The Continuing Adventures of Medi-Bat

FeatherTrap
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Dream Come True! - Participated in the MLP 9th Anniversary Event
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends
Condensed Milk - State-Approved Compensation

Gone to Ponybooru
@97blackbird  
Sure, feel free to give the Communists lovehearts as they line your family up against the wall of the gulag and execute them one by one.
 
-I’m gonna go apply for a hunting rifle license now, just to be on the safe side.  
At least duck hunting will help be good practise for when my country finally goes full Communism like it seems to want to.-
 
Actually, you know what? Screw the rifle, time for me to start planning to leave my country before shit hits the fan.
97blackbird

@FeatherTrap  
I will fight with weapons appropriate to the battlefield.  
In an invasion, I will use my rifles, my sweat, and my blood.  
Against politicians, I will use my voice and my vote.  
On this battlefield, a battle for hearts and minds, I choose to fight with reason and love.
FeatherTrap
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Dream Come True! - Participated in the MLP 9th Anniversary Event
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends
Condensed Milk - State-Approved Compensation

Gone to Ponybooru
@97blackbird  
Hearts and Minds worked sooooooooo well in Vietnam and Iraq, didn’t it? Remind me, which Middle-Eastern country in that region begins every formal event by wishing death on you and all you hold dear?
 
Hearts and Minds people. It just works - Todd Howard.
97blackbird

@FeatherTrap  
Waging peace is far more difficult than waging war.  
Heart’s and Minds in Vietnam would have worked, but it was not quick enough for politicians. Iraq. I am not informed enough on to comment, but I suspect it is similar to Afghanistan. We left too soon in the 80’s abandoning those who were fighting for us and radical Islam moved in.
97blackbird

Actually, you know what? Screw the rifle, time for me to start planning to leave my country before shit hits the fan.
 
Because apparently this country isn’t worth fighting for..?
 
Pray tell, where will you go? (Australia, I bet it’s Australia)
FeatherTrap
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Dream Come True! - Participated in the MLP 9th Anniversary Event
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends
Condensed Milk - State-Approved Compensation

Gone to Ponybooru
@97blackbird  
Or more specifically America took too long because they where too concerned with the immediate effects of Hearts and Minds and looking clean for their media they forgot the most important rule of war:
 
The longer a war drags on the worse it becomes for everyone involved.
 
The only “kind” (in massive quotations marks there, mind) war is a fast one. America tried to win the PR battle only to loose the war by letting it drag out.
FeatherTrap
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Dream Come True! - Participated in the MLP 9th Anniversary Event
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends
Condensed Milk - State-Approved Compensation

Gone to Ponybooru
@97blackbird  
They did, which is why you need a bloody licence for them. v.v
 
And to answer your earlier question:  
My own country is headed down a path to an oppressive neo-marxist regime of “peace and love” and the people seem to be doing it of their own volition. No-one votes against the politicians doing this-despite the fact that there are outspoken politicians against it and we have the Alternate Vote system so They can’t even use Strategic voting as an excuse. My own countrymen are telling me that we need to abandon all our moral principles and embrace an ideology that doesn’t even believe in the concept of the nation or national sovereignty.
 
My own countrymen don’t think my country is worth fighting for. On what moral grounds do any demand I recognise value in it?
97blackbird

I’ve PM’d both of you during this.  
I’m not angry with anyone.  
I more closely identify with Feathertrap in ideology, but certainly not in method or temperament.  
Communist Starlight, you and I could probably have fascinating discussions over vodka drinks for hours…and still not agree.  
But we’d part friends and look forward to the next time.
 
And to Starlight’s credit, he has tried to end it several times.
Castellan Fyor
Solar Supporter - Fought against the New Lunar Republic rebellion on the side of the Solar Deity (April Fools 2023).
Non-Fungible Trixie -

For the Emperor!
@97blackbird  
Yes, I have many fascinating things to discuss, but in the end I am still a communist, and you… Whatever.
 
 
@FeatherTrap  
Let me just make it clear that I am not a REAL communist. It’s all just a joke, under a NaMe I thought would be considered clever. It’s too late to change now, everyone knows me like this.
97blackbird

“So, do you have anything to say about politics?” I asked casually. As casually as one can while a tiny, grey, bat-winged mare is biting one’s finger.
 
Medi, the tiny mare, a pegasus pony of sorts, released my finger and began processing the blood she drew. Which means she swirled the blood in her mouth and smacked her lips loudly, which sounded like miniature bubbles popping. She looked up at me quizzically, then turned and gave the sampled finger another taste. A staccato of tongue clicks later she looked up to me again.
 
“Your blood levels are normal, you can donate platelets again if you wish with no drop in clotting ability. Also, I detect no presence of parasites, Blackbird. What makes you think you have ticks?” Her gold-rimmed pupils glistened as waited for my answer.
 
It took me a few moments to understand the source of her misunderstanding. “No no no,” I shook my head. “Not Poly- as in many, and ticks- as in blood-sucking parasites, but politics. You know, what political party do you favor?”
 
“Oh,” Medi dropped her head. “I thought we were friends.”
 
It was my turn to look quizzical. “We are, Medi, what’s wrong?”
 
“From what I’ve seen, people only ask those questions if they dislike you.” Medi lifted her nose slightly and stared up, looking for all the world like a grey puppy.
 
“What? That’s not why… Why do you think that?” I asked, intrigued.
 
“Well, I’ve seen that some will stop talking to others if they wear a red hat. Others say mean things whenever a certain Representative says something. Others seem to live for the moment that they can argue loudly and unkindly with someone with a different viewpoint.”
 
I nodded. “Yes, that does happen sometimes. But it doesn’t mean I won’t be your friend just because I asked.”
 
Medi looked down. “I just don’t like it at all. Broad assumptions are made about others once they answer that question. They just label each other and start name-calling. Nobody is a label. So don’t label me and file me in a category. I’m not a manilla folder.”
 
“I agree, you much cuter that that.” I scritched under her chin with a finger, but she didn’t smile.
 
But it happens all the time! Complete strangers will hate each other because of a red hat, or a white dress, or a shirt with face on it. Passionate feelings on one topic cause assumptions on five other topics that are completely unrelated. It’s wrong! People are complicated, they have different views on many things, and they should! There are no easy, fast, answers to any problem in the world. But no one wants to talk about the problems, they just want to assign perceived blame, yell, and label to each other. And once they’re labeled, all talking stops and the hatred begins.  
“And that is what politics seems to do. Allow people to say, ‘You like this man, so you must be evil’, or, ‘you agree with her, so you must be an idiot’. What happened to sharing and understanding viewpoints? Don’t we all have something to share and contribute?”  
Medi’s eyes glistened. “I want to just be friends with the unique person you are.”
 
I looked down, suddenly ashamed. “I’m sorry I asked.”
 
Medi flew up and patted my hair. “It’s okay, I’m not mad. I’m glad we could talk.”
 
I looked up and smiled. Medi, still hovering, smiled back. “The only label I want to call you is your name.”
 
“It would be great if we all took that advice.” I answered, and carefully wrapped her up in a fuzzy hug against my cheek.
Joseph Raszagal
Wallet After Summer Sale -

Emily Brickenbrackle III
Okay, so let’s recap some things:
 
I was sick for what ended up being about four weeks. I’m sick again, but nowhere near as bad (mostly just mild aggravation at this point; blame the steroids for ruining my immune system =P).
 
I’ve been force-choked by my little buddy after she sucked the Midichlorians (probably spelled that wrong and, good God, I couldn’t possibly care!) out of my bloodstream.
 
My trusted Communist Comrade betrayed me completely by referencing the above-mentioned D= How could you, Starlight? We overthrew the corrupt bourgeoisie together! Our blood, sweat, and tears flooded the streets of St. Petersburg as one! xD
 
It turns out that Starlight’s day job is compensated with minimum wage, much like my own. [Insert Applejack crying on the outside here]
 
A legitimate political argument took place. [Facepalm FACEPALM FACEPALM!] For shame, everypony, you should all know better than to allow something as paltry as politics to come between you.
 
@97blackbird  
“So, do you have anything to say about politics?” I asked casually. As casually as one can while a tiny, grey, bat-winged mare is biting one’s finger.
Medi, the tiny mare, a pegasus pony of sorts, released my finger and began processing the blood she drew. Which means she swirled the blood in her mouth and smacked her lips loudly, which sounded like miniature bubbles popping. She looked up at me quizzically, then turned and gave the sampled finger another taste. A staccato of tongue clicks later she looked up to me again.
“Your blood levels are normal, you can donate platelets again if you wish with no drop in clotting ability. Also, I detect no presence of parasites, Blackbird. What makes you think you have ticks?” Her gold-rimmed pupils glistened as waited for my answer.
It took me a few moments to understand the source of her misunderstanding. “No no no,” I shook my head. “Not Poly- as in many, and ticks- as in blood-sucking parasites, but politics. You know, what political party do you favor?”
“Oh,” Medi dropped her head. “I thought we were friends.”
It was my turn to look quizzical. “We are, Medi, what’s wrong?”
“From what I’ve seen, people only ask those questions if they dislike you.” Medi lifted her nose slightly and stared up, looking for all the world like a grey puppy.
“What? That’s not why… Why do you think that?” I asked, intrigued.
“Well, I’ve seen that some will stop talking to others if they wear a red hat. Others say mean things whenever a certain Representative says something. Others seem to live for the moment that they can argue loudly and unkindly with someone with a different viewpoint.”
I nodded. “Yes, that does happen sometimes. But it doesn’t mean I won’t be your friend just because I asked.”
Medi looked down. “I just don’t like it at all. Broad assumptions are made about others once they answer that question. They just label each other and start name-calling. Nobody is a label. So don’t label me and file me in a category. I’m not a manilla folder.”
“I agree, you much cuter that that.” I scritched under her chin with a finger, but she didn’t smile.
But it happens all the time! Complete strangers will hate each other because of a red hat, or a white dress, or a shirt with face on it. Passionate feelings on one topic cause assumptions on five other topics that are completely unrelated. It’s wrong! People are complicated, they have different views on many things, and they should! There are no easy, fast, answers to any problem in the world. But no one wants to talk about the problems, they just want to assign perceived blame, yell, and label to each other. And once they’re labeled, all talking stops and the hatred begins.
“And that is what politics seems to do. Allow people to say, ‘You like this man, so you must be evil’, or, ‘you agree with her, so you must be an idiot’. What happened to sharing and understanding viewpoints? Don’t we all have something to share and contribute?”
Medi’s eyes glistened. “I want to just be friends with the unique person you are.”
I looked down, suddenly ashamed. “I’m sorry I asked.”
Medi flew up and patted my hair. “It’s okay, I’m not mad. I’m glad we could talk.”
I looked up and smiled. Medi, still hovering, smiled back. “The only label I want to call you is your name.”
“It would be great if we all took that advice.” I answered, and carefully wrapped her up in a fuzzy hug against my cheek.
 
And then this happened, which was a wonderful way to quell things. Kudos, 97blackbird, you’re golden <3
 
Now, can we all please try to get along like a good group of chums?
BigBuggyBastage
Solar Supporter - Fought against the New Lunar Republic rebellion on the side of the Solar Deity (April Fools 2023).
Non-Fungible Trixie -
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Not a Llama - Happy April Fools Day!

Go fsck yourself
I was sick for what ended up being about four weeks. I’m sick again, but nowhere near as bad (mostly just mild aggravation at this point; blame the steroids for ruining my immune system =P).
 
Ahh, I see you’re following my own patented “health care plan of attack.” XD Always a balancing act for me, with the steroids keeping inflammation down, but driving blood sugar through the roof. First few days are fun, but that wears off fast, so I kinda know how ya feel.
 
Stay stronk, brother. Get TOTALLY well soon!
Joseph Raszagal
Wallet After Summer Sale -

Emily Brickenbrackle III
@FeatherTrap  
@BigBuggyBastage
 
Prednisone is a cruel mistress, isn’t she? xD Never really affected my blood sugar too much, though I suppose that could be more related to the fact that I have low blood sugar as opposed to high =P . Still, the trade off is worth it as far as I’m concerned; too much intestinal bleeding results in some… unfortunate trips to the bathroom (and that’s about as in-depth as I’m going to get when it comes to that subject; trust me, you’ll thank me later for being as vague as possible xD).
 
Long story short: No worries, yo, I ain’t dead yet. I’ll get better =3 . I appreciate the concern though <3
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