Babylon 5
- Thread starter Kail
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Whereas others like me see it as a way of being polite and view those who try to use the term 'political correctness' as a pejorative to be defending their right to be jerks. Though I'll grant that in some instances it's taken to extremes.
However, to yank this back on topic, JMS was asked about 'ben Zayne' being a Jewish name back in the day and replied
After some (very) cursory research, it does seem that the patronymic name "ben" is sometimes used in Arabic rather than the more usual "ibn" or "bin", although "ben" is more usually associated with modern Hebrew. It's stretching things to claim that the line had any other agenda apart from being an offhand, sarcastic remark made by Garibaldi that reveals his personal distaste for the Colonel's methods, regardless of his ethnic origins.
Assuming you know a person's ideology and heritage based solely on their surname is presumptuous even now. Indeed, if you were to do so with my name you'd assume I am either Lutheran or a worshipper of Thor and Odin. I am neither (though I do enjoy the latter's movies. 
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In 250 odd years after several generations have been born lived and died on colonies populated by people of numerous backgrounds, it'd be downright ridiculous. Also, by the mid 2200's, Hitler will be as distant a historical figure as Oliver Cromwell is today. By no means forgotten or even obscure, but far past the point of summoning any strong emotions in the reasonable minded. Now if Garibaldi had made a crack about Dukhat in front of a Minbari or President Kyoshi infront of someone from the Eastern Bloc, he might have a problem.
Somewhat related: I recall an anecdote about how they made a point to assign the surnames we see on extra's uniforms at random and so they ended up with all kinds of interesting combinations such as Asian people with Native American names, Caucasian people with Asian names and so on.
And yes, certain people here are most assuredly making mountains out of molehills.
)In 250 odd years after several generations have been born lived and died on colonies populated by people of numerous backgrounds, it'd be downright ridiculous. Also, by the mid 2200's, Hitler will be as distant a historical figure as Oliver Cromwell is today. By no means forgotten or even obscure, but far past the point of summoning any strong emotions in the reasonable minded. Now if Garibaldi had made a crack about Dukhat in front of a Minbari or President Kyoshi infront of someone from the Eastern Bloc, he might have a problem.
Somewhat related: I recall an anecdote about how they made a point to assign the surnames we see on extra's uniforms at random and so they ended up with all kinds of interesting combinations such as Asian people with Native American names, Caucasian people with Asian names and so on.
And yes, certain people here are most assuredly making mountains out of molehills.
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Nope. Not a chance in hell.
Similarly, JMS offered to change Mattheson's surname to an Asian one in Crusade but they decided against it.
As for examples of real genocidal maniacs on the show, the award would probably go to Delenn, screaming "Follow them back to their bases and kill them, all of them. All of them! No mercy!"
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Which, of course, nobody but Delenn knew anything about at the time of 'Eyes'.
John "Nuke Em" Sheridan probably wiped out a large number of the Shadows and their allies at Z'ha'dum -- he and Delenn were seemingly well matched. Was it only three times in the show that he used nukes to achieve an objective?
I forgot about the mined asteroids at Coriana VI. That's a favourite tactic of his, of course.
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Apologies if this is pushing the boundaries of what's allowed but without Ron Thornton there wouldn't have been a Babylon 5 in any form we recognize. He could use a hand now.
Neither were intended to win the battle, and Sheridan made it clear that even the presence of the First Ones wouldn't stop the Vorlon and Shadow fleets from destroying the whole coalition force. He might havs gambled that the willingness of the First Ones to fight for the younger races would prompt the Vorlons and Shadows to "wake up" and realise they were in the wrong, but in the end it took Lorien's ability to broadcast the telepathic attempts at converting Sheridan and Delenn to the rest of the fleet to make any difference.
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