genessia | [Video / PSA time]

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[When the feed turns on, Ozpin can be seen sitting at a desk, his coffee mug very carefully placed so that the Beacon emblem features prominently in the foreground.]

Greetings, citizens of Genessia. My name, for those of you who are unfamiliar with me, is Ozpin. I am the headmaster of a Hunter training academy in the world of Remnant called Beacon. Tonight, I would like to discuss something that, in light of recent coverage in the newspapers needs to be addressed.

In the latest issue of the newspaper, there was a story claiming that a "monkey-man" was stealing food, and various other items while making various claims as to animalistic tendencies and even crass accusations that the culprit would stoop so low as to use excrement as a weapon.

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify something. These accusations and insinuations are baseless and false. I can also assure all citizens of this place that the charges of theft are widely blown out of proportion.

In my world there exist a people who happen to have animal-like features. Feline ears, tails, horns, etc. However, this does not make them any less people. In Remnant, they have been subjected to subjugation, oppression, and denied basic civil liberties for the sheer crime of having been born different. If a Faunus were to take steps to hide the features that set them apart as Faunus, there would be no other distinction that would make them seem different. In fact, there have been several cases where a Faunus has indeed hidden their ears, tails, or wore contacts to disguise their eyes, and led normal lives as humans.

But I ask you this. Why should they have to? When they have done nothing wrong, why should they be the subject of discrimination and hatred based solely on their appearance? For something they cannot choose for themselves? Should we then be placing taxes on people based on hair color? Height? Dominant hand? When this sort of mentality is allowed to take root, both sides suffer. Faunus have consistently shown themselves to be just as resourceful and beneficial to society as a whole as any human. I for one count myself lucky to have befriended many, and believe my life richer for the experience.

I will be answering any questions you may or may not have, so please, feel free to voice concerns or other questions. I will be more than happy to answer these questions.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Betelgeuse listened on the videophone, then let it float in the air, so he could do a slow clap.

"Bravo, my dear sir," he intones in an artificially snooty voice, "bravo. Rarely have I heard such a brave and inspiring defense of the furred and feathered amongst us!"

He finished and started cackling.

"Yeah, right!" he scoffed. "Who cares, if they 'contribute to society' or stole some dirty ole socks? They sound like fun to me!"

Would that everyone shared your sentiment. Unfortunately, in my world they are persecuted and hated with no real basis in fact. I simply did not wish to see those here subjected to similar hatreds.

"Fair enough. Question though. Have you actually seen any of these monkey people in Genessia? I've seen a cat girl, but no monkeys."

[Mab lives in a place where everything is very inhuman. She just doesn't get what the issue is here aside from stealing which really, it's their own tails they've got to look out for if they're doing that. And also, there are many things that use excrement as a weapon. Don't knock it, sometimes it's quite effective.]

If someone is stealing I hardly see how a tail makes a difference.

Your speech implies little understanding of the actions of humanity.

[The supernatural are well aware of the danger if humans start to fear things in large numbers. And hair color has been a determining factor in the past.]

Consider, if you will, the thief's veiwpoint. For most of his childhood, he was met with hostility and hatred for simply being different than humans. Because of this, he would be denied the ability to work, earn money, and buy food legitimately. In short, if he was to survive, he would be forced to steal.

In adulthood, he would be met with no less hostility and be branded an outlaw for simply doing what he must to survive, and further denied the ability to procure what he needs to survive legitimately, reinforcing the need to steal. After years of forced theft, it would simply be easier to do what he had needed to for years rather than attempt to gather resources legitimately.

[You're looking for a human reaction from someone who isn't human. Mab sees no reason to sympathize with anyone. Sob stories are lost on her.]

And what, precisely is your point? You wish to change humanity's natural inclination to fear the unknown and different? A battle against nature is interesting though futile.

I refuse to accept that futility. In my world, mankind's very nature was to be swept into the void by the Creatures of Grimm. We struggle simply to survive because of those creatures. And here we are, not only struggling against our very nature, we are thriving in it.

To struggle against nature is at the very essence of what it means to be alive. However, there is a delicate balance that must be maintained. That balance is what I wish to perpetuate, so that all may thrive, rather than one sect standing on the backs of others.

You wish to struggle against nature to feel alive? [Oh, why did you tell her that? Now she wants to help. It's always so nice to feel alive.]

Do let me know when you have particular need to feel alive, surely we can find some way to lift your spirits.

Wishing has nothing to do with it. It is simple fact. The simple act of breathing is a struggle against the very air around us. If we were apathetic toward it, the air would not give us the oxygen our bodies require, and thus we must force the issue and take what we need to survive.

It is not something I relish, nor is it something I shirk from. I will say that I do not appreciate your tone, on this matter. I do not wish confrontation, but I'm going to assume that matters very little to you.

I offer you this warning, however. Set yourself against me all you like and I will treat it as a friendly rivalry. Set yourself against any of my students, or their friends, and I guarantee, I will show you why I am feared as a Hunter.

Perhaps you work too hard at things.

[One brow goes up at that. The man decides to lecture the population at large and is upset when he is met with anything less than humility.] At least you realize this much.

Truly? [Just ask her to harass them, why don't you? Now she wants to know what he is capable of.] I have little use for friendly rivalry. Show me how you will make me fear, Ozpin.[Even at a distance, her stating his name should resonate inside him like a plucked guitar string.]

Is there really no reason for them to have been subjugated? They really are simply hated for their appearance alone?

[Forgive her, Ozpin, but she's incredibly interested to hear of such behaviour. On Reize Maxia, she'd rarely ever come into contact with anyone who was, for lack of a better term, racist, aside from hatred spawned by war between Rashugal and Auj Oule being the closest thing.]

How ironic. Some beasts in nature are slow to adapt to new circumstances or elements within their territory, fearing the unknown or different. That some humans would exhibit such behaviour places them no differently than the 'animals' they discriminate against.

There are some biological differences that originally led to tensions. For instance, it is fairly well established that Faunus can see in the dark as well as they can in the day, leading many to become more nocturnal. Humans then saw that as participating in shady dealings, and branded them thieves and vagrants without any evidence.

Humans are animals at their core. Fear of the unknown is a vital survival mechanism. One that humans on my world have been forced to cultivate in the face of the Creatures of Grimm and their bloodlust. However, human-faunus relations have come a long way, and the differences between the two sides have all but vanished, leaving many to cling to old hatreds simply because they are familiar.

How tragic. It sounds as if neither side can help their current position based on years of history. Though I'm certain that enough work and attention to the issue by humans would put them closer to resolving the issue... I feel that such a thing requires the co-operation of both sides.

What is the human saying for such things...? "It takes two to tango?"

[She's also curious about these Grimm, but would rather stay on topic.]

Very true. It is very unfortunate that these hatreds are so old. They have been passed on from generation to generation to the point that they are considered the norm. However, I am confident that this next generation sits in a very unique threshold. Faunus are becoming more widespread and children are beginning to be exposed to them at much earlier ages, and grow up seeing how ridiculous the prejudices held by their parents are.

One team of my students here exemplifies that hope. I do not know if you are familiar with one Ruby Rose, but she leads a team with a Faunus member. She has demonstrated on multiple occasions that she is more than willing to truly fight for her teammates, regardless of whether or not they were human or Faunus.

That's the wonder of humans. Given enough time, they change. Take five generations either after or before a certain point and they would scarcely resemble the beginning point, if at all. There are few creatures on the planet that can boast the same. To make another point, spirits and humans live very closely connected lives where I come from. Spirits have been the same since time immemorial, but humans have grown and developed so rapidly that they never cease to surprise.

"Ruby Rose" is a name I've heard on several different occasions, and often associated with events or even disasters that occur in the city. She was the one who laid the final blow upon that vicious monstrosity that rampaged through the city, was she not? She sounds like a rather amazing and capable human being.

Normally, in order to enroll in my school, a student must be seventeen years of age. However, Ruby showed aptitude I had not seen in many of my older students, and I made an exception, enrolling her two years early.

I have high hopes for her.

[Milla can't help but smile upon remembering a particularly young but very talented girl she also knows.] I'm guilty of once judging someone based on their age and not their aptitude, only to be terribly mistaken. Sometimes, age simply isn't a factor in how talented or skilled someone can be.

I would like to meet this Ruby one day.

I agree with your sentiment. People should be judged on their actions, not their appearances... and even if their actions lead some to believe they are bad, anyone can change. Back home some of my best friends are non-human. We don't discriminate against any race.

[ Unless they're demons that aren't even the nice kind. And that's less discrimination and more self defense.]

I wish the people of my world shared your sentiments. Those of mine are not so kind, I'm afraid.

But that's terrible... people usually judge others who are different because they're afraid, but... if the only thing that separates these Faunus from non-Faunus is ears or a tail or things, I can't understand what would possibly be frightening about that.

I don't think he should hide what he is. Honestly lots of weirdoes are in this place anyway. Though I think people might have more of a problem with the whole stealing thing.

It is a habit I assume he developed early in life. There are many stores and businesses that refuse to serve, or employ Faunus, making theft the only recourse they have in order to secure basic living essentials like food and clothing.

Even here though? I mean I was in a world where there were robots and aliens and stuff and they worked and lived together just fine. I would think the people here wouldn't care about something that pointless.

The newspaper article that prompted this announcement levied serious - and preposterous - claims and crimes against him that he did not commit, going so far as to insinuate he would use his own excrement as a weapon.

These hateful remarks can only serve to spread the flame of inequality unless we take measures to stop the spread before it truly begins.

[Oh he knows the troubles of bad press. God does he know the trouble with bad press. So many times people reported the destruction he left behind on various jobs adding to the destructive reputation of Fairy Tail! Wrongly so too! It was not intentional after all!]

I suppose that's true. Though all he can do is just prove them wrong. Though as long as he keeps stealing I don't think a lot of people will turn around.

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