Relena doesn't expect agreement, so when he speaks, she accepts his words easily. She knows she's in for a long, difficult life, or perhaps a short and turbulent one, for as long as she ventures forward to strive for peace and equity for those on earth and in the colonies. Still, she is determined to keep moving forward towards whatever form the peace they have now becomes in the future. It can always be better. Life for everyone can all be better.
"I know. And there are many that don't want peace and there are many reasons that they don't want peace. In my lifetime, at least, there will always be people that push against it or use violence to resolve their problems, but at the same time, I can't give up just because it's difficult."
She quiets down again and listens, watching him carefully. He's right, she does relate to this woman easily. Even if their situations are different, it's still a place that she understands. The same had happened to the Sanc Kingdom when she attempted to reestablish it as a pacifist country. She had to dismantle it not long after to avoid conflict. A crushing blow, but it was an important lesson to her in the long run. It was an event that made her understand that disarmament was not a fix-all for her aspirations for the future.
"No, you're right. As much as I hate it, I have seen what happens when you try to circumvent unavoidable conflict. There is no peace in a world that continues to fight, but fighting to get there... so far, it's been an inevitability."
She shakes her head.
"Don't get me wrong. I would take the same path of her if it would maintain what peace we've come to accomplish in my world thus far. I don't mind that - dying for my cause. I've come close enough to it plenty of times. It doesn't scare me. It's not the answer, though. And... and if you want to protect people, sometimes fighting is the only outcome. Or, it's the only answer I've found to be realistic so far. It's possible to defeat enemies without bloodshed in battle - I've seen it, skilled fighters disarming their enemies without killing them. But it won't always play out that way. Until I find another answer, it's what I have to accept. But, me fighting... I haven't had to consider it and I'm not sure just what that will mean for me."
no subject
"I know. And there are many that don't want peace and there are many reasons that they don't want peace. In my lifetime, at least, there will always be people that push against it or use violence to resolve their problems, but at the same time, I can't give up just because it's difficult."
She quiets down again and listens, watching him carefully. He's right, she does relate to this woman easily. Even if their situations are different, it's still a place that she understands. The same had happened to the Sanc Kingdom when she attempted to reestablish it as a pacifist country. She had to dismantle it not long after to avoid conflict. A crushing blow, but it was an important lesson to her in the long run. It was an event that made her understand that disarmament was not a fix-all for her aspirations for the future.
"No, you're right. As much as I hate it, I have seen what happens when you try to circumvent unavoidable conflict. There is no peace in a world that continues to fight, but fighting to get there... so far, it's been an inevitability."
She shakes her head.
"Don't get me wrong. I would take the same path of her if it would maintain what peace we've come to accomplish in my world thus far. I don't mind that - dying for my cause. I've come close enough to it plenty of times. It doesn't scare me. It's not the answer, though. And... and if you want to protect people, sometimes fighting is the only outcome. Or, it's the only answer I've found to be realistic so far. It's possible to defeat enemies without bloodshed in battle - I've seen it, skilled fighters disarming their enemies without killing them. But it won't always play out that way. Until I find another answer, it's what I have to accept. But, me fighting... I haven't had to consider it and I'm not sure just what that will mean for me."