[Video / PSA time]

[shining_beacon]

[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.

Comments

[crowning_glory]

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.

[shining_beacon]

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.

[crowning_glory]

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.]

[shining_beacon]

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.

[crowning_glory]

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.

[shining_beacon]

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.

[crowning_glory]

[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.