[Starhawk]

Also an important thing to remember is I am writing a society that is slowly evolving as well, some of the brutality is slowly replaced because as THEY assimilate cultures they are also changed slowly.

I wont spoil to much because I still haven't fully fleshed it out but if you've read my short stories posted here then you'll see what the Empire is STARTING to become (which is a more culturally diverse and just society although still rather mono-religious and still xeno hating).

They'll never be a culture WE would want to be thrown into as their justice system is still based on public flogging and humiliation for crimes (which they consider merciful since you can get back to life while WE would throw you in jail for years).

They'll still always be "state-centric" where children are raised in school as much as at home to be loyal citizens and good citizens (including helping and supporting one another).

They'll always be the "master-race" mentality when it comes to humanity vs aliens, and when it comes to their exercize regimes and fitness demands.


But they do have some very good sides as well and I think Dogscoff your just sort of blowing some of the 'badness' out of proportion BECAUSE it is a culture you wouldn't like.

For example the fact they consider their own citizens more valuable then other nations, well DUH every nation feels that way or else whenever a war started both sides would pillow fight for fear of hurting the OTHER guy's people.

The fact they respond to terror WITH terror is alien to us, but to them its a matter of "Show no fear and break them" where we have the "OH MY GOD YOU KILLED SOME OF US WE QUIT!"

Like i said I probobly misphrased some of their responses to make it sound overly cruel but for the most part they are just a tough people that believe there is no compromise with an enemy because so long as that enemy state exists it will make war on you again and again until one or the other side is destroyed.

As far as religion goes they see that as a major source of strife and hatred, so the state religion and a handful of others (all mono-theistic mostly Christian/Jewish in heritage and not taught in school) are the only legal ones to prevent people from fighting their fellow citizens over doctrine and destroying the Empire.

I mean thats the thing Dogscoff you seem to want to think just because they are raised state-centric and community-centric they are all mindless drones, thats not true and doesn't HAVE to be true either.

You also consider anti-demonstration laws to be OMG HORRIBLE but if you think about it how many "peaceful protests" turn into riots that kill people? Their government just doesnt want to deal with it and neither does the average citizen.

You also treat the draft as OMG HORRIBLE but there are nations today that have mandatory service FOR ALL CITIZENS (as in EVERY single ONE) but those people are hardly abused and simply consider it a service to their people.
So what the Empire might knock on your door some day and say "loyal citizen you must serve 25 years in the Armed Forces" in a society where you live to be 300+ 25 years isnt so bad.

As far as the sterilization goes, BFD there are countries today that impose severe penalties for having more then a certain number of children, the Icarans just see this as part of life (you have 3 kids as a citizen, 1 is automatically drafted when they hit 16 the other two can go on with life and you are steralized to prevent further children) the process can be undone if you lose a child or if an exemption is made on your part so all it really is is that you dont have to remember birth control every day for the rest of your centuries long life. When your average citizen lives for CENTURIES population growth MUST be controlled.