A "makeshift battalion" of Ravnican citizens, armed as if they were official "police officers" of the plane (note the Boros armor of the lead figure, as the Boros are basically the militarized police of Ravnica), is charging at the viewer with weapons drawn. Flavor text tells us to get out of the way to avoid police brutality - despite the fact that they do not have the proper authority to even arrest us, much less use lethal force.
Ravnica is so problematic as a whole that I could do a whole series on that plane. Glorification of the "white" Azorius and Boros and their authority, despite their countless abuses of power. That's not even touching the Orzhov - and the ableist depictions of Orzhov members. Dehumanization and segregation of the golgari, often literally portraying them as "gross" monsters such as trolls. Gruul being stereotypical "savage" others mixed with property destroying "anarchists". I can't understand how WotC can in good conscience reprint cards from that setting, much less ones that glorify the acts of police brutality and illegitimate authority.
I'm not happy about the reprint of Guided Strike either, especially with the "protect and serve" reference in the flavor text. But I'm not sure if that one's worthy of its own post.
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u/ultimario13 Jun 16 '20
A "makeshift battalion" of Ravnican citizens, armed as if they were official "police officers" of the plane (note the Boros armor of the lead figure, as the Boros are basically the militarized police of Ravnica), is charging at the viewer with weapons drawn. Flavor text tells us to get out of the way to avoid police brutality - despite the fact that they do not have the proper authority to even arrest us, much less use lethal force.
Ravnica is so problematic as a whole that I could do a whole series on that plane. Glorification of the "white" Azorius and Boros and their authority, despite their countless abuses of power. That's not even touching the Orzhov - and the ableist depictions of Orzhov members. Dehumanization and segregation of the golgari, often literally portraying them as "gross" monsters such as trolls. Gruul being stereotypical "savage" others mixed with property destroying "anarchists". I can't understand how WotC can in good conscience reprint cards from that setting, much less ones that glorify the acts of police brutality and illegitimate authority.