Thinking today about how Shepard's conversation with Charles Saracino in ME1 is yet another example of Ashley disapproving of racism/xenophobia and parties like Terra Firma (samples below!). Still boggles my mind how people call her a space racist tbh

• If you ask him why the party commemorates Armistice Day (the day Shanxi was liberated from the turians) by protesting, the conversation goes like this:

Shepard: You're marking the end of the First Contact War with a protest? Saracino: As we have every year for the last 26 years. The war taught humanity a lesson that some would forget. If we don't stand up for ourselves, no one else will. Shepard (Paragon): I thought the lesson of the First Contact War was that there's other life in the galaxy, and they have opinions too. Saracino: Perhaps so, Commander. But if aliens feel free to express their "opinions" at gunpoint, why shouldn't we? Ashley: We should. But you're just looking for a reason. Saracino: I disagree. We have a backlog of grievances the aliens have ignored. Starting with Shanxi. Ashley: Were you at Shanxi? If not, shut your piehole. OR Shepard (Renegade): Every day I stand up for humanity. Often in the face of bullets. What have you done lately? You really think speeches help? Saracino: We all serve in our own way, Commander. I'm not a soldier, but I can tell the public why they should support your efforts. Ashley: Wearing a lapel on your uniform makes you a hero, huh? You wanna help humanity? Get out of your office and pitch in.

• If you ask him about Terra Firma, the conversation goes like this:

Shepard: I don't know Terra Firma's platform. What do you stand for? Saracino: Our core value is that Earth must "stand firm" against alien influences. Politically, culturally, and --in the worst case-- militarily. Ashley: It's a noble goal. Too bad so many of your supporters are just racists.

She disapproves of Terra Firma looking for ways to justify deliberate conflict with alien species, and gets worked up when Saracino uses Shanxi as a talking point in his own benefit. She, whose family was personally impacted by Shanxi for at least three generations, still refuses to fall for the easy trick of treating it as an excuse for xenophobia. Renegade dialogue options also show that she hates Saracino's guts for being all talk and putting no real effort into supporting humanity. I just love her.