Common Sense
TBS Studio, Tsargrad
June 12th, 2019
12:25 PMPrince Harold adjusted his tie one last time before opening the door. True, he could easily have had a valet do it, but he
was trying to give the people a good impression. So, he opened the door himself.
The reporter stood up respectfully as he entered the room. Harold scowled slightly.
"Sit down, Mr. Fowler, please," he said, "Right now, I'm just a regular person running for Parliament. There's no need to be so formal."
Fowler nodded and resumed his seat. Harold sat across from him, and the two exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes. Finally the cameraman spoke up.
"All right," he said, glancing at a digital clock below the camera's screen, "We're on the air in five, four, three--" He held up two fingers, lowered one, then pointed off to the side of the set. The news show's intro music began.
"Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to
One on One," Fowler said when it ended. Harold noticed a little red light on the camera had activated. "I'm Will Fowler, joined today by the royal family's Prince Harold. As His Majesty's younger twin brother, Prince Harold has made headlines recently with his unexpected run for the House of Commons on the Conservative Party's ticket. Despite, or, perhaps, because of, the novelty of the situation, he has led in each poll of his district's constituents."
Fowler turned his attention from he camera to Prince Harold. "Thank you for being willing to meet with me," the reporter said with sincerity in his voice, "I'm really excited for this interview."
"You're most certainly welcome," Harold replied easily, "It's good to be with you."
"I appreciate that," Fowler said with a smile, "So, to begin, no member of the royal family has ever sought elected office like this before. What made you decide to run for Parliament?"
Harold pretended to contemplate the question for a moment. He'd known it was coming, and he had an answer prepared. "Well, you see," he said after a sufficiently dramatic pause, "Growing up I'd always admired those old folks who got together in that big old building by Forrest Park, bickering and arguing but still managing to pass stuff anyway. I'd always wanted to be like them. Then, one afternoon last year, I looked in the mirror and realized I was finally old myself, and ever since then I've just been waiting for an opportunity."
"Really?" Fowler asked.
Harold grinned. He couldn't help it; the look on the reporter's face was priceless. "Nah, I'm just kidding," he said, waving one hand semi-dismissively, "I've been paying attention to the issues on debate recently, and I feel like this country really needs a good solid shot of common sense. There's so much we could be doing--that we should be doing--that we aren't doing. I hope to be able to help this country get back on track; back to the standards and principles of compassionate government that have brought us so far in this modern global society."
Fowler evidently had enough dignity to only look slightly chagrined. "And you feel that you are the right person to help make that change happen?" he asked, studiously ignoring the quiet sniggering that could be faintly heard coming from the technical crew.
"Yes, I do," Harold responded promptly, "We'll see if the voters agree with me come election time."
"I see," Fowler said, "Could you elaborate a little bit on the changes you want to see happen?"
"Certainly," Harold said slowly, gathering his thoughts, "For one thing, I think that Parliament has recently been relying too much on what the world defines as a progressive modern society rather than taking a good serious look at what's best for this country and this people. Now, don't get me wrong; I'm not being isolationistic or proposing anti-globalist policies. No, nothing like that. We live in a global society, and I think that's a good thing; it helps keep nations accountable. But when the international community is advocating so-called reforms that run contrary to our moral values, or even pushing for inaction when action is required, then we need to choose to make a stand, even if it means that we stand alone."
Fowler frowned slightly. "Might it be a little dangerous to abandon Tytor's partnerships and commitments?" he asked.
"Oh, that's not what I'm proposing," Harold said, smiling unconcernedly, "As I said, we live in a global community now, and we'll never again be able to do without allies and international treaties. But when there are those who make friendship conditional upon their idea of how we Tytorians should run our nation, then perhaps we need to reconsider being friends with them."
"Are you referring to a particular nation or group?" Fowler asked curiously.
"No, not really," Harold replied, "I simply think that this country needs to be careful. You could, after all, make the argument that the world remains a dangerous place."
"You most certainly could, yes," Fowler agreed, "What with nuclear weapons tests, saber rattling, and other such developments, many observers are calling this period one of the world's most dangerous yet. What do you believe the Tytorian government ought to do about it?"
"That's an excellent question, Will," Harold said, using the time to consider his answer, "I think it depends on the situation. I am, of course, just as committed to seeing Mundus become conflict-free as anyone else, but at times the best response to the threat of force is to call the aggressor's bluff, so to speak. Many times throughout history, wars or other crises have been averted simply by making the stakes higher than the other side is willing to face."
"Do you see Tytor playing that role in future?" Fowler queried.
"Perhaps," Harold said carefully, "At the moment, I would say no, however. The international community commonly fails to take us seriously; we're often seen as just another Rokkenjiman lackey--their feelings, not mine. There seems to be very little respect for our role in the world. Case in point, Tytor was recently left completely out of a comparative study of hard and soft power in the global arena; whether intentional or an oversight, it certainly throws Tytor's worldwide influence into serious question."
"I see your point," Fowler said ruefully, "Now, one more question, and then we're out of time. In the ongoing crisis with Slava Lavosk, the government has taken a hard-line stance in backing up a proposed Rokkenjiman blockade with Tytorian warships. Some in your party, along with more in the larger Conservative Alliance, have denounced this action as 'provocative' or 'irresponsible'. What is your take on the situation?"
"It's certainly complicated, I'll give you that," Harold responded, contemplating his reply, "I would say that, given the timing of the developments, the Prime Minister was right to act quickly in support of our allies. Does that mean that Tytor should follow through with the blockade? I don't know yet; there's a lot of information that we don't have. Other nations have been quick to rush to judgment, denouncing the blockade plans as 'illegal', but there is no international treaty of which I am aware, and certainly none that Tytor has ratified, which forbids blockades as a legitimate response to foreign aggression. I note also that Slava Lavosk, particularly their current administration, has a horrendous human rights record--not exactly the kind of regime we can trust with nuclear weaponry." He paused for a moment before continuing. "There was a time, and it wasn't all that long ago, when these tests would have resulted in global sanctions and near-universal condemnation. Now, however, most nations are content to merely look passively on while condemnation comes not to the aggressor but to those who act in response. We must not stand idly by while dictators and madmen destroy the peace we have so narrowly won."
"Well," Fowler said once Harold had finished, "That about does it for our time here today. Thank you once again, Your Highness, for consenting to appear on our show. And folks, thank you for tuning in. We'll be back after the break with Shelby Forthright, Speaker of Floodwater's People's Assembly, to discuss a recent initiative aimed at countering the effects of global warming on the island's famous coral reefs. This has been
One on One."
The little red light went out, marking the beginning of the commercial break. Harold stood up and shook hands with Fowler, then left the studio, waving to the rest of the crew as he went. He had a byelection to win.