From: wombat@eng.umd.edu (Jose Gonzalez)
Subject: Re: Lynch's Spoiler Review: "The First Duty"
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 92 13:20:12 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park, College of Engineering
Keywords: TNG, Wesley, Academy
Originator: wombat@pepsi.eng.umd.edu

In article <1992Apr10.004136.9947@cco.caltech.edu> tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>wombat@eng.umd.edu (Jose Gonzalez) writes:
>>In article <1992Apr9.013255.18014@cco.caltech.edu> tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>
>>>"The First Duty" spoilers:
>>>

>>>>>(Incidentally, Wes's choice could have been made much easier, and *wasn't*.
>>>>>Picard could well have pointed out that even if Picard *did* speak and was 
>>>>>contradicted, Wes would be working under a cloud of suspicion for years if 
>>>>>not decades after graduating, and he damn sure wouldn't be able to serve 
>>>>>within a kiloparsec of the Enterprise.  
>>>
>>>>I doubt this, Picard would have forgiven him, regardless of what he said.  
>>>
>>>Had he continued to stonewall and *let* an innocent boy be blamed?  No way.
>
>>Well, there was evidence to suggest that it was Josh's fault, 
>
>Whoa.  Back up.
>
>Just what evidence is that?  There's evidence that he chose to take part in the
>maneuver, but I recall no evidence that *his* screwup somehow caused the 
>crash.  Nick asserted such, but he's hardly to be believed blindly.

Okay, putting anything Nick said aside, Cito and Jean reluctantly agreed that
Josh may have been scared and somehow messed up.  And Wesley's "He wasn't
ready.  We pushed him into it," suggests to me that, although Josh is not
to blame for the accident, the maneuver may have been beyond his abilities
and therefore performed incorrectly.  This is by no means proof, but it's 
enough to make it interesting.

>
>>>I rather suspect Picard would have gone to Brand just after the hearing.
>>>Even if he'd let Wes actually get away with it, he'd NEVER have spoken to 
>>>him again.
>
>>Oh, really?  He may not have spoken to him for a while, but it's very
>>difficult to stay mad at someone indefinately.  It's much easier to forgive,
>>and eventually, he would forgive him.  
>
>Let me tell you a little story.
>
>You recall my mistake about the author of "Violations"?  He/she confessed to 
>me once the game was up, but could very easily have continued to develop
>bizarre scenarios about how he/she was set up or being lied about.  Had that
>happened, the connection would have been cut.  Severed.  End of tale.
>
>Maybe that makes me unforgiving; but betrayal does not sit lightly with me.
>Nor, I suspect, does it with Picard.

Just how good a friend was he?  And would you have severed all relations to
your *son*, if he had done the same?  Remember, that is the relationship they
have.

>[Satelk]
>
>>Why?  You assume they all *want* to act that way.  Maybe hanging around humans
>>has made him change his mind in regard to that silly custom, anyway.
>
>Oh, please.  Isn't this just a bit reaching for a bit part?  If I see a Vulcan
>without any explanation, I expect that Vulcan to behave in a manner similar to
>the way we've seen Vulcans behave in the past.  Fancy failed utterly.  Come
>on, Jose...

You buying? (-:  Seriously, though, 'taint a big deal, I'm just being 
difficult. (-:


-- 
Jose Gonzalez
                       Spock- "In your own way, you are as stubborn as another
                               captain of the Enterprise I once knew."
                       Picard-"Then I'm in good company, sir."