"Ages ago, during the Butlerian Jihad, most people were merely organic automatons, following the commands of thinking machines. Beaten down, they never questioned, never resisted, never thought. They were people, but had lost the spark that made them human. Still, a core of their kind resisted. They fought back, refused to give up, and ultimately prevailed. They alone remembered what it was to be human. We must never forget the lessons of those perilous times." (House Harkonnen, p. 313)
This quote is from Gaius Helen Mohiam who is prepping 13-year-old Jessica for the "death-alternative challenge" to determine if she is, in fact, a human child. I thought this quote really explained to me better than I had recalled why this test was administered over the ages. Also, as Passover is approaching, it calls to mind the same kind of thinking and discussion that is to take place at Passover seder. We are to remember what it was like to be slaves and feel like we, ourselves, have been liberated. We are never to forget how important freedom is. And at the same time, we are supposed to recall the pain and suffering inflicted upon our oppressors during the Plagues and feel empathy toward the other humans.
I can't wait for seder so we can discuss this while we drink our four cups of wine!!!
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