[snip]

”..It is so true..” The woman said to Cross, “..our system for dealing with more serious crimes is as you say, those who break our laws and are without redeeming desires are still contributing to the habitat and society. Yet their own needs for a lively hood are still provided, it is not as we were given to slavery in our long past..” she said.

And then those darn hats, the doctor wanted to examine one for herself just to be sure it was not affecting these people line of thoughts.

Cara spoke up to try to calm the situation. “But don’t we also wear funny medals and strange hats sometimes on special occasions too? There are many races within the membership of the Federation of Planets that wear items that are symbols expressing, or indicating affinity to, religious or political or cultural affiliations. We have always been careful to be sensitive to their beliefs and customs, even when those symbols have tended to marginalize the wearer, or remove their dignity. On some planets we have found there was forced body mutilation, or even state sanctioned filicide and uxoricide, but it is really not our place to impose our own cultural beliefs upon different cultures and civilizations. We are not some kind of galactic cultural police force out to ostracize the transgressors of whatever ideology that we deem is civilized behavior. In the history of Earth, it would put us in the same boat as the Spanish Inquisition, the Taliban and Colonel Green! We can only listen to witnesses, try to understand the social context, and to educate without imposition. To do otherwise would make us just as bad as those we would hope to change! “

‘’I do agree with you but…’‘Cross stopped for a moment thinking how the Jews made certain that none would forget the Holocaust and their children would be taught about it from a very young age.

‘’Is it important to wear it all the time even when taking their kids out to play? Six hundred years is a lot of time to think back about when they were slaves ,Cara would you ask one of them to at least handle one tin foil hat and examine its inside and do it without raising any suspicion ?’’ .

“If the opportunity presents itself, then yes, I will,” replied Cara.

Then Cross turned back to the mothers and waited for an answer on how they discipline their children or reward them for good behavior.

-Cara Meow, Ship’s Anthropologist

A small girl walked up to cross “Hello are you and that man together because you keep looking at him with a slight blush and he keeps stealing glances at you” she said will a smiled and giggled away. At this time the kids have Doges piled on the cos but he was Abel to sit back up due to his upper core strength. He continues to play with the kids.

Lt. Lance Del Wolf (COS)

Cross looked down at the child and did manage to put on a smile, she bend down to her level ‘’Hello there sweety are you having fun playing with him?’’ the doctor asked ‘’Yes we are together he’s my friend, now of you go and play ‘’ and as the child went bouncing away happily Cross remembered how happy and carefree she had been at that age.

It occurred to her how these children will never know how it feels to play in the sand, look for colorful sea shells, to swim and feel the warmth of the sun, to explore their surrounding .Had they ever heard the rain or the wind ?It was then that it hit her, these people were not slaves for others…….. they now had become slaves of their own doing.

Cross CMO.

The conclusion that Miri had come to, was the same one Joe had reached earlier. He was generally not thought to be an intelligent man. He didn’t think of himself as one. But he did pay attention. He was one eager to learn. He had for instance not been judgmental of other cultures but drawn parallels with those he knew of from Earth. Cultures there who had insulated themselves from others nearly all ended badly. China alone was a shining example. When a nation turned in on itself it tended to have to do and say things to keep people where they were supposed to be. Self-enslavement wasn’t natural.

He kept quiet. He had seen the look that Miri had given him. Any odd statements on what he was seeing he’d save for the captain and in the meantime try to keep Miri from disappearing. He rubbed his forehead, took stock of everyone then and then looked at Miri with the little girl. “I’ve always been told that a smart man should have daughters.” he said with a laugh. “For in his old age his wife may ignore him and stop cooking for him, but his daughter will always feed daddy!”

Lt. Cmdr. Joe Milligan XO

By this point Sal had returned to the group, she looked over the teams progress in talking to others and viewed the children with a smile at play. “..It would seem your little detour is proving quite enjoyable to all concerned. Forgive my own delay I had been asked some last minute questions for the voting happening this evening for my position and others open on the habitat right now..” she said.

The mother who had been talking to Cross, gave a polite nod of her head for Sal’s position still, “..I do hope you win once more Councilor Sal. In my opinion your handling of our cultural and societal issues is better refined and believable to achieve them those of your opponent Mr Pok..” the woman said.

Sal smiled politely, “..I do appreciate your confidence. I am glad to continue to serve our people and habitat if that is what the people decide. Mr Pok has some ideas worth perusing though if he does turn out to win in the voting. For example his ideas of expanding our habitat to a newer construction match my own desires. The issue we disagree on is that I feel all workers able to do so should contribute to such a massive undertaking, where as Mr Pok feels only those who are in criminal rehabilitation with such skills should..” Sal said.

”..Yes! That there is my problem with his views and idea on that topic. He seems to think that such a labor force will be sufficient to build another habitat over the next 100 years that we require before it becomes an issue here. I and others feel as you do that it is not a large enough force due to the low criminal rates and even lower criminals that have such skills to do such a project..” The mother said.

Sal nodded, “..Regardless of the outcome, I do hope if he wins we will all do our part to do what is best for our community..” she said.

The mother on this point nodded and did agree to do so, turning back then to Cross.

GM CockRoach