Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-72.74.78.209-20141019230536/@comment-24999978-20141109163028

ShadowMistress2 wrote: I don't hate Ulfric (I think he's a fantastic character, as a matter of fact), but I don't agree entirely with  his ethics. I actually think he's hypocritical, power-hungry and boarder-line racist at times. Ulfric may have some good intentions, and he may speak golden words, but that makes him no better a man than anyone else, really. No, Ulfric is not a criminal in regards to High King Torygg, he defeated him in a completely legal manner, in a way that has been done long before then. Is he racist? Perhaps, but isn't just about everyone in Tamriel? I don't think he's as racist as a lot of people seem to put off, though.. he allows non-Nords and Nords to live peacefully in his city, even if those bitter Dunmer in the Grey-Quarter refuse to realize that and only see Ulfric as a tyrant - and before I forget about the Argonians, I don't know what the deal is with them, honestly, but they live basically the same way the Khajit do, and not many people look at it like that.. Windhelm also seems to be the only city that doesn't allow Argonians to live inside the walls.

Ulfric has his flaws, just as the Empire does.

Do with this as you will. This is based on my opinion of Ulfric Stormcloak for the most part. And I sided with the Stormcloaks during my playthrough because I couldn't bear siding with the Empire, they only care about keeping the peace no matter how long it lasts while the Nords are being oppressed in their own home because they choose to worship a God who doesn't reach the standards of an actual God because he's only a man in the eyes of those supremacists.

As I mentioned earlier in one of my posts, it is debatable whether Ulfric's duel with Torygg was legal. The Mystery of Talara, as one example, states that local provincial law are subservient to Imperial Law, so the Empire seemingly has every right to denounce this firm of regicide.

Although many individuals in Tamriel are indeed rather racist, I do not think that the fact excuses any further racism, nor would I say that everyone is racist. In Morrowind, for instance, there are common references to the Empire's plurality and tolerance being one reason for it's continued success (bearing in mind this was during the Third Era). The Stormcloaks may not be explicitly racist, nor even seemingly as bad as some other organisations, but statements such as 'Skyrim for the Nords' are inherently xenophobic. It can sometimes be saddening to see people use excuses such as 'patriotism' or 'protecting one's a nation or it's values' as justifications for such views, which unfortunately are also used by far too many individuals in real life.

Finally, I think that is is important to remember the extent to which the Cyrodiils also revere Talos, to similar standards to the Nords in some circumstances, the Talos Cult being one notable example. They would, undoubtedly, also suffer under the ban, and in addition, some NPCs like Alvor state that the Legion often refused to persecute Talos worshippers, with open shrines to his worship still standing in some areas, before Ulfric's trouble (likely referring to the Markarth Incident) drew the attention of the Thalmor to Skyrim. As a side note, the ban on Talos worship is more about his extensive opposition to the Thalmor than a mere disbelief, but my main point is that it is not only the Nords who have suffered, nor would I depict the Imperials as oppressors. Overall, though, I did rather like some of the points in your post, and feel free to discuss or refute any of the ideas in mine.