Intergalactic Summit

I'm not sure. This conversation, the length of it, has given a somewhat mixed perspective on the war. We somehow managed to be at war and peace at the same time. Certainly CONCORD still stands, for some reason, as law enforcement for treaties that are still palatably functional. I suppose the CEWPA is a strange war.

It isn't a full war, obviously not every Matari is honor bound to kill me nor I them. It is taking place in a limited zone where conflict is allowed to take place. Also, from what I can see, the empires involved aren't taking a direct role either. I would call it a proxy war, but a proxy war is when you equip a force to send into a fight on your behalf, and not only are all four of us at least involved, we aren't equipping combatants as much as rewarding successes. What is the nature of being 'at war'; is this it? Despite my misgivings, and I still find it despicable that we are forced to sacrifice lives this way, it is all-voluntary. While I suppose someone has to be out there while the CEWPA is in effect, it doesn't have to be everyone, or even a majority of anyone. We can continue as if nothing is happening out there, a bit like the nullsec wars.

It has been a strange war, since it hasn't been as disastrous as a total war. However, I'm not sure whether what we have now is better.

At the very best, the CEWPA warfare is a limited conflict that masks the scope of the casualties it inflicts in terms of lives and resources. It doesn't come to our doorsteps anymore, but keeps up a constant drain of treasure elsewhere. It's a war that, if no one is inclined to end it and the casualties don't outpace growth, could go on forever, like a wound that doesn't heal. Certainly, it is going to be difficult to mend the fences that divide us with this in the way, always killing just enough people to give us nationalist pride but never enough to give us fear.

At worst, and I've often wondered if this is the case, is this gladiatorial combat? Do the empires simply need somewhere to send people that they think will fight no matter what, to distract us? It's been bothering me since a chat I had with a Caldari pilot some time ago. The question arose as to what, exactly, these people would be doing if they weren't fighting each other in the warzone. Is this a distraction, a neverending war that capsuleers can fight where it doesn't inconvenience the rest of the cluster?

The implication is that the warfare won't end. It will simply occupy capsuleers who know nothing else, who cannot die and cannot lose, until the end of their days. The borders seesawing back and forth, used as a shining political football within our nations when necessary and a gilded age when not? An arena where our sponsors can outfit us for our successes and send us gleefully back into combat?

It's not something I can really say. It probably isn't something anyone would see from inside the warzone where the combat always takes precedent in the mind over the philosophical political ramifications, yet it isn't something we can see from outside, either, where the combat is a distant commentary. I just worry that CONCORD has decided to try and tuck the violent capsuleers away where they can't cause another invasion and where the drain on resources will prevent another.

I don't really know, this sort of thing might simply be the result of having friends on both sides of the battle lines and knowing that they are, at heart, good people who could make a better difference elsewhere. I have to admit, the thought has crept into my mind more than once.

Considering the number of Caldari capsuleers who come on IGN preaching that the state should ditch the Empire and become best buddies with the Minmatar, you might wanna reconsider that.

It's amazing - they shoot up a few Gallente dreads (never mind their own losses) and all of a sudden they're getting roses tossed at them by the nearsighted. Never mind that this was their own ally they did this to, and that they've got worst record for broken treaties in all of New Eden, because hey, they killed some Gallente, so they must be cool, right?

Apparently hating the Gallente overrides all common sense in some Caldari minds. I don't get it, and frankly I don't care to. At least their actual government is still practical, but then that probably why they're the government and these other guys aren't. Maybe there's something to this whole "meritocracy" thing after all, right?

Meanwhile... like Fred said, the "conflict" between the Empire and the Federation is (officially) nothing more than a cultural one. Well, we all know how those always end. Thesis, antithesis, synthesis. Just watch - the end result in a few centuries will just be a more liberal Empire and a more religious Federation. I got no complaints.

Future vestments will be FAAAAAAAABULOUS!

Father... I laughed. Until I couldn't breathe. Rikaato, i needed that.

And Fred, I most likely will in time. The understanding is appreciated.

If you ally with the Federation, they'll want to dominate your culture and eventually absorb you.

If you ally with the Republic, they'll want to export their people to your world where they will out-breed you.

If you ally with the State, they'll want to exploit your natural resources and labor.

If you ally with the Empire, they'll want to convert you to a religion where their head-of-state is the spokesperson for G-d.

Empires are not benign creatures. The purpose of any social group is to benefit its members, and the majority of the time, that's going to happen at the expense of another social groups.

The main complaint seems to be that the Amarr Empire is honest about what it does.

If I had to guess, Saya, and don't take this the wrong way, but it's probably the responses several Caldari have put here. It may be a cultural thing, but let's imagine that someone called my faith false and ridiculous and whatnot (in fact, you don't have to imagine, that happens fairly often). Imagine if six members of PIE suddenly dropped into the channel and started adamantly declaring that our faith would forever be inviolate and that all who slander it would perish in flame.

Essentially, imagine five Naupliuses dropped into every conversation where our faith was, in any way, denigrated.

All I am saying is, I know you are trying to put on a brave and deterrent front. But sure things don't need explaining more than once if they are truly foregone conclusions. Becoming so defensive about any even potential cultural exchange, especially from military allies who have repeatedly from positions of authority tried to reassure you that we aren't going to violate our treaties, doesn't give off that aura of strength. It sounds a bit insecure.

Again, not trying to be insulting, but that's probably why those few people who do suggest it surely don't take you very seriously. All of our empires have 'those people' that are very uptight about some issue or another. The loud and postured approach, even if it is a gut reaction, is generally seen as a reaction of fear rather than a measured reaction from a position of strength.

If you really aren't afraid of being attacked because you can repel all comers, that should be something so obvious it doesn't bear further discussion. A short but polite explanation that the idea of cultural infiltration isn't looked highly upon in the State would have probably better projected a feeling of assured security.

Doesn't bigotry require that I hate or dislike members of specific groups? You seem to be using it to mean 'has an opinion about various nations that I disagree with.'

Whatever the case, no I am not trolling.

I won't go into the positive or negative aspects of cultural integration or whether it is even a process that can be resisted in a healthy way here (that might be a topic in and of itself that I'm perfectly happy to engage in elsewhere). I'm simply saying that such a statement doesn't necessarily need to be represented, especially that vehemently. It is tempting to snarl often; the IGS has a way of getting on our nerves. I'm simply saying that, though it may be true that the State is unassailable, saying so loudly and often isn't exactly deterring anyone and very often encouraging them. It's a sign of weakness elsewhere in the cluster.

Don't tell them you're going to shoot them, just shoot them when they violate their treaties. Nobody needs a warning that a treaty violation is an invitation for lasers. In the end, if someone is really planning on invading the State, they will already be expecting resistance and are not going to taunt you here and be deterred by a response. And believe me, some people will say things solely to jerk your chain to hear you yelp.

Regardless, I was just trying to answer your question. The mere vitriol of a response is enough to prompt one to question the validity of the statement. If rockets are the only language you intend to speak, at least let them do the speaking for you in that discussion. It sounds a bit less desperate, if you catch my meaning. Inviting someone to try doing something you want for the opportunity to shoot them is a bit like when an Amarrian Holder reaches his two-hundredth year or so and suddenly buys a high-powered sport skiff so that everyone knows how cool and virile he is. What you say and what is interpreted from that statement are two different things, irrespective of whether they are the truth or not.

Despite the whining of some capuleers, the State knew exactly what it was doing when it crawled into bed with an imperialist, slave-taking theocracy. The alliance between the State and the Empire is maintained because both parties prefer it to alliances with other nations or over going it alone.

Yes, the Empire will always want others to adopt its religion. Yes, it sucks. Sorry the universe has conspired to cause you annoyance. Thankfully, the CEOs of the megacorps are adults and understand that annoyances are to be expected.

I can only assume the invasion into Solitude by the Kador Home Fleet and the counter-invasion by the Federation into Kador space do not count as mutual treaty violations for you.