DrunkenMage
Intoxicated Arch-Mage
The people will be freed at any cost. And the fight against oppression is eternal, Ozan knows.
Forced independence is another form of oppression. People will fight for what they believe in, on both sides. One cannot say they fight oppression, when they themselves force this new oppression onto others.
"Skyrim for the Nords" What of Imperials, Redguards, High Elves, Wood Elves, Argonians, Dark Elves, Khajiit, Orcs and Bretons?
Many people in this thread always try to bring America and England into this, so would that not be similar to something like "America for the Whites" or "England for the Whites" ?
What has the Empire brought to Tamriel? Racial equality, doesn't matter on your race in the Empire, you can become what you want. There have been Dark Elf Empress', Argonian Elder Council Members, a High Elf even controlled the Empire for many years after the Oblivion Crisis.
Stormcloaks claim to fight for independence, how do you fight for independence when there was another way, that is like someone is going to give you something but you steal it instead. The entire war is about Ulfric's ego, he wants songs and stories. He wants to become the High King, had Torygg gone independent peacefully, he wouldn't be High King and he wouldn't have stories of war and glory. Already the Civil war is doing what he wants, songs are being written, Age of Aggression/Oppression.
If the Stormcloak side is about fighting for the people of Skyrim, why don't you swear loyalty to the people of Skyrim, to serve and defend all the citizens of Skyrim? No, you swear an oath to one man.
"I do swear my blood and honor to the service of Ulfric Stormcloak..."
"...Jarl of Windhelm and true High King of Skyrim."
"As Talos is my witness, may this oath bind me to death and beyond..."
"...even to my lord as to my fellow brothers and sisters in arms."
"All hail the Stormcloaks, the true sons and daughters of Skyrim!"
The oath makes no mention to the people of Skyrim, why is that? I mean aren't the Stormcloaks supposed to be fighting for the people of Skyrim. Funny that you should have to swear an oath to a man who has broken two oaths of loyalty already. Seems to me, that you're creating a ruler who has soldiers loyal only to him, who answer only to him. They are in all the Holds of Skyrim, hovering over the Jarls, even Galmar gets placed in charge of keeping the Jarls in line, making sure they're following "Orders" Free from oppression... you've actually just created true oppression. The Jarls would no longer be as Nordic tradition dictates, largely independent. The Pact of Chieftains would be no more, we already know that Ulfric does not truly care about tradition and the other Jarls or the moot.
Galmar: "The Jarls are upset. They don't all support you."
Ulfric: "Damn the Jarls."
Galmar: "They demand the Moot."
Ulfric: "And damn the Moot! We should risk letting those milkdrinkers put Torygg's woman on the throne?"
So it is Ulfric who is keeping the moot from meeting, and settling this in the Nordic way. I thought the Empire were oppressors and many in the thread call them invaders. Seems to me the only person disregarding Nordic tradition is Ulfric. Of course until it suits him...
Ulfric:"...To return to our glory and traditions, to determine our own future!"
Ulfric: "And it is for these reasons that I cannot accept the mantle of "High King." Not until the Moot declares that title should adorn my shoulders will I accept it."
Ulfric: "How'd I do?"
Galmar: "Eh, not so bad. Nice touch about the High King."
Ulfric: "Thank you, I thought so, too."
Galmar: "It's a foregone conclusion, you know."
Ulfric: "Oh, I know."
The Empire are hardly oppressing the people of Skyrim, the Stormcloaks claim the Empire are oppressors, yet look at Windhelm. Look at the capital of the Stormcloak rebellion and possibly the future capital of Skyrim in the event of Stormcloak victory. Then look to Solitude, the center of Imperial authority.