Intergalactic Summit

While not a profound change of favor, I did undergo a galvanizing cultural experience similar to that of Pilots Cairi and Verrisai, in that I came to a deeper respect for my own culture through exposure to the cluster.

My mother gave birth to me on a Wiyrkomi station in Minmatar space, and as the birth occurred on State property to two State citizens, I have been counted a citizen myself since birth. Still, my youth was spent well away from the heart of the State, and as might be surmised, my initial exposure to our culture came solely from my parents.

Though we moved somewhat frequently from station to station, there was always consistent support of our ideals of achievement, collective endeavor, and leadership by example, no matter who claimed sovereignty in the system. This made the transition to my life inside the State proper, during my secondary education, by-and-large a seamless one. Despite being of a small minority, I spoke the language, understood the history, and integrated easily. Though a 'transplant' of sorts, I was never considered an outsider.

It wasn't until the later stages of my education at STI that I was able to acquaint myself with Achura, and though my mother had raised me as bilingual, I had very little use for our tongue outside of my meditations on spiritual texts. My exploration of our ancestral world was a second homecoming of a kind, not surprisingly a rewarding and uplifting experience. In coming to better know our origins, I felt that I was able to develop a sense of the spirit that made us worthy to be elevated to the stars as Caldari, and it invigorated my curiousity and my desire to test my capabilities.

So to come to the original point of this topic, I believe that rather than shedding something by entering the yasun, I have found a stronger sense of how to be the best citizen I can be, worthy of the striving of my forebears.

I can say a thing or two about migrating to another country. My mother, a Deteis woman who was steadily rising through the corporate ranks moved to the Federation. Why? After a short internship here, she felt a lot more valued. She said that while she adores the State as much as the Federation, you just don't have value as a person in the State. The notion of constantly trying to prove yourself was horrific for her. Here in the Federation, you are proven from birth and are judged not on what you do to get to your position, but on your position. Doctors are treated like doctors, not medical students trying to prove themselves to be doctors. Engineers are treated like engineers, rather than people with ideas yet no way to apply them. Leaders are treated like leaders, and not mere laborers trying to obtain that recognition.

As for myself, I don't live in Federation Space anymore. I have business to attend to in nullsec and really only come home to visit family, friends, and work on my show. In addition, I've visited all the Empires and have lived in each of them for at least a month. I actually lived in the State for several years, I'm sure Ms. Aelisha can understand why. Unfortunately, I had to leave once Heth and the Provist began to rise to power.

Of course, I never wanted to turn my back completely on the Federation. Gallente Society is a big part of why I have gotten to this point in my life. I truly believe I would not be the same person I am today were I to be born into a different country. I know for certain I wouldn't be as happy a person. While I love many things about the various cultures that exist, I do have my reason's for never integrating with another culture.

My travels throughout the cluster and my lengthy visits to other countries have mostly been trying to find a home away from home. I love the Federation, which is why I decided to try and bring things back to it that would make it better.

Living in the Amarr Empire? They seemed to be the people that were most content with their life style. There is a reason why they want to "reclaim" the cluster. They have an incredible devotion to their faith and culture, they truly believe the world would be better off if it was the only faith and culture there was. That said, I never considered the Empire as a possible home away from home because whether you are a peaceful loving Amarrian or a bloodthirsty zealot, you still want to impose your beliefs on others. When I was in the Empire I felt the constant and uncomfortable pressure to become part of the faith. "Everyone is doing it! You'll be better off if you just join in!". Sometimes life in the Empire felt like living in a Gallentean commercial for the latest fashion trend.

Living in the Minmatar Republic? I will admit, I wasn't fair to the Republic for sometime. Throughout my youth I never thought highly of the Republic. "Why don't they just live in the Federation like so many other Minmatar?" I wondered. I lived in the Republic for about three months and I have to say living there changed my impression the most. The one thing I absolutely adored about the Republic was it's pride. I attended the launching of a new Nidhoggur and you could see these wondrous looks on everyone's face! They had that smile that said "Everyone said we couldn't do it, and we sure as hell proved them wrong." This was the launch of one of many thousands of Nidhoggurs in the Republic Fleet, yet everyone who took part in building it treated it like it was the very first one to be unveiled to the cluster. Republicans are this proud about everything, from building capital ships to cooking you a quick meal. Of course, this pride that made me admire the Republic also made me dislike some aspects of it. There are many people living in poverty in the Republic, not a lot, but enough to be noticeable. The Republican attitude is to keep pushing forward no matter what, yet they seem to neglect what they leave behind. In addition, integrating as a foriegner is hard. Everyone there is part of a tribe. In the way the Amarrian faith is like a "must be a part of" trend, tribalism in the Republic is like a school clique. You're only allowed to get close to people within your circle, and you're discouraged from interacting with those in others unless it's a rivalry. Of course, if you can't find a clique or tribe to belong to, then you're kinda screwed.

And finally, the Caldari State: I stayed in the State the longest out of the countries I've lived in because I found their culture (particularly wayist philosophy) beautiful yet also practical. The idea that everyone worked to be part of something greater was quite appealing to me. You always felt like you belonged. There was no need to try and stand out because society will find a use for you. However, the reasons for why I could never really see myself permanently living in the State are the same reasons my mother had. I love the idea that you have to work for what you get, but it seems you are always working. You can become a CEO or Admiral if you are good enough yes, but you're never truly good enough. It's spectacular that Caldari society encourages people to be the best they can be like the Federation, however Caldari society doesn't seem to be able to accept when you do get to that point.

So yeah, I can say I tried them all, but the best I've found is where I was born, in the Federation.

See?

If I am " trying to fill missing facts with perverted fantasies in [my] small head ", spreading "lies and worthless propaganda." who doesn't "actually look for truth or facts.", and takes everything from my "sick imagination",

Then we actually have quite a lot in common. My point made. You up for coffee?

For Minmatar capsuleers I find there is, generally speaking, a welcoming and flexible support and network.

However, and this isn't a Minmatar specific problem, there's limited outreach from cultural groups (official or unofficial) and the rate of involvement of capsuleers in their original or chosen culture is very low by any reasonable metric.

I think the danger is as originally described, people risk accidentally "falling out" of their original culture rather than having to choose between capsuleering and remaining true to your cultural group.

If you feel like it was a significant change and can explain why, I do not see why not.

Insightful and educational experience with record disc, repeating senseless gallentean propaganda?
No, thanks!

I'd better go read about new weapon development. Or go study deeper chemistry. Or physics. Wormhole physics.

To find out that maybe the world isn't made of White or Black, Good Or Evil, Right Or Wrong, Light or Darkness, Eight or Eighty. That someone's worth isn't defined merely by their culture, race and nationality.



I'm a researcher. I research defense technology in my corporation. Thus I am savvy on all those subjects.



And hey, stop with that "gallente propaganda" thing. Compared to others in the IGS, I'm quite moderate concerning my nationality. I do favour the Federation but that's not a blind faith like many others of all nations. If anything, I have criticized the Gallente mindset in this exact thread.

That I know already.
But I don't want to provide to anyone who says lies like these:
"People like Diana Kim are that way mostly because they've never had to cohabit or get to really know people from cultures they oppose."
any ideas about me, to be used in stupid propaganda and insults.


And also you are savvy on lying about peoples.
NO. THANKS.


Okay, little quiz for you:

1. Do you believe freedom can bring only good?
2. Do you believe that individualism is a good thing?
3. Do you think that hedonism isn't bad practice?
4. Do you think that Tibus Heth was a terrorist?
5. Do you think that Luminaire belongs to gallenteans?
6. Do you think that disorders in Caldari Prime that caused the war, weren't started by gallenteans?
7. Do you think that freedom fighter is a better hero than a professional soldier?
8. Do you think that democracy is the best government or management form?

... Well, I could write more questions, but lets stop on this.
Value your answers, yes = 1; no = 0.
Count your score.

If your score is posivite, you are into gallente propaganda thing.
If your score is more than four, you are a gallentean propagandist.
If your score is eight, you are an enemy of humanity and must be destroyed on contact.

0
Meh
Meh
Meh
0
Meh
Situational
Meh
Hows that?

But...have you...? Am I wrong on that? If yes, for how long and with whom have you cohabited?




You just said you knew the world isn't made of binary manichaeisms yet you're asking me to give you binary answers on extremely complex topics. Miss, I could write entire essays (The last one was, by the way, partially the subject of one of my master's theses), and yet the final answer to all of them would never be "Yes" or "No" but only more doubts and uncertain observations. If I were to answer to a child with "Yes" or "No", all the answers would be "Yes" and "No".