[ On old Barrayar - Time of Isolation Barrayar - they killed the hopeless cases. It's an ethos that's been carried forward to the present day, in some places - that when a man is ailing, when he is ill, you give him the coup de grace to cut short his suffering. And to ensure that valuable limited resources aren't wasted on those who can no longer contribute to society, of course, so there's a brutality to it as well, because Barrayar, but...It had to come from the hands of someone who loved you. From a commanding officer, for soldiers; from a spouse, for civilians; from a mother, for the young.
Galactics took it as a form of barbarism. But what barbarity is it compared to this? To justifying, excusing this cowardice? To having the right to be a coward without the censure of society coming and destroying you? If this man were a Barrayaran, he would be outcast and ostracized for this despicable act. Loving another man is forbidden, yes, but it is nothing compared to how utterly impermissible this dishonor is. He would be, and should be, an utter non-person for this. ]
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Galactics took it as a form of barbarism. But what barbarity is it compared to this? To justifying, excusing this cowardice? To having the right to be a coward without the censure of society coming and destroying you? If this man were a Barrayaran, he would be outcast and ostracized for this despicable act. Loving another man is forbidden, yes, but it is nothing compared to how utterly impermissible this dishonor is. He would be, and should be, an utter non-person for this. ]
Absurd.
[ That comes out as a low growl. ]
This fucking worm.