does anyone else find Stargate: Atlantis' treatment of the Athosians violently problematic?...Now, it seems there's a spy on Atlantis, and NO ONE is even entertaining the idea that it could be someone from the Earth delegation tipping the Wraith off.
They're suspicious, sure. And there are members of the expedition who don't trust them, but isn't it warranted? Yes, it's imperialistic and wrong, but they are working on a military hierarchy of "secure, train, expand the perimeter." They haven't cleared the Athosians yet and garnered a level of trust to justify full security on their part. At that point in time they didn't know if the their intentions were good or bad. They've never encountered this group before, so it's warranted to be cautious. I mean, look at the Genii. They accepted them at face value and that was a big, big mistake. You can't trust everyone automatically or else your expedition will fail. And it's not as if NO ONE trusts Teyla or the Athosians. It just takes different people different amounts of time to gain that trust. John is more trusting of her, Bates (who doesn't work with her) relies more on the military structure.
Then, their rituals are used to portray them as ready to die, and the type of people who easily give up (wanting to allow Taylia to prepare herself for death in "38 minutes").
I disagre with this. It's not that they are portrayed as "ready to die" it's that they are tied to their rituals and it is important for them to prepare for death when it is pressing. Death in battle is different than death in waiting. Her death in 38 Minutes seemed to be imminent, so they requested she be allowed to prepare as is their ways. The Athosians go out fighting, but it's important for them to let their souls be at peace when leaving this plane of existence, if possible.
All in all, yes they are less trusting of the Athosians and they DO get called on it. They are just finding their way in this new situation at this point in time, but as the months go by and the interactions increase, the network of trust gets larger, they make attempts at bonds with different cultures (some good, some really bad), but it is an overall learning experience.
no subject
does anyone else find Stargate: Atlantis' treatment of the Athosians violently problematic?...Now, it seems there's a spy on Atlantis, and NO ONE is even entertaining the idea that it could be someone from the Earth delegation tipping the Wraith off.
They're suspicious, sure. And there are members of the expedition who don't trust them, but isn't it warranted? Yes, it's imperialistic and wrong, but they are working on a military hierarchy of "secure, train, expand the perimeter." They haven't cleared the Athosians yet and garnered a level of trust to justify full security on their part. At that point in time they didn't know if the their intentions were good or bad. They've never encountered this group before, so it's warranted to be cautious. I mean, look at the Genii. They accepted them at face value and that was a big, big mistake. You can't trust everyone automatically or else your expedition will fail. And it's not as if NO ONE trusts Teyla or the Athosians. It just takes different people different amounts of time to gain that trust. John is more trusting of her, Bates (who doesn't work with her) relies more on the military structure.
Then, their rituals are used to portray them as ready to die, and the type of people who easily give up (wanting to allow Taylia to prepare herself for death in "38 minutes").
I disagre with this. It's not that they are portrayed as "ready to die" it's that they are tied to their rituals and it is important for them to prepare for death when it is pressing. Death in battle is different than death in waiting. Her death in 38 Minutes seemed to be imminent, so they requested she be allowed to prepare as is their ways. The Athosians go out fighting, but it's important for them to let their souls be at peace when leaving this plane of existence, if possible.
All in all, yes they are less trusting of the Athosians and they DO get called on it. They are just finding their way in this new situation at this point in time, but as the months go by and the interactions increase, the network of trust gets larger, they make attempts at bonds with different cultures (some good, some really bad), but it is an overall learning experience.