The Politics of Third Earth: Part 3, Lion-O's Ideals and Values -Thundercats (2011)

The series actually connects itself to the real world through some of our political values. We must gather lessons from what Lion-O learnt in the first half of the series (http://animevigil.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-politics-of-third-earth-part-1-lion.html) and then how he is contrasted to other leaders, particular in the second half of the series (http://animevigil.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-politics-of-third-earth-part-2-lion.html) to find these values. Through this we can see that the Thundercats series presents itself, like the Book of Omens, as a guide to leading with "Sight Beyond Sight". The series theorises on how to lead well whilst keeping certain values in mind.

In the previous two posts I look at how Lion-O sets out of the shadow of his brother nd becomes an ideal leader. http://th09.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/214/8/6/thundercats_ho_by_farfie_kins-d42gvyq.jpg

First and most importantly is of course why we lead. As I have said pride is a big issue in terms of emotions. Connected to this is the idea we should not lead for our own sakes, we must remember the bigger picture. Pride blocks the bigger picture quite simply. We must lead for others; we must lead for the benefit of those whom we lead.. Too often it seems politics, throughout time and not just now, has been used as a time for personal promotion. We see how Lion-O learns to lead for his people from the Fishman Captain and how this is then contrasted to others like Vultaire or Grune. So personal promotion is not the goal of leading it is about the people. Nor should it be used as a way to be remembered. In fact Lion-O really questions his role as a leader, in the face of mortality, both of his deceased father and the Petalar Emrick, whose lifespan is just one day. He also questions his value as a leader with how kingdoms rise and falls throughout the ages. He is inspired by his friend Emrick though, who leads the Petalars onto a better life even though he will not get to see it himself. He asks if leading is just for hope, just for the illusion of a better life. However, as Emrick dies as his people escape the burning forest Lion-O is inspired and seemingly endowed with a new sense of worth. He sees the true value of leadership. He does it for the good of his people, for the now. Lion-O realises that there is no point in worrying about a time beyond your life because you cannot control it. You must try for the good of your people as much as you can control. It is not about the destination, leadership is not about what happens after you die, it is about the journey, it is about the decisions you make and the steps you take whilst you are in power that matter. Thus with the issue of pride that is throughout the series, and Emrick’s lesson, we should realise politics and leadership is not something for personal gain, but for those who we lead or govern.

Emerick was a teacher of Lion-O. http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/264/8/9/aceo___petalars_by_pandablubb-d4aiik2.jpg

Next racism and imperialism is a big topic in the series. Lion-O’s goal of mercy and teamwork means he wants to unite all the species together. He scolds other Cats throughout the series, like his companions in the first few episodes and then Pumyra later on, for the way they treat other species, namely Lizards, Rats and Dogs. One of Lion-O’s plans in fighting Mumm-Ra is to show leniency and mercy to his army so they don’t want to fight. Two notable examples of this are in the first episode towards a Lizard and, during their mission to save the cats, towards a small Rat. Both of these acts of mercy show their value as both help Lion-O, first, to escape after the fall of Thundera and then to fight the rat leader, Ratar-O. The original riot against Mumm-Ra, the one led by Leo, united the species gloriously. They did not fight for one specific race but all together for each other, under the flag of freedom. This idea of course became lost as we can see from the many opinions of the Lizards and Rats. He wants peace and equality between all lands. Similarly slavery is condemned when the Conquedor takes the Berbils and sells them for slaves. Quite simply the Thundercats attack the slaver and those who are buying the Berbils, and subsequently defend the robot bears when the others try to take revenge. This idea of imperialism and racism culminates with Lion-O’s choice not to take the Tech Stone from the Bird City, because it would needlessly endanger the lives of thousands. This is idea is most clear when Lion-O is confronted by the Prefect of the Bird City, Vultaire, who refuses to give Lion-O the Tech Stone because he fears the Cats will use it to hold power over the other species, not to help them. Lion-O, as we know but the Bird Prefect does not, is a kind king and he wants to help all species against Mumm-Ra. The whole issue of imperialism and racism is summed up in the second to last episode when the gang are flying up to the bird city. Lion-O looks down on all the countries of Third Earth and comments how they don’t seem divided by boundaries, that they all seem part of a whole. Thus racism and imperialism are seen as bad and inferior to equality and peace generally.

Lion-O and his team learn to be more lenient to other races than there more immediate forefathers. http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/268/b/5/thunder_thunder_thunder_by_anaklusmos_riptide-d4axs75.jpg

As I said above, when we compare Lion-O to Mumm-Ra in the last few episodes a struggle of power versus compassion arises. This is a question of why one rules, is it for personal power or is it for peace and the good of their people. Obviously the latter is shown to be more virtuous and more righteous throughout the series. At the same time in fact compassion shows itself to be more worthwhile for the leader as well as those he leads. Politics is a very symbiotic relationship, especially in a democratic system. Although Thundera is in no way democratic, it is quite obviously monarchical, a king needs his people, he needs manpower behind him, to rule. This is shown with Lion-O’s strategy to take down the lizard army by getting battalion to desert Mumm-Ra and by how seriously Mumm-Ra takes this threat. However one’s followers will only follow them in so long as they get benefit out of it. Mumm-Ra’s army revolt because they have been and will be even further repressed under his command. The Fishmen show disloyalty to their captain who shows no concern for their well being. This idea is most fully played out in the main narrative by Ratar-O and his right-hand rat Mordax. Ratar-O is very abusive to his people, Mordax most of all. On the other hand Lion-O has mercy on Mordax, saying it is just as powerful as the sword, when Pumyra attacks the Mouse. Although in the short run the eye-patched mouse shows loyalty towards his king, this loyalty runs out as Ratar-O continues to physically and verbally abuse his second in command, treating him more like a slave than anything else. When the time comes for Mordax to choose to help Ratar-O or Lion-O, the mouse chooses Lion-O, giving him the Sword of Omens and this lets Lion-O defeat Ratar-O (just as Jaga had defeated Ratilla). Thus, just as leniency and mercy is repaid by the Lizards in the first few episodes it is repaid too by the mouse Mordax, who says he wonders why a foreign king treats him better than his own king ever had. Liono nicely sums up Ratar-O’s opinion saying his people are just slaves on the other side of the whip. Politics in the series, despite not being in a democratic land, is still show as a relationship where a leader needs his people even more than they need him. Loyalty, like respect (as Panthro says), is earned not demanded. So too Lion-O had to earn Pumyra’s respect and loyalty in the Pit by not fighting her back. He does not treat her badly but convinces her he is leading for the sake of the people, for her sake and this convinces her to follow him. It is also notable how Pumyra refers to Lion-O as her king, a word without any truly bad connotations, to Mumm-Ra as her master, implying she is his slave, and Ratar-O is called a tyrant, a violent abusive ruler. Politics is a game of loyalty, and how one leads or is at least perceived to lead is very important for their followers (and thus themselves at the same time).

Also Lion-O learns to rule with compassion and is met with loyalty, unlike Mumm-Ra. http://th02.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2011/327/e/b/thundercats_2011_by_donpapi-d4h3dwp.png

Morality is further promoted by the two kittens of the Thundercats. From a flashback we learn that WilyKat and WilyKit are the eldest of four children, and in order to help their family survive after the loss of their father, they runaway so there would be enough food for their mother and siblings. However, when they are in Thundera they must steal in order to survive starvation in the slums. However, WilyKat and WilyKit, in their experiences with Tookit, learn that virtue, namely honesty and integrity, is more important than personal gain, in particular wealth and luxurious living. They also moralise, when they are hunting with Cheetara and Panthro, about killing the family of Chib-Chibs and even save the Chib-Chibs from another predator. In return the Chib-Chibs lead the cats to other food. They basically question why others should die or be hurt so they can survive; that the argument a sacrifice of others for a “greater good” is flawed. Later they say stealing is wrong, notably when Tygra suggests taking the Tech Stone. However, they do not say being a vegetarian is necessary, but they firmly seem to believe killing is wrong, just like stealing. It seems they present that the idea is that unless something is absolutely necessary any immoral act that would harm others is wrong. They too present the idea life, of anyone of any species, over everything else, is important. This idea is also present by Lion-O when he refuses to fight Pumyra in the Pit (just as Panthro had previously run away to avoid fighting Dobo to the death). Although this is not power versus compassion the same kind of struggle is shown and the ideals and morality is placed over advancing oneself for their own gain. This is especially seen with the Bird Prefect Vultaire who is too often dishonest and changes side in the war many times. He betrays his people and the Thundercats save the Birds from certain death. We can see that dishonest leaders do not lead for the good of the people, they are concern only for number one, themselves.

The two kittens learn and even look to teach others about morality in their actions. http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/223/4/6/thundercats__lion_o_and_kitkat_by_farfie_kins-d46751s.jpg

But this leaves one more issue open, sacrifice. We have seen that throughout the series sacrificing others for your cause is wrong. Sacrificing the baby Tygra so the tiger clan could appease the ancient spirits (the same spirits that help Mumm-Ra) was the wrong way to cure the disease that affected them. That killing the Chib-Chibs to survive is wrong, just as killing others in the Pit is seen as barbaric and evil. However, where does this leave Panthro (and his first set of arms)? Panthro sacrifices his arms to trap Grune in the Astral Plane, just as Grune had sacrificed his own tooth to help himself and Panthro from Spidera. As an audience we don’t mourn Grune and the writers never really imply, through their characters that what Panthro did was in anyway wrong. I mean Panthro gets another set of arms very quickly and does very little suffering indeed. Another time of sacrifice is in fact praised beyond anything else. This is Lion-O sacrificing his soul in order to help his Thundercats, after he fails his fourth trial. In fact every time the Thundercats put their necks on the line, in terms of battle, to help others it is fine. It comes down to a matter of their goal, or their bigger picture. Grune does everything for his own ambitions as he wants to be king of the cats. Grune even looks to betray Mumm-Ra. On the other hand Panthro and Lion-O want to do this for the benefit of the Thundercats and the peoples of Third Earth generally. Their sacrifices are for selfless reasons, comparative to Grune, who in his sacrifice says he has further on the political ladder to climb. Thus it seems the self-sacrifice is to be praised of a leader or politician. It is alright to make your own sacrifices, just as WilyKat and WilyKit sacrificed their own livelihood for their family, as long it virtuously helps those who lead for (or as long it keeps the bigger picture in mind).

Even Grune shows self-sacrefice can be good, but unfortunately he doesn't understand the true purpose of politics. http://dannortonart.deviantart.com/art/Grune-the-Destroyer-Concept-290512889

Another more convoluted issue that is raised is that of environmentalism and technological advance. The environment is of course placed as something that is important and worth protecting. This is quite obvious from episode 11 named Forest of the Magi Oar. We learn that protecting a forest is a good thing but using it for your own means, as the Wood Forgers do, is bad. In fact it somewhat seems that Zig and his fellow Wood Forgers are a tad ignorant of what they are doing. They save they are protecting the environment but really they are destroying. So too many people in our world are ignorant of the ways they are destroying the environment. But why should we protect the environment? Obviously for our healthy, but also for that of other animals/species. The Pedlars, a woodland race almost beyond Lion-O’s comprehension, due to the way they age, would be destroyed if their forest was destroyed. Like in our world many other creatures, seemingly unrelated to us, would be killed if we cannot look after the environment. Destruction of the environment, even if you are trying to save it, is not in keeping with your bigger picture, not to mention it is sacrificing something living and necessary for life for some other “greater good”. Technology is naturally put in opposition to nature and natural things, such as during the Soul Sever episode, where it is used to unnaturally save his family. So the question of whether technology is good or bad is also raised. The bombs and war machines the lizards use are obviously bad, but at the same time the birds use technology for life and peace. Lion-O concludes, like any non-cognitive object in life, technology is neither good nor bad, it totally depends on how it is used, whether it be for destruction and power, or for the preservation of life.

The soul sever raises the question of technology's place in society. http://th07.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/152/5/b/soul_sever_concept_by_dingo107-d51xuxd.jpg

Thus I would argue that in fact the main story is just a way of giving us these messages and that the important artifacts of the story are just symbols for the values portrayed. The first Stone of Power is a symbol of looking at the bigger picture and Liono only gains it when he can truly look at the bigger picture. So too the second stone is representative of how and why we lead. It is parallel with the Star of Plundarr, the symbol of power vs compassion, and is in the city where personal pride is pit against communal good. In other words the struggle for the Tech Stone mirrors the struggle of leading for the correct reasons. Unfortunately Mumm-Ra wins, all too true of how in our world politicians that have self-serving motives win elections over those who truly desire the public good. What then is the Book of Omens? Well the book is a symbol for the series itself. The book is said to tell the history and the future. So too the series recounts Lion-O’s history as well as lessons for the future. Just after Lion-O gets the book he is put into a flashback by the book in order to learn lessons that will be relevant. In particular his history lesson teaches him about the power of cooperation between the species, the benefits of freedom and the true aims of leadership. This all helped Leo defeat Mumm-Ra in the first place. So just as the book gives Lion-O directions for achieving his goals, so too the series and history gives us directions on how to achieve our goals correctly. So only when Lion-O first learns to use his “Sight Beyond Sight” in episode 6 and after he has forsaken his pride and other emotions in episode 5, he is able to get the Book of Omens, showing he has learnt his lessons, but he needs to keep them in mind, as he still struggles with these later on in the series. 

The items and symbols of the series: http://th08.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2011/236/5/0/key_of_thundera__book_of_omens_by_risiavyle-d47j8tp.jpg

Thus many values are promoted. Most important of these are leading for ones people, not for themselves. Next is how imperialism and racism are wrong, but equality, peace and morality generally are right. Also self-sacrifice for others is fine, but sacrificing others for oneself is not. Next the environment should be protected, but technology is not necessarily bad, it is all about how it is used. This series wants us to learn these things, just as the Thundercats learn them from the Book of Omens. 

My favorite piece of art. http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/300/4/c/happy_halloween_2012_by_reaperclamp-d5j5xle.jpg