XPost: rec.arts.sf.tv   
   From: nomail@gordol.org   
      
   It is alleged that Michael Johnson claimed:   
      
   > >Sinclair is and always was to become Valen.   
   > Btw.. one other question.. you do understand it makes much more sense   
   > given the character requirements of Valen for it to be Sheridan rather   
   > than Sinclair right?   
      
   No.  It makes more sense given the character requirements for it to be   
   Sinclair rather than Sheridan.   
      
   > Lets see.. a Minbari not born of Minbar that shows up 1000 years in   
   > the past as the Shadows are openly kicking Minbari and everyone elses   
   > ass, including the destruction of their biggest space station. Using   
   > Babylon 4 he leads a come-from-behind effort to fight off the Shadows   
   > MILITARILY and cause them to go back into hibernation. Afterwards he   
   > brings the Minbari together and ends up forming the Grey Council and   
   > bringing the various castes to an internal peace that lasts for 1000   
   > years.   
   >   
   > Exactly where in the show was it shown that Sinclair was some great   
   > military mind capable of doing the first part? He sure didn't learn it   
      
   Where is it shown that Sheridan is, either?  We saw Sinclair making   
   strategic and tactical plans several times during season one, whereas   
   Sheridan has been shown to think by the seat of his pants more often   
   than not.  Sheridan reacts, and takes advantage of situations whereas   
   Sinclair plans and +makes+ advantages.  Which one is better for   
   fighting a large scale war against a vastly superior force?   
      
   We see Sinclair doing this from the very first episode of the regular   
   series, "Midnight On The Firing Line".   
      
   And as for leading the Minbari, that is at least as much political   
   and/or religious as it is militarily.  Valen had to +unite+ the   
   Minbari, not just tell them where to point their weapons.   
      
   > from the religious nutjobs during his year and a half on Minbar. They   
   > can teach the religious part.. not the warrior part. And the best   
      
   Sinclair wasn't contemplating his navel during that time.  He was   
   learning all aspects of Minbari culture, history, and yes, military   
   tactics.  He was "Ranger One", the leader of a military force, not a   
   religious guru.   
      
   How that would have played out had O'Hare stayed, I don't know.   
      
   > Sinclair ever did when facing impossible odds in a military situation   
   > was go kamikaze. Hmm.. can't think of anything like that he'd do if he   
      
   Well, he thought he was going to die anyway.   
      
   > stayed.. like maybe divebombing a white star into Z'ha'dum while   
   > jumping in a big ass hole?   
      
   That still could have been Sheridan.   
      
   > Sheridan on the other hand does have that history of pulling victory   
   > from certain defeat. Of finding a way, any way, to be able to come out   
   > the victor. His character is someone I believe could fight back the   
   > shadows to a standstill.. not Sinclair.   
      
   You also actually +saw+ Sheridan do that so you don't know how Sinclair   
   would have handled it.  I think Sinclair would have done so with more   
   planning and less gut-reaction.   
      
   > It also works better on the other end. Sinclair, it was shown, has the   
   > ability to bring differing sides together. I certainly believe he   
   > would have the ability with which to marshall the forces and convince   
   > them to work together against the Shadows and Vorlons. The end to the   
   > Shadow War wasn't simply a military victory but an idealistic one.   
   > That by proving the younger races could stand on their own that there   
   > was no longer a need for the Shadows and Vorlons.   
      
   No question there.  And it does not conflict with Sinclair at a later   
   time making the time loop.   
      
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   Jeffrey Kaplan                                         www.gordol.org   
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   Peter's Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord, #149.   
   Ropes supporting various fixtures will not be tied next to open windows   
   or staircases, and chandeliers will be hung way at the top of the   
   ceiling.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)