Intergalactic Summit

A flashy studio and a political talk show fills the gap between morning news break and the midday programme. Broadcasting in Caldari State and beyond. Haria Haritimado is one of several invited guests this day and representing ‘the capsuleers’.

“Welcome back to the New Caldari Prime Daily. We’re discussing ‘Patriotism and Hope’ this morning and our next guest is Ms. Haria Haritimado, a capsuleer from the Science & Trade Institute.

“Ms. Haritimado, we’ve heard so far, that the current debates on intergalactic politics, as discussed within the community of capsuleers, are completely aloof and detached from any major discourses going on on planetary, regional, or local levels. Immortal capsuleers and their deeds and views as interstelar agents shape the future, it is said! But do they shape anything more than their own affairs?”

“Well, as a ‘young’ capsuleer I still share the views from within and without the capsuleer community, I think. And they are certainly involved in matters which effect many citizens of different interstelar political bodies. So I don’t think they’re just living in their own bubble of space and time. But I do think that the capsuleer community and it’s political debate got detached from any fundamental experiences of culture and history.”

“But cultural identity as well as differences and the definition of history seems to play an important role, though.”

“Yes. But in my oppinion, those topics are often discussed without any reference to any real experience of what culture and history really is and means – especially of our neighbors or so called adversaries. The capsuleer debates seem to hover above all those innumerable tiny planets, moons, stations, and local communities. They’re talking about them, but not necessarily with them. Which is odd, because one lifetime may not be enough to get a grasp on what really defines our interstellar neighbors’ life world. But capsuleers do have the potential to be nearly immortal agents and ambassadors with a transgenerational view on the coexistance of nations.”

“So, capsuleers are narrow minded?”

“That’s a hard word. I find most of them quiet versatile and intelligent. But as a capsuleer you could either be engaged in diplomacy, understanding, and tolerance, or you narrow the scope and act as a mere weapon or tool for resentmenents. From my perspective, political debates among capsuleers mostly stick to the latter kind. My first impression is, Capsuleers engage each other with seemingly undisputable positions. They tend to confront ideas and values which appear universal to them. I assume that this is a wrong attitude, caused by a presupposed bigger relevance. Capsuleers discuss matters which affect trillions! So matters appear more important and seem undisputable! You found this attitude recently in debates on Amarr and Minmatar, crusaders, or among Caldari citizens. But this is a deceiving attitude, because the capsuleers’ clash of positions and values is just the same as within the smallest local community possible. The outcome of debates may be of uttermost relevance to many, but to think this would amplify the power and relevance of your argument in the beginning, is a wrong conclusion.”

“So you support the idea of tolerance and understanding between rival factions, which is normally labeled a liberal point of view or humanist attitude.”

“You could say so, though I’m not thinking of myself as a politician of some sort. It is more of an intimate, personal insight. Every great nation of New Eden, and maybe some alien civilizations as well, share the innermost understanding for ‘the other person’. They understand, that self expression, history and the orientation toward a fullfilling future is universal and if I look at the other, I’m basically looking at someone like me. There are differences, but everyone of us is able to understand the wish for appreciation of one’s very self and the welfare of community. I strongly believe that this understanding is fundamental. Especially for capsuleers, since they constantly cross horizons today and reach beyond what they knew yesterday.”

“From what you say, capsuleers should no longer be agents of their nation, faction, or society they come from. Do you think they should be some kind of universal agents of peace, reaching hands against all odds?”

Leave Miss Kim alone!

I'll be interested to see exactly where this ends up going. I have some sympathies as I remember when Diana Kim was held up as the epitome of the Patriot bloc capsuleers and I am often sad to see how far she has fallen.

So she would also leave us alone!

Let's not rush to judgement. Just because Diana Kim herself has not ventured off-message in two years, that doesn't mean we can't have an interesting conversation about topics including her.

To discuss a person is to summon them. To discuss the person in question is to summon them. To summon the person in question is to immediately torpedo any attempt at an interesting conversation on any topic, especially any topics including that person.

So why are we still discussing this person?

Much appreciated.

So, politics politics with a little anti-Kim. I guess my choice to not bother reading it was a wise one.

Fair enough. Still not seeing a reason to read it though.

I'll stick with my Galactic Spam Daily I think. Goes down easier with breakfast than politics.

Same can be said for boarding your capsule, jumping a certain gate, or entering almost any wormhole.

Extremism is highly subjective, sir.