"My honourable Sister, ladies and gentlemen of the floor. Here I am discussing the motion with the esteemed Grey Ajah, those worthy sisters who seek consensus and mediate between opposing factions. Their work is doubltless invaluable in the world, since they keep rulers from each others' throats, prevent wars and similar disasters, and resolve conflicts wherever they may occur.

This is surely worthy work in the world today, and is just as surely most necessary. But that in itself begs the question... _why_ is this mediation, why in fact is the Grey Ajah, necessary? For what reason do we have the conflicts, the fights, the wars that exist in this world today? And, my honourable sister, ladies and gentlemen, I would argue that the question has a simple answer. To whit: the Shadow. The Shadow, and its various agents, are the cause of almost all major conflicts and, as I will address in my debate with your Blue sister, also the cause of most of the political situations which, in the end, require mediating. No Shadow means little or no conflict - which directly leads to no use for the Grey Ajah. Thank you."

In Defense of the Dreadlords

Raina's Hold / Raina's Library / Raina's Library - Other People's Humour