The short story "In a good cause...." By Isaac Asimov is easily the best one of the complete stories so far that I've read.
It showcases how the end goals of the pacifist Altman align with that of the realistic, ready to serve and willing to fight Geoffrey (Jeff) Stock.
A lot of reviews that I found online speak about how the people of the United Worlds of the Galaxy realised that Altman's vision is the reality that they are living in; and in recognition of the imprisonment he's suffered they create a perfect statue.
However a deeper reading of the story shows how critical the character of Jeff is. He is militaristic, but is practical and understands human psychology much better than Richard. But he understands that with human nature as individualized as it is and with different nation states/human worlds being advanced in military technology, it needs a much nuanced approach than what the idealistic Richard has.
But the clincher as far as the persons character is concerned is the parting line he gives to Richard - " when the United Worlds is a reality and when generations of men and women look back to these days of war through their centuries of unbroken peace, they will have forgotten the purpose of my methods. To them they will represent war and death. Your (italics ) calls for union, your (italics) idealism, will be remembered forever"....."and when they build their statues, they will build none for me."
How many Geoffrey Stocks do we know? And in how many cases have we been one? Is it ever possible for history to be known completely? This is where a fresh look at history like what Manu Pillai does for instance has a key role.
To produce such work and to keep track of and be interested by such work needs a lot of intellectual curiosity, and that is where a pragmatic approach to ideas like dissent, debate, disagreement is needed.
And for the personal self, developing the ruthless vision to see the end game like what Jeff demonstrates, along with the magnanimous acknowledgement and again - vision to step away from the limelight when it would have been so easy to celebrate the win - is a quality that I want to develop.
