On 03-May-99, Edward Becerra wrote:

One of my greatest dislikes in the story that is Sailor Moon

is the sacrifice of ambition for utopia. Mankind has a great weakness.

That weakness is the fact that without demons to drive us onward,
we inevitably degenerate, growing ever softer and more frail. The 
Egypt of the Pharaohs had this peace, and degenerated to a point 
where the now barely remembered Hyscos horsemen obliterated the 
first Kingdom.

   People should also remember that the advent of the computer 
came with the need to develop a machine to quickly solve differential
equations to plot firing solutions for artillary.  In other words,
the first version of the machine you read these words on now was
designed as a tool for the allies to fight WWII.  The internet 
that Al Gore claimed to create...derives from Arpanet, a network
designed by the Defense Department to allow communication to 
proceed even if we were at war with the Soviets.
   Even the greatest achievement of mankind, the landing of 
Neil Armstrong on the Moon, was a result of the need to perfect
rocket technology to maintain parity with the Soviets.  It's no
accident that we haven't been back to the moon since 1973...it's
been done, and no further score could be gained versus the 
Russians by further moonshots (or Mars voyages either, for that
matter).

Even the gentlest of shepards will reluctantly admit that 
the only way to defend a flock of sheep from a wolf, is to use
a wolfhound. And the difference between a wolf and a wolfhound
is a fine, fine line.

I've argued this before, on IRC and some of the MUCKS 
frequented by the writers of the FFML, and due to my being at a
loss for words to describe how, and more important, WHY I feel
Serenity is and was wrong simply resulted in my being considered
a crank, or possibly a misanthropic person who just could not 
stand to see other people having a peaceful life.

Steven's short fic found the words I could not.

Thank you, Steven.

   No.  Thank you Kickaha.
   
   When I wrote this, I wasn't sure I wanted to post it, since to
my mind it seemed...not quite right somehow.  I sent it to a couple
of people to preread, and ShortYes encouraged me to post it and see
what kind of response I'd get.  After some thought, I decided to 
post the story on the FFML.
   After seeing the response this story has recieved, I'm glad I 
did.  It struck a chord with some people, so I can only conclude
that I succeeded in telling the story I wanted to tell.

Edward Becerra

Sincerely

Steven P. Cornett
cornetts@gemair.com

"Dreamers may die, but the Dream is eternal.."