation so obsessed about the Maquis? 


We've never harmed you, and yet we're constantly arrested and charged with terrorism. Starships chase us through the Badlands and our supporters are harassed and ridiculed


Why? 


Because we've left the Federation, 

and that's the one thing you can't accept. 

Nobody leaves Paradise. 

Everyone should want to be in the Federation. 

Hell, you even want the Cardassians to join. 


You're only sending them replicators because one day they can take their rightful place on the Federation Council. 


You know, in some ways you're worse than the Borg. 

At least they tell you about their plans for assimilation. 

You're more insidious. 

You assimilate people and they don't even know it. 

SISKO: 

You know what, Mister Eddington? 
I don't give a damn what you think of the Federation, the Maquis, or anything else. 
All I know is that you betrayed your oath, your duty, and me. And if it takes me the rest of my life, I will see you standing before a court-martial that'll break you and send you to a penal colony, where you will spend the rest of your days growing old and wondering whether a ship full of replicators was really worth it.


"For [Sisko/Roddenbury, The United Federation of Planets] means... a fixed array of behavior like a breed of dog or a species of animal. 
He is not thinking of a national community united by a literate language and a classical culture to which any person can become assimilated through a political choice. 
For [Sisko/Roddenberry, The United Federation of Planets] is unchangeable, and [The Federation] is destiny. 
It is a matter of blood and soil. 
The United Federation of Planets fights the Klingons,
and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights Romulans,and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights Ferrengi,  
and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights The Borg,
and then assimilates them,


The United Federation of Planets fights The Cardassians,
and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights The Dominion,
and then assimilates them,

and so on through all eternity. 

These hatreds are the main datum of sensory perception.
[Roddenberry's] warhorse is the Territorial Imperative. 
Each is obsessed with borders and territory [Neutral Zones and Demilitarised Zones, Badlands and Briar Patches], and each finds a way to oppose and sabotage dirigistic economic development. 

Each one is eager to submerge and repress other national groupings in pursuit of its own mystical destiny. 


This is [Roddenberry's] racist gospel of universal ethnic cleansing.

Assimilation : The Arthurian Dream



GABRIEL: 
They're here! They're here! 

WORF: 
Who? 

GABRIEL: 
The Klingons! 

(A group of people with varying amounts of ridges, including none.

BROTA: 
Q'apla. 

WORF: 
Q'apla. 

BROTA: 
We are the Sons of Mogh. 

WORF: 
You are my descendents. 

BROTA: 
Some by blood, some by choice. 

Our hearts are Klingon. 

We live as warriors, just as you taught our ancestors long ago. 

GABRIEL: 
I'm going to be one of them someday. 
I'll ride a wild torga and go hunting, and only come to the settlement to trade furs for the things I need. 

PARELL: (a human woman) 
When you're older, you'll have the chance to prove yourself. 
If you are worthy, you can take a Klingon name and live among us. 

BROTA: 
The Sons of Mogh are gathering to celebrate your return. 
It would honour us greatly if you would feast with us tonight.

WORF: 
I look forward to it. 

BROTA: 
We'll come for you at nightfall. 

BASHIR: 
Well, it would appear I'm not the only legend around here...



(Worf is by a fire.

PARELL: 

We came to tell you. There will be no feast tonight. 

WORF: 

I understand. This is not a time for celebration. 

BROTA: 

Tomorrow we will see the sun rise again, but no one here will see it set. 

WORF: 

Join me. There is something I wish to say. 
It is a great honour to know that my legacy has thrived on your world for so long. 
I can see the Klingon heart beats strong here. 

BROTA: 

You honour us with your words. 
We have tried to live as you taught us to. 

PARELL: 

We've never plowed fields or milked chattel. 
We've lived as warriors, hunters. 

BROTA: 

Last year, I slew a yarbear three metres tall. Your mek'leth was my only weapon. The beast maimed me, and for a time it seemed I would die from my wounds. Now I wish I had. It would have been a warrior's death. 

PARELL:

 He could have taken his place among the honoured dead in Sto'Vo'Kor. 

WORF: 

Perhaps he will yet. 

BROTA: 

No. Ceasing to exist because my parents were never born? 
That is not a death worthy of Sto'Vo'Kor. 
Kill me, Worf. I have no enemies to fight, no glory to be won. 
Give me an honourable death. 

PARELL: 

Don't make us wait for the end like farm animals waiting for slaughter. 


WORF: 
I will come to you tomorrow and do what you ask.



(Sunrise on the final day.

WORF: 
By sunset this will all be gone. 

DAX: 
Taking a last look around? 
(Gabriel runs through the group. Sisko grabs him.) 

SISKO: 
Whoa. Gabriel, where are you going in such a hurry? 

GABRIEL: 
To the fields. It's time for planting. 

(They walk on to where everyone is getting the young plants ready for the ground.

MIRANDA: 
Come on, Gabriel, there isn't much time. 
Put some of this on your face. 
The sun's strong today. 

YEDRIN: 
Planting day has always been important here. 
It brings everyone together. 
Somehow it feels right to see it through.

[Field]

(Most of our people help with the planting. Pushing a motorised hand-plough, making planting holes. Compost goes in the bottom and the plant on top. Kira is scattering seed. Miranda is handing out the rooted plants.

MIRANDA: 
Here's one for you. Molly, take that from the bottom. 

MOLLY: 
Aren't you going to help? 

O'BRIEN: 
I'm busy. 

MOLLY: 
You don't look busy. 

SISKO: 
She's an O'Brien, all right. Better get to it, Chief. 

(Sisko hands over his trowel. Worf and the Sons of Mogh arrived.

BROTA: 
You said there was an Enemy for us to fight. 

WORF: 
They are attempting to plant their fields before the sun sets. 
Time is their Enemy. 
We should help them defeat it. 

BROTA: 
Bring the others. 

(And the sun sweeps on in its course. Molly brings O'Brien a plant.

O'BRIEN: 
Ah, great. You know, I have a little girl named Molly, too. 

MOLLY: 
Really? Can I meet her? 

O'BRIEN: 
We'll see. 

MOLLY:
 By summer, this plant will be taller than you. After the harvested, I'll help my mother make gelm bread with it. 

WOMAN: 
Molly? 

(Molly runs off, O'Brien goes over to Sisko and Kira.) 

SISKO: 
Is something wrong? 
O'BRIEN: 
We can't do it. 
SISKO: 
What? 

O'BRIEN: 
We can't let these people die.






The Struggle

...riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

P
The Struggle is Permanent and Eternal

From diamond mine to the factory
Everybody's doing what you've got to keep on doing for society
Make this world a good place to be
Let livin' be but don't work for free
Playing isn't paying so work is what I'm saying
Working for the world go round
The battle cry don't mess with me
I've traveled the world for eternity

Warriors of the wasteland
Sailboats of ice on desert sands
Warriors of the wasteland

It seems to me that the powers that be
Keep themselves in splendour and security
Armoured cars for Megastars
No streets, no bars, Your Wealth is ours
They make the masses, kiss their assets
Lower class jackass, pay me tax take out the trash
Working for the world go round
Your job is Gold, do as you're told
They pay you less then run for Congress

Warriors of the Wasteland
Sailboats of ice on desert sands
Warriors - what a Waste, man
I'm working for The World go round, go round

Diamond mine to the factory, yeah
Make this a world, a good place to be

Warriors - what a waste, man

Warriors

We're rats in a cage

Suicide a go go


The Struggle Continues.




A lone a last a loved a long the...