I didn't have time to chime in on this before, but since Una kindly quoted it again. :)

Natasa wrote:

Cally is, however, very often removed from the centre of action. Her exchange with Tarrant re Shrinker is a graphic example. Think what

Blake

would do in a similar situation - probably rush in like a bulldozer

and

physically prevent the others from mistreating a prisoner. Blake

symbolized

the powerful presence of morality in one's consciousness;

"Mistreating a prisoner?" I'm always astounded when that bit of name calling in RUMOURS is presented as something so very nasty that it would have been unconscionable to allow it to continue. Given the far more serious crimes the rebels were guilty of, name calling ranks a mere "naughty" on my evil scale.

As for Blake rushing in to stop it, I don't think the man who blew up the ship docking with the Ortega has any room to criticize.

I would presume that most opponents of the rebels would choose "name calling" over "sticks and stones" any day.

Carol