Now, first of all, as character debates are banned from
the list, that's what I'm going to avoid. I am going to make
a general sort of opinion, and I'm going to steal from another
author to do it, as his words are better than mine.

	Jared Ornstead, the author of "Mirrors Multiplied"
originally wrote this about Akane in his fic, but it applies
to a lot of angry anime women, and to far too many women in 
real life, unfortunately.

	So why am I quoting this when character debates are
banned? 

	Easy. To understand why something exists, you have to
define your terms. There's a REASON women like that appear in
so much anime, but it's buried so deeply in oriental culture
that most of the Japanese accept it without even THINKING about
it. Like air, it's always been that way, always will, why even 
think about it. So I'm going to define what I mean, then state
why I think it exists in Japan.

	Additionally, I think there's the potential for a 
damned GOOD fic here. I've seen ONE fic that explores the idea
I'm about to suggest, and that's all. There may be more
out there, but *I* certainly haven't run across them.

	For those who think Akane's a goddess and the One True
Fiancee, please skip past the quotation, and down to my theory.
Thank you. ^_^

	<From "Mirrors Multiplied, Chapter 16">

	"Was it simply administering just and a deserved punishment to someone
who *dared* question your superiority? That's it, isn't it? ...

	<snip>

	"... You are absolutely, completely, and totally self-absorbed... That 
explains everything: Your cooking, swimming, why you never feel a need to 
control your temper, *everything*! You expect things merely because you feel
you have a right to them, like you ought to be able to cook merely because
others can, or sew because you feel like it. You expect to go from merely 
wanting to do it to being an expert at it. You just have no concept of the 
stages required to EARN things, and what ends up happening is that you are
absolutely abysmal at doing anything that cannot be bludgeoned into 
submission..."

	<snip>

	"... You expect to be a great cook automatically merely because you *want* 
to be. The early stages of recipe preparation and learning the basics never 
occur to you, not only because you aren't used to struggling for anything 
you want, but because you want everyone else to acknowledge your superiority 
right from the start. It's a status thing. There are image points to be 
gained by being a good cook, and so you are going to force everyone to 
acknowledge you as the best of them all..."

	<snip>

	"... "If you loved to cook you would learn the details, there would be no 
avoiding it. Similarly with swimming or sewing or any other domestic task. 
The concept of learning to do them right doesn't even cross your mind. 
Anything you want you feel is yours by right and anything that resists must 
be forced, anything that threatens that has to be defeated. Your way must be 
right because it is your way, the only problem is getting others to 
acknowledge that."

	As Tyree noted, there are a great many anime women who feel this
way. And, sadly, real life women who also feel the same way. "We've been
oppressed for thousands of years!" they cry. "You OWE us a free ride through
life in recompense for what you stole from our mothers and grandmothers!"

	Trouble is, demanding to be repaid for crimes commited against
YOUR ancestors by THEIR ancestors just extends things. The people you
demand payment from rightly feel that "Hey, it was my GRANDFATHER who
did it, not ME. I don't owe you ANYTHING for crimes HE may have committed
I'm not _responsible_ for what HE did.."

	But in an ancestor worshipping country like Japan, that's actually
the way it DOES work. Your parents, grandparents, or someone else gets
in debt, and YOU end up with the honorable debt that you have to repay.

	When this sort of thing is taken to extremes, you get results like
Northern Ireland and the Balkans, where everyone is determined to get 
payback for so-called 'crimes' done to ancestors so old, no one can even 
remember the blasted insult that started things!

	Now, in western countries, about 120-150 years ago, that changed.
A movement, spearheaded by, of all things, _CREDIT UNIONS_ began to fight
for a new slogan.. "The debt dies with the debtor."

	In other words, you die, and the bank might collect something
from your estate, but if there is any debt left over, well, the bank 
is just out of luck. Too bad. Boo-hoo. <#insert crocodile_tears>

	A statute of limitations on debt. AND on honor. The Japanese,
no doubt, would find the idea of a 'time limit' on honor terribly
offensive. As a former soldier, I can sympathize, somewhat. _Somewhat_.

	This, I think, might make an interesting area to explore in
fanfiction. Especially with anime that turn on honor and the honorable
discharge of ancestral debts. Ranma being one that leaps to mind
immediately, what with Genma's idiotic promising of Ranma in marriage
to anyone with a bowl of food whenever he got hungry.

	As I recall, there WAS one fic (whose title I cannot recall)
where Ranma convinced Cologne to adopt him as an Amazon, and willingly
gave up the Saotome name, thereby clearing ALL debts of honor and 
leaving all three fiancee's with no claims. As well as turning 
Nodoka's little promise of seppuku on Ranma's part null and void.

	It would prove interesting to see someone else try to explore
this potential.

	Now, if you'll allow me to make my manners with Tybalt and 
prepare to be tempbanned. ^_^ <bows> 

	Have a good day, take care, and I hope this little bit of 
philosophy from an old soldier provokes a few thoughts and ideas 
here and there among the members of the list.

	Ed Becerra

	"Dreamers may die, but the Dream is eternal.."