The ex-slacker superhero and the heroic treason dilemma

I’m waiting for my lunch to be delivered, so it’s time for a fantasy hypothetical. Today’s story takes us back to the world of Box X, the black bisexual superhero with Kryptonian powers, no known weaknesses, and a grandkid in preschool. If you don’t like fantasy hypotheticals, I do not know why you are still reading.

First the short version: the United States government has decided to use military force to resettle a tribe of sentient non-humans so the US can exploit the vast mineral and technological wealth of their homeland (and also keep said wonders out of any other nations’s hands). the resettlement will kill the tribe within years, if not months. In his youth, Bob promised to protect the tribe from just such a fate, but the US is counting on his loyalty to his homeland to restrain him. Should Bob keep his word, stay on the side of the angels, and commit treason, or let the history of the Americas repeat itself?

You can answer the thread question just from that, I think. If you simply must have more details, check the next post. If you don’t see such a post, count to sixty.

Years back, when Bob was still an irresponsible slacker, he was flying a quartet of groupies – one blonde, one brunet, one ginger, and one raven – to Tenerife for a weekend of sensual abandon. En route he noticed a largish island in the mid-Atlantic which not only was not on the map, but was apparently invisible to his companions, though not him. Curious, he made a detour. The island (which I’ll call Avalon for no special reason) had fabulous mineral wealth and was inhabited by two anthropoid species: the *Vanyar *and the mangani. The Vanyar were a race of beautiful long-lifers, all geniuses by human standards, living in a shining city on a hill; they had marvelous tech not merely controlled but actually powered by their telepathic powers, which they also use to hide Avalon fron the world. The mangani were ape-folk, looking very like chimpanzees, but much more peaceful, and while they’re able to talk and use simple tools, they had an average IQ of about 60. The two races lived in harmony. Avalon, incidentally, had fabulous mineral wealth-- vibranium, dilithium, and a couple other varieties of unobtainium–found nowhere else on Earth.

Once Bob killed a dragon that had been having the mangani for lunch, he and his fuckbuddies were invited to spend their weekend of carnal excess on Avalon. During this time he learned that, with the dragon gone, the mangani were likely to thrive (current population about 20,000), the Vanyar were dwindling, their numbers under fifty. The Vanyar’s leader asked him to look after the mangani once the last of the Vanyar were gone. It was important that the mangani not be separated from one another; a lone mangani dies of loneliiness inside of a month. Even worse, there is something about Avalon that is vital to the mangani’s survival; if the ape-folk are taken from the island even in groups, they swiftly grow physically ill and perish within a year. The Vanyar, though scientifically minded, have never been willing to do experiments to determine why on account of not being assholes. So Bob promised to look in on the mangani from time to time; then he and the groupies left, and being a slacker at the time he promptly forgot about it.

That was twenty years back. Bob’s grown up since then and committed to the hero gig. Which is important because recently the last Vanyar died, causing the telepathic cloaking field around the island to fail. Learning this, one of the former groupies “discovered” the place and announced its existence to the world. Several countries – Russia and China among them – started preparing to exploit its natural wonders and study its technology: preparations that would have resulted in the death of many if not all fo the mangani.

So Bob stepped in. He told the Russians and Chinese that (a) there was no way they’d be able to use the telepathic tech anyway, and (b) anybody who fucked with the ape-folk would find a demigodly foot up their ass.

You’d think that would settle it. But while the Russians and Chinese backed down, the United States did not. Bob’s an American cictizen; he’s always been loyal to his country and obedient to the democratic process. So Congress had an extensive public debate; Bob was called to testify; and in the end the nation decided to “peacefully” resettle the mangani, and all American citizens were forbidden to intervene.

That was last week. Now Bob is standing on an Avalonian beach, looking at an approaching US Navy fleet. They’re loaded for bear and have both aircraft and Marines, but they don’t have any weapons that can really hurt him. But they do have sufficient numbers and firepower so that, if both he and they insist on fighting, he’s gonna end up killing some of them. The mangani, aware of their danger, are preparing to resist … with muscle, teeth, sticks and stones.

What should Bob do, and why?

Bob needs to hire a PR firm and a documentary film crew that’s willing to work under fire.

He then needs to document the heroic struggle of the mangani, and use social media to turn public opinion around.

Sure. He should have done that LAST WEEK. This is this week. Hence calling it “this week.”

Besides, you are showing more confidence in human nature and American virtue than I think warranted.

ETA: Also, there’s already been public congressional debate, and Bob’s testified. What makes you think he hasn’t already tried that?

Because it’s not the same – congressional hearings are for C-SPAN junkies. Armed forces menacing a peaceful island while brave natives armed only with primitive weapons stand ready to be massacred is a completely different animal, ratings-wise.

Bob needs to brush up on his Heinlein. Teach the mangani to sing “Old Folks at Home”, and they’re golden.

And Bricker is right - they need a Facebook campaign. Heck - with an average IQ of 60, they would fit right in.

Regards,
Shodan

Clearly he did a crap job at the hearing. Why not give the same ultimatum to the US government? If you say it loudly enough, they will listen. If not, you warned 'em.

Didn’t they see Avatar? Or Return of the Jedi? In real life, gormless natives get obliterated. But in fantasy worlds, attempting to resettle sentient non-humans usually results in an epic butt-kicking for the despoilers.

So, anyway, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of ethical debate here. Bob made a promise and it’s the right thing to do. Looks like he’s going to have to stick up for truth, justice, and not, in this case, the American way. There are obviously ways of avoiding violence, but they all appear to be fighting the hypothetical. So Bob may have to throw himself on the court of public opinion once the dust settles. I hope his GoPro is bulletproof.

Can it be argued that developing the alien technology will save hundreds of lives? Then I suppose there is at least a bare utilitarian justification for taking it – similar to a large-scale trolley problem.

ETA: I guess Point 1 to the Russians and the Chinese rules this out.

Lots of patriotic German citizens chose not to resist as their country carried out a genocide. History has not judged them kindly. Bob is in exactly the same position.

Bob is in no way bound by the decisions of his own government. He isn’t Colonel Bob, or Detective Inspector Bob, he’s Bob X. Civil disobedience isn’t just permitted, it’s an ethical obligation for any citizen under these circumstances. Disobeying the illegal orders is also an obligation for any of the soldiers. There’s no ambiguity here given the public hearings - these are orders to commit genocidal acts.

Without fighting the hypothetical, Bob may be able to deploy his powers indirectly so that any US deaths are caused by carrying out the illegal orders rather than by Bob directly attacking service personnel. Failing that, Bob should renounce his US Citizenship and go to war against the aggressors.

Ok, Bob already failed these people, he should have started the PR campaign a long time ago. So now he’s at the point where he lets them get taken away to their death, or turns on the US Navy.

If he tells the Navy to stop where they are then they will. They know he could destroy them, so if they move on him they’re basically telling Bob that he’s no true American anymore, at which point he has no reason not to destroy them, plus he might take up sides with some other country. So the Navy’s interest is to keep Bob on our side, call the Pentagon and whichever dimwit is in the oval office and tell them they can’t proceed. While this stalemate goes on the PR campaign can get started. No way the world backs the US gubmint over Bob, in the end they back down. Then Bob can work out some way the islands resources can be exploited without displacing the mangani.

BTW: are these the same species as the African Mangani?

The definition of a patriot is someone who tries to make his country better, not someone who thinks his country is great as it is.

No Idea what Bob should do, but the Navy and Airforce should lead with a shake and bake. Test the fortitude of the ape boys, when their whole world starts shaking, inspite of what bob says to keep up their confidence.

Declan

Posted before reading any other answers.

Boy, this is a toughie, Skald. Hmm. My heroic desire to help a worthy and imperiled group vs. my lifelong patriotism and loyalty as an American. Gotta decide. To do nothing would be to acquiesce in the eventual death of the mangani.

Well… I guess I contact the world media, give interviews and try to shame Uncle Sam into rescinding the resettlement plan. If that doesn’t work, or if there’s no time, I warn off the fleet, telling them that I won’t let them land and that I can’t guarantee their safety once clobberin’ time starts. Then I do my best to protect the mangani while killing as few Americans as possible.

Even a country I admire and love can have bad policies. Bad policies can be changed with time, political shifts and further thought. But the mangani, once extinct, are gone forever. I couldn’t live with myself if I let that happen when it was in my power to prevent it.

“This above all: to thine own self be true.”

Bob’s not into genocide. Even when preventing it is a pain in the ass.

Who gives a shit if it’s treason. Bob is not in the military, and even if he were, the US committing clear genocide of an entire, non-threatening sentient species has to come under “unlawful orders”. I’m OK with Bob destroying that entire fleet. Not happy with the loss of life that will entail, but I’ve taken the decision to suspend my extreme personal pacifism (just for those absurd hypotheticals that involve other characters who are seemingly OK with violence - absurd hypotheticals that involve my personal reaction are not changing). The US is acting as Hostis sensibilis entia here and must be opposed.

To all you folks who want Bob to lay down the smack on his own people:

Is no one bothered that, if Bob decides to put his judgment over the democratic process, he is basically declaring himself master of the USA? And since there seems to be an international consensus that Avalon’s resources should be exploited, and he’s threatened violence to prevent it, won’t following thru mean he’s making himself master of HUMANKIND?

Bob doesn’t like something, so it doesn’t happen because no mortal can oppose him. Doesn’t that make him an actual god rather than godlike? Is that something you’d want?

Also, where are you guys getting “unlawful orders” from? What the major powers want to do is certainly EVIL, but whose law are they breaking? God’s? Hell, the US decision in particular seems to have followed proper and public democratic procedure.

Nope. Not bothered at all. Serves the USA right for being genocidaires. Sic Semper Tyrranis, motherf***ers.

International law.
You can’t internally legislate to make genocide lawful, no matter how you slice it. You could argue that human laws don’t apply to non-humans. I’d then challenge you to find the word “human” in the Convention. And I’d also say “Bob, being superhuman, is also by that logic then not bound by human laws, is that really an argument that you want to advance?”