So, which side are you on? Thread - ModDB Stargate Fan Group

After seeing the latest episode, Divided, I started this poll to see what you guys think.

This's been one of the best episodes so far, and it've started a new branch on the already rich storyline, which I'm very curious about.

I'm with the civilians, what's been going on the ship's been military dictatorship, and it had to stop. It was great to see the civilians to ball up and take the ship from the "guys with the guns", and with a good reason, conisdering the violence with they were oppressed when they took the ship back.

So now in SG:U we have:

• shortage of supplies
• personal drama
• hostile aliens

and in top of that shining high with originality and potential:

• civilian revolution.

This show is getting better and better.

I have to say i support both sides of the conflict but i have to say with how things are on the ship i would rather have the military in charge but would have some sort of civilian control over things rather than all military leadership

That's what I love the most about it. None of the sides are the obvious winners, there're point for and against for both parties, something rather new in stargate, where everything was so white or black...

Interesting topic. I'm going to support the military guys. Ideally, there would be civilian leadership/oversight of the Destiny, but neither the IOA or USAF back on Earth have setup any clear leadership hierarchy. Also, like most conflicts in reality, the conflict between the civilians and the military was started by a politician, I think this is a grab for power than anything else. And the violence that the civilians copped when the military took the ship back, that was probably because the civilians took the ship in the first place. I'm not saying that the violence is right, but I can see why the military would be pissed off.

Finally, the most complicated part of this is: they need each other. The military needs the civilians to operate the ship, grow food, solve technical issues. The civilians need the military because there are bad guys out there. It's going to be an interesting symbiotic relationship.

Well im going to have to take the side of the Military for a couple of reasons......

1) The obvious leaders on the civilian side, aka Dr. Rush and Camile Wray, are corrupt. Sure they 'mean' well but lets face it, Dr. Rush wants in charge so he can fiddle around with the chair and get more information about destiny. Dr. Rush is not wanting to save everyone.... he wants destiny. Its his fault they are there, hes the one who is NOT trying to get them home and he has no intention of going home. Camile just seems like she wants power, she has a chip on her shoulder for the military, that much is clear. It wouldn't matter if the military was doing everything right, she hates them and so she is deaf to everything else and wont sleep till they are no longer running the show.

Now one could make the point that Colonel Young is no saint himself, but he is the better of the 3 'evils'. Yes he left rush on the planet but he had just been framed for murder by Rush (and Camile pulled no punches trying to remove Young) and he is only human. You can tell in the episode following that he regrets it. In my opinion he is the only one close to being qualified to lead them.

2) They are in over their heads. They dont have the time or the recources to second guess themselves, or as TJ puts it, "have time to put everything to a majority vote" and that they, "need a leader." I think that Colonel Young is the best qualified to controll, protect and regulate the activivties on destiny. And lets face it General Oniel agrees with me. lol

Long story short, Eli and TJ (who in my opinion are the most rounded charactors in the show) both side with Colonel Young, and i think untill destiny becomes more stable, he is the man for the job.

Well, when you said 'Take the ship from the military', it was the only for the civilians could to force a status-quo with the military, as asking hadn't been effective in the past. Second, a civilian government doesn't mean that the leader has to be civilian, only that civilians and military alike can access it. If they agree to form a democracy col Young may even run for election and then rule with the full support of the ship, both military and civilian. And if he doesn't get elected then it must be for a reason.

A civilian government is all about freedom, and freedom is all about choices, for the best or worst. You can't force people to follow someone that placed himself or herself in the power seat by mere force, regardless of what they stand for, it stands against everything mankind has advanced since democracy was first invented!

And the "Put everything through a majority vote" they aren't going to held a council to see whether they should rise shields or power weapons, that's when the military kicks in: in military-type scenarios, of course. Young should remain the leader of the military and take leadership of the ship's assets in battle, but only then, as the military leader he's, not to oversee everything else, that's dictatorship!
Young should be overseeing research, supplies and everything else, those are civilian aspects of life, not military!

The final point is, it doesn't really matter which of the parties is right, one of them is in power without the other ones consent and that's just wrong.

True, it is kind of a step backward for mankind. But to me, as of thier situation right now, they need a firm leader. They are at any given point a few days away from losing everything that keeps them civilized. Lets face it, a democracy is good, and if they are able to stabilize the situation on destiny a bit more, im all for them setting up some form of Co-Government.

But the thing is, a civilized society can only be maintained if the basic needs of the people are being met. When there is a sense of security. As of right now destiny doesnt have such luxury. If the power shuts down, if the food runs out, if the aliens come back, if the wells run dry, the people panic...... it turns into every man for himself and then instead of taking a few steps back for humanity, it turns into a landslide and then EVERYTHING crumbles. i think that the only thing capable of keeping them together, civilized and more importantly alive, is the military and the leadership of Colonel Young.

Like i say, im all for a democracy, or whatever form of government suits them all, but you cant think about that when the basic needs are not being met. Im not suggesting that the military stays in controll forever.... only till they have stabilized. A short inconvienience, while they get on thier feet.

You misunderstood me. I never suggested that the military should be disbanded, or anything of that sort. If things really get that far, then the military can take control again. But also, if things ever got that far a military or civilian goverment isn't going to stop anarchy.

lol i just relized that i wrote so much that none of it made sense. remind me to proofread it next time. my bad.

ok second time is the charm, here we go........

what i was trying to say is, that i think that when the time is right the civilians should play a more active role (if not the leading role) but the time isnt quite right.

my reason being that they are still struggling to survive and now with the threat of the new aliens, they are in danger more now then ever. so i guess im just saying that for the time being, for the sole sake of survival, they need the iron fist of the military to guide them. just till they get more established on destiny. civilian oversight is needed, but for the time being, they need to just worry about surviving.

i hope my second attempt made a little more sense. lol

yeah i also believe the civilians should have more of an leadership role over how things are run... what went wrong for the civilian coup is that they wanted control over everything where as in reality it would be better for both parties if they tried to get majority control over the things that the military is not needed, such as food development.

also Bran666 were you trying to say the military side should take control of everything for survivals sake?... Because i see it as every good leadership needs both civilian and Military leadership at any time... although i do think the military should get complete control when the aliens attack.

yes, but only temporarilly. till they have enough food, water, and fix the ship up as best they can. its like anything else, it makes no sense to fight over who gets to drive the boat when its about to sink. fix it up, get the holes patched and then decide........ if that makes sense..........

I agree 110% with you, a prime example of how things should be run is the Weir/Sheppard duo. some from each side, who respect eachother and want the best for the people.

Yeah, exactly. And perhaps the best way would have been that way if this things had never happened:

• Framing Young for x-soldier suicide
• Attempt of murder of Rush from Young.

Those two main factors created unrest between the two parties, the military not trusting the civilians, and the civilians beggining to fear the military. When something like that happens, and one of the parties screams for a change, then it's time to sit down and talk it through. The military can't stay in power while the civilian population is agianst them, and for the greater good of everyone on that ship they have to stablish some middle-ground, and fast, as there're more pressing issues at hand. And, of course, work on improving the life abord destiny can't go any faster if there's a conflict of that magnitude.

Well, I'm curious if the events at the end of season one have changed anyone's stance on the whole military-civilian dynamic. Any thoughts?

My stance on mainly Civilian but Military taking control when needed stays the same :]

Yep, I still stay with the civilians, although I got to hand it that the colonel did quite a few things to redeem himself...

Season finale spoiler below:

Anyway, the way they prepared to meet the lucian Alliance was stupid. I mean, the best way was to get a fire team in the gateroom and pick them up as they arrived, one by one. They knew how bumpy the ride was, so they should have known that they were going to be defenseless. Failing that, if they went with the whole venting atmosphere thing and then found out about rush/telford, then the most logical course of action was to start venting the atmosphere until they've all lost conciousness and then move in.

Edited by: Mularac

I agree with Mularac on the spoiler part. Season one spoiler ahead.

The way the gateroom was defended was pretty poor. And as you said that whole venting thing didn't HAVE to kill them, just knock them out to neutralise them. This little oversight in the plot bugged me for quite a long time.

It will be interesting how they get out of this one.

Oh man... this last few chapters have made my hatred for the military rise all up again....

Season 2 spoilers:

How come everyone is so mad at Rush?? I mean, what did he, left someone to die in a barren planet? Wait... no, that's the colonel, my bad.
I mean... how come everyone vilifies rush for trying to do the right thing but apparently they're ok with the co welonel trying to kill someone just because he didn't like him...
And Greer... don't get me started on him, as thick as a man can be...

Well, enough for today... we'll see how everything turns out in the following chapters....