Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-14138255-20141031002615/@comment-24.61.230.178-20141031060434

Remember when Ironwood mentioned to Glynda that he felt like he was being left in the dark? I suspect he was right. Being removed from security may have been part of Ozpin's plan. But for it to work, he couldn't let Ironwood know.

Think about it. It takes the focus off Ozpin. It gives him a little more freedom. Public attention will focus on Ironwood. That allows Ozpin to fly a little under the radar. It may even allow opponents to underestimate him. If any of the enemies are politically connected, it also gives them a chance to overplay their hand. Most of all, it now means Ozpin doesn't need to split manpower. He can devote all resources to investigation instead.

Another thing to consider:

If the big war some 80 years ago was about individuality and expression, then what went so horribly wrong with the Faunus? They've been oppressed like the war was lost rather than won.

SDC is right in the thick of it. There's still a lot of history we don't know. We know Weiss is from Atlas. It wouldn't be surprising if the Schnee family were former Atlesian nobility.

Plus Atlas is the country with all the technology and the world's strongest military.

But the most important aspect maybe cultural...

Remember how Weiss was in the beginning of Season 1. Compare that to how she is now. Then look at Ironwood and his soldiers. There is a common theme -- Atlas tends to suppress individuality. Ironwood is a bit like Spock to Ozpin's Kirk. Now like in the Star Trek reboot, we have Ironwood taking over for Ozpin. The point is logic lacks empathy. That's what Spock and Ironwood have in common. It's also a trait possessed by Weiss in the very beginning. According to Weiss, it sounds as if her father lacks it as well. Then there's the White trailer. Why would Weiss be the loneliest of all? Because her thoughts and emotions have been suppressed. We have very limited character contact with Atlas thus far, but there are indications that the culture of Atlas suppresses individual identity.

Also, if Ironwood represents the Tin Woodsman, then he also represents the man who thinks he lacks a heart, further reinforcing the cultural motif.

Who's been oppressing the Faunus? Who have the White Fang been mostly attacking? Who gets hurt most by all the Dust that Torchwick has stolen? Who suddenly has a general in charge of security at the Vytal Festival? What typically causes people to sacrifice their freedoms and liberties? All things lead back to Atlas....and probably even the Schnee family.

I don't see Ozpin as the target here. If anything, I see Atlas as the true target. Maybe Cinder and Adam merely want humans to remember what censorship and oppression fell like. Perhaps they want to expose Atlas for its totalitarian tactics. If Ironwood's personality is any gauge, especially in light of Weiss' own comments about her father, then Atlas tends to respond to threats in brutal over-the-top fashion. That means draconian measures and loss of civil liberties.

Viewing it as Ozpin might, I would guess that he realizes that Atlas does need to be exposed and forced to look at themselves in the mirror. However, Ozpin wants a peaceful solution rather than war. He wants Atlas to learn the error of their ways....to regain empathy and perspective. Ozpin wants to break the cycle of history rather than fight yet another war for individuality. However, he wants a peaceful solution rather than a war. Ozpin would rather stop Atlas from making a mistake that might result in a much larger confrontation.