Great Paper: "Passing of the Gods" by David C. Smith ~The Seed of Destruction~

Great Paper: Passing of the Gods by David C. Smith

~The Seed of Destruction~

Asawas, The Sagacious farmer travels the land of a country giving help and wisdom to everybody he
encounters. In this passage he is engaged in a long council with the Prince Galvus and his fellow
statesmen telling them the true natures of the world of people that they rule over. I think his insight
into the nature of war is true to the actual reality of both past, and recent wars. He states that fighting
in war isn’t the primary concern that should be had, but the underlying emotions and attitudes that
should be feared. A short, but insightful passage.

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“ ‘Then there will be a war?’ Abgarthis persisted.

“It will happen as it happens” was his reply.

But Abagarthis was dissatisfied with this. “Don't disassemble with me please! Tell me if you know: shall
our empire be plunged into a war with the Salukadians? We are already at war with Emaria.”

“What do you wish me to say?” Asawas asked. “The hate is already in their hearts; the damage
is done. If the hate is there so strong and deep, so rooted, does it matter if it takes form or not? It
is not the war that you should fear: it is the hate and the mistrust, the war of hearts that you should
fear. Why should you grieve over war, and not grieve over the hate that was there all along, sowing
the seeds of war? What is a war compared to the never ending hate and mistrust, the greed and
deception that will always cause wars to come? How can you claim to be concerned with life, and
not deal with the fear all around you that is the enemy of life?”

The hours continued to pass, the discussions and arguments and ideas moved around and around
the table, until at last Orain, exhausted by the emotional excitement, began to fall asleep. Adred
offered to lead her upstairs to her room. Galvus suggested then that it was time that they all retire,
and asked Asawas if the Farmer wouldn't care to spend a few more days with them so that all who
might wish to speak with him could do so and gain of his wisdom.”

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