|
Species Sensitivity on Government Documents
|
|
|
|
|
| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Wednesday, 06 Jan 2010, 10:03 PM | Message # 1 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 302
Status: Offline
| There are an estimated twenty million forms of intelligent life in this galaxy, and at least four thousand within the New Republic. It is true that humans are the most common species, but we are only a plurality among many. The Republic, which aspires to be a galactic republic, must dignify all of its citizens without bias and, as such, I propose the terms "nonhuman" and "alien" should be prohibited from use on official, government documents such as ballots, or applications for licenses, identifications, loans, and so forth. It is permissable, for many reasons, to ask a being about their species on many of these documents. But it is not okay to use these particular terms, which refer to everyone who isn't human as some sort of "other." Humans, as I said, are but one of many species; it is wrong, therefore, and it is chauvinist to define all species as either human or not human. This is the first time in the New Republic's history that the Chief of State has not been a human, which seems an ideal time, to me, to raise this matter to the attention of the Senate. I vote in favor.
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
|
| |
| |
| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Friday, 08 Jan 2010, 0:11 AM | Message # 2 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 761
Status: Offline
| How priggish. I vote in favor of the measure, obviously, although I could point out that though humans are a plurality, as you've said, we have in fact been a rather large plurality for all of recorded history. Because this is a demographic that is unlikely to change and, indeed, has never changed, it is not altogether unreasonable to use the terminology of "human" or "nonhuman." It is certainly practical to do so in many and, I daresay, in most cases. I could also point out—in keeping with Senator Vanden's spirit of propriety—that grammatically, there are sentences in which the term "nonhuman" can be used inoffensively. For instance; "Ponc Gavrisom is the first nonhuman Chief of State" is an appropriate use of the word because the subject, Ponc Gavrisom, is predicated in comparison to the former Chiefs of State who, of course, have all been humans. It is worth noting, therefore, that the term "nonhuman" need not be demonized in all contexts. However, I do not wish to provoke the ire of creatures that feel passionately about these semantics and thus, as I said, I do not oppose the measure.
|
| |
| |
| Tremaine_Fowlkes | Date: Saturday, 09 Jan 2010, 7:08 PM | Message # 3 |
 Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 881
Status: Offline
| I vote in favor[u]of Senator Vanden's proposal. This would probably not finally put the sentient beings from species other than humans equal, but this would be a step forward. Tremaine Fowlkes,
Senator of Mowgle
Tremaine Fowlkes
Senator of Telos IV
|
| |
| |
| LancerNiedra | Date: Wednesday, 13 Jan 2010, 5:35 PM | Message # 4 |
 Private
Group: Users
Messages: 10
Status: Offline
| "I must disagree with the good Senator Vanden on one point; that being the term 'alien'. If someone comes to Corellia, and is not a citizen of Corellia, they are an alien, because that they are not of Corellia. The term 'alien' is not degrading, and does nothing to create a sense of equality between humans and other species. I therefore, respectfully, must vote to deny this proposal under the grounds that the definition of alien given by the good Senator Vanden is one example of the vast and broad range of the word. I do, however, agree, that clumping all species under Non-Human and Human is chauvinistic. However, as in the Corellian example, planets have a right to maintain an autonomy and a cultural uniqueness. If a Corellian went to Dantooine, it is perfectly acceptable for the Corellian to be labelled an Alien. I believe this legislation would be better pointed towards the specific requests (on forms) allocated towards defining what species you are. As many if not all of you are aware, governmental forms ask you to indicate whether you are 'human' or 'alien' and I am amicable towards perhaps changing these forms to illustrate more equality between all species. However, since Senator Vanden has proposed that both words be considered slanderous, I can not in good consciousness accept this proposal."
------------------
Lancer Niedra
Representative; Corellian Assembly
Progressive Conservative Corellia for Corellians
Message edited by LancerNiedra - Wednesday, 13 Jan 2010, 5:35 PM |
| |
| |
| Simon_Levi | Date: Wednesday, 13 Jan 2010, 6:18 PM | Message # 5 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 395
Status: Offline
| I find the term Alien offensive and de-grading. Allow me to quote Borsk Feyla, my esteemed colleague said "You refer to us as 'alien,' and the Princess calls us 'non-Human.' Why are we defined by you and in comparison to you?" Myself? I am in agreement with him. I vote in favour. However, I would urge tact and caution to be used in the application of this law.
Moff of the Tammuz Sector
|
| |
| |
| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Thursday, 14 Jan 2010, 0:37 AM | Message # 6 |
|
Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 302
Status: Offline
| Senator Niedra is right to point out that there are different usages of the word "alien." Essentially, it means not one of us. This is perfectly acceptable to refer to someone who isn't a citizen of a particular world, as you've said. But it is not acceptable when referring to someone's species, as Senator Kruus has pointed out. I assure you, my bill refers to the latter usage and not the former. I should have been more clear on this. To resolve the confusion, I amend the bill as follows: "... the terms 'alien' and 'nonhuman,' as referring to one's species, shall be prohibited from appearing on official, government documents such as ballots, or applications for licenses, identifications, loans, and so forth." I hope this is satisfactory.
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
|
| |
| |
| LancerNiedra | Date: Thursday, 14 Jan 2010, 4:03 AM | Message # 7 |
|
Private
Group: Users
Messages: 10
Status: Offline
| "Completely my good sir! You've won my vote, and I vote to approve and apologize to the good Senator from Neimoidia if he was insulted by my comment."
------------------
Lancer Niedra
Representative; Corellian Assembly
Progressive Conservative Corellia for Corellians
|
| |
| |
| Cul-utaanForte | Date: Saturday, 16 Jan 2010, 7:51 PM | Message # 8 |
|
Colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 150
Status: Offline
| Approve Thank you, Senator Vanden, for your show of respect to those not of the Human species.
General Cul'utaan'forte
Forte's Legion
|
| |
| |
| Ponc_Gavrisom | Date: Friday, 22 Jan 2010, 9:04 PM | Message # 9 |
|
Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 271
Status: Offline
| I vote in favour. This motion passes.
Ponc Gavrisom
Chief of State
|
| |
| |
