User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-2141606-20120618032519

Befvore I make my arguement, I'll just have you all know that I'm new to the Elder Scrolls series, but I still have a good idea of what's gong on.

The Stormcloaks (and anyone who supports them) are short sighted. Sparking a rebelion in Skyrim leaves the entire province in chaos and division. And regardless of which side would win, Skyrim as a whole would be vulnerable due the extent of the war which has affected everyone.

Ulfric Stormcloak is a proud, honorbound Nord, but he's also selfish, naive and stubborn, not to mention racist against outsiders. Perhaps if he was less discriminitive against other races, he would gather more support and admiration, but the army he leads is just filled with ambitious and primitive racist thugs. Ulfric has shown that he only ever cares for the throne. Ulfric is so insensative that he desimates anyone who stands between him and the throne (and Nord traditions), killing Torrygg, a close firned of his to get his way. Had Ulfric asked, Torrygg would have likely challenged the dominion, but as ruthless as he is, he instead killed him - in a fair duel - but unneccessarily indeed. Ulfric only wants the throne and uses the outlawing of Talos worship as a way of rallying support from like-minded Nords.

I know that the Empire isn't very popular with a lot of people because the agreed to the banning of Talos worship. But, come on, people! If they hadn't done that, the Dominion would have destroyed the Empire and Skyrim with it as it was one of the terms of the surrender when the war was lost. People are way too hard on the Imperials because of that. The Empire is also much less xenophobic than the Stormcloaks and I think that they're much better because of it. The better the relations are with the other provinces, the more likely they are to side with them if and when the Empire is prepared to rebel against the Aldmeri Dominion. Destroying that relationship or chances of alliances will render either the Stormcloaks or Empire much more vulnerable in a war scenario.

All in all, the Stormcloaks are racist, short sighted thugs, while the Imperials are just trying to protect all of the Empire from another war with the Dominion, even if that includes sacrificing the few for the many. I truly believe that the Empire is the lesser of two evils, because if Ulfric becomes High King, you know what he's going to do next and that decision will destroy Skyrim in the resulting conflict.