Nouman Farooqui wrote:
Japan pre and during World War II considered its citizens superior to
other
people in the world.
Still does today. Of course most cultures are egocentric and feel that
they are the best, but the Japanese have always had a more open attitude
about it, IMO.
Imperial Japan in Quantum Destinies has carried this chauvanism farther.
Yes. They are an Empire, and their success has only fed that attitude of
superiority.
So it isn't surprising how arrogant Gemma and Ranma from this world are,
considering themselves to be smarter and better than their counterparts
from
the Ranma 1/2 worlds.
True, but stop and consider, is there truly ANY version of Ranma that
would not believe he is the best Ranma in any universe? He is a walking
ego, and no matter what the evidence, each universe's Ranma would believe
he was the best.
For example, had the Shampoo 1/2 version of Ranma ended up in QD Ranma's
body, S 1/2 version would have thought the QD version was just a bookworm
that got lucky by copying another universe's martial arts moves. QD Ranma
did not learn them on his own, and therefore lacks the heart of a 'true'
martial artist, making S 1/2 Ranma the 'better' man.
They don't care that their actions may not be what
their hosts might have wanted. They don't consider why Gemna and Ranma
stay
in the situation they are in or what they might feel.
True, but do remember that they are both operating under the assumption
that they are trapped forever in the S 1/2 universe (a reasonable one,
given the circumstances). Unless they do something to get out of it on
their own, they aren't going anywhere. Until they get back to their real
bodies, they are now, for all intents and purposes, this universe's 'Ranma
and Genma.' With the conditions as they are now, there is a realistic
chance they will never be able to get the resources necessary to return to
their world. So they took the most direct course of action they could in
setting themselves up to get out of the S 1/2 world. That they did not
consider how their counterparts would feel about the changes is true, but
even if they had, it's unlikely they would have chosen a different course
of action.
Scientist Gemna and Martial artist Genma are the same. Each feels that he
can make any changes he wants in the life of his counterpart.
Now this is sad, but true. Which, IMO, is actually a good thing. Nothing
could be worse than a 'perfect' version of Genma. Up till now there
haven't been any real flaws shown in QD Genma, but now we have a major one
which makes him seem more rounded and balanced out.
Its funny that Scientist Genma and Ranma consider themselves better while
being part of a Fascist empire that oppresses and enslaves others.
True, but not an unreasonable attitude. When one is raised in Rome, one
tends to act like a Roman. Same thing applies here. They have been raised
to believe the Empire is the best in the world, and despite their travel
abroad, still feel that way.
BTW, in spite of what it may seem, I liked your commentary. It's very well
thought out and insightful.
Heh. The way I'm defending this, one might think I'm the author instead of
JK. ^_^
D.B. Sommer