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A thesis on the solutions and reality of slavery

Author
Vikarion
Doomheim
#21 - 2012-12-07 02:38:02 UTC
It's widely known that the Caldari State existed long before the Amarr Empire contacted the Gallente Federation, and had already essentially won its war for independence by that point. Indeed, the discovery of the Amarr Empire was one of the final nails in the coffin of the Federation's desire to absorb the Caldari people, but those hopes were already dimmed to darkness by that point.

In other words, the existence and actions of the Amarrian Empire had about as much influence on the viability of the nascent State as the existence of a mealworm on Amarr Prime: none. Moreover, since the Caldari Navy is acknowledged by CONCORD as being the most likely to be capable of defeating the naval forces of any of the other empires in a one-on-one struggle, the Amarr make very bad candidates for "puppermasters". Not to mention the fact that the Caldari State is majority atheist, capitalist (as opposed to feudal), and deeply opposed to slavery. Try carrying a cargo of slaves past Caldari customs officials.
Pieter Tuulinen
Societas Imperialis Sceptri Coronaeque
Khimi Harar
#22 - 2012-12-07 03:47:32 UTC
The Ancestors and the Winds might take exception to a small part of your reply, Vikarion. Veneration of the Ancestors and the Winds might not be something we go on and on about in public, but it is definitely part of the culture that lies at the center of our great State.

On every other point, however, you are unassailable.

For the first time since I started the conversation, he looks me dead in the eye. In his gaze are steel jackhammers, quiet vengeance, a hundred thousand orbital bombs frozen in still life.

Katran Luftschreck
Royal Ammatar Engineering Corps
#23 - 2012-12-07 03:52:49 UTC
It should also be noted that the Republic has shown itself to be unable to handle the problems caused by the return of the former slaves that they already have.

Ever try to feed a million people? Ever try to feed a million people showing up on your doorstep all at once? Every try to feed a million people all at once when you're spending half your GDP on military crap? I should hope that the leaders of the Republic have as much common sense as Los Muertas does. Read the headlines, people. Learn to walk before you run.

You say that there are enough slaves remaining to fill entire planets? A good point - so how many spare planets do you have laying around? Planets with functional cities, farms and infrastructure, all just waiting for someone to hit the "on" switch when those ex-slaves are finally shipped over (assuming that they'd even want to leave - that any would chose to remain here is something a lot of Matari simply refuse to admit no matter how much proof is put in front of them).

Trying not to be snide here but maybe you should tell your government to start spending more money on food & toilet paper than on guns & bullets for a while. Maybe you should start focusing on being able to actually keep these people alive & healthy before we go dumping them off. Believe it or not, but most of us care about our slaves. Prove to us that you can actually take care of these people as well as or better than we can. I don't want to hear about your moralistic "better to die free" crap. You're assuming that they feel the same way. I want to hear about your ability to provide clothes, housing, medical care, education, community, and all the rest of the things that we are currently providing for these slaves. Because frankly our household staff have a better standard of living than half the people already in your refugee camps - and they know it, too.

http://youtu.be/t0q2F8NsYQ0

Los Muertas
HDYLTA
#24 - 2012-12-07 04:58:45 UTC
Katran Luftschreck wrote:

Trying not to be snide here but maybe you should tell your government to start spending more money on food & toilet paper than on guns & bullets for a while. Maybe you should start focusing on being able to actually keep these people alive & healthy before we go dumping them off. Believe it or not, but most of us care about our slaves. Prove to us that you can actually take care of these people as well as or better than we can. I don't want to hear about your moralistic "better to die free" crap. You're assuming that they feel the same way. I want to hear about your ability to provide clothes, housing, medical care, education, community, and all the rest of the things that we are currently providing for these slaves. Because frankly our household staff have a better standard of living than half the people already in your refugee camps - and they know it, too.


I will simply say that this simply is another case of a person unable to read the entire thesis before speaking. I would urge you to read the entire thesis before stating, what was already stated there, as if it is some new idea on your part.
Katran Luftschreck
Royal Ammatar Engineering Corps
#25 - 2012-12-07 06:58:51 UTC
I did read it. I'm just translating it into a simpler language. Blink

http://youtu.be/t0q2F8NsYQ0

Nicoletta Mithra
Societas Imperialis Sceptri Coronaeque
Khimi Harar
#26 - 2012-12-07 08:43:11 UTC  |  Edited by: Nicoletta Mithra
Los Muertas wrote:
As I have said before I openly admit that my view points are those of a Minmatar, however if there is something blatantly false as opposed to slanted to a Minmatar point of view, I would like to know.


Let me try to cover all of it here in a sketchy manner: I don't want to write up a history of the entire Amarrian history. That's why I gave the link. I'll try to cover everything in the sequence you bring it up:

"The Gallente surpass the Empire economically in every none artificial aspect."

This is kind of overgeneralizing the issue. While the Gallentean economy is certainly bigger than the Amarrian economy, that doesn't necessarily translate to it surpassing the Amarrian economy in every aspect. For example, the Federations economy is depending much more on exports and imports than the Empire's. A differentiated account is found here.

"At one point the Gallente and the Amarr fought a war, a war that many would say still exists to this day but is now fought by proxy states of the Caldari and Minmatar."

The Amarr and the Gallente were in conflict quite from the beginning of contact and while they were never in all out war, as I pointed out above, many historians would say that there has been a state of cold war between the two with thawing and freezing relations over time. As pointed out by Vikarion in more detail then me, the Caldari State contacted the Empire when it was already quite independent from the Federation and strong enough to stand on its own feet.

Maybe you should read about it here:
"Regardless of the negotiated restrictions, the agreement did serve as the foundation for a shaky peace between the two [the Amarrian and Gallentean] sides. It established a neutral border between the two sides which ships were allowed to enter unrestricted. While the two empires have never been friendly, they have also never entered into open warfare."

"The only reason this war did not end like all other wars fought by the Empire, i.e. the conquering of the Federation, is that the Federation was every bit the rival economically of the Empire. Amarr military might was, historically speaking, far superior to that of the Federation, however the Federation economy was such that for every ship the Empire fielded the Federation fielded six."

The Amarrian military was at the given time not in the same condition as the Federations: The latter was hardened by the conflicts with the Caldari, while the former had seen no serious conflicts for millenia. It's not been the number of ships that the Federation could field that was instrumental in keeping the peace (The Empire would have probably been easily able to outship the Federation simply because it had more access to minirals given its vast expanses.) but that contrary to what you say the Federations military was a threat to the Amarr navy in serious conflict, as you can read here.

"The Imperial hierarchy at the time was such that only nobles and their retainers were permitted to command military vessels, whilst Federation doctrine allowed any man or woman of merit to command."

This, in my opinion is pure conjecture on your part, one born out of prejudice I'd suggest. The Navy has always been a means of upwards social mobility:
"The Navy offers one of the few ways that someone can raise themselves from poverty. The fleet is remarkably non-discriminatory for an Amarr institution, accepting personnel from all bloodlines. Many people of Udorian, Ni-Kunni, and even Minmatar birth have served with distinction within the Navy."

"First they backed the State in such a way that had never been done before by the Amarr."

While it is true that they backed it in a way never seen before, your assertion that it "helped to create a autonomous satellite nation" is incorrect, as already pointed out. Rather "In 23222 AD, the two nations signed the Caldari-Amarr Declaration of Friendship, a pact that agreed to respect the sovereignty, not interfere in the internal affairs, and share intelligence on the enemies of the other side. Additionally, though the two sides had little in the way of a common border at the time, they demilitarized their mutual borders, allowing each to focus their forces in other places."

Never was this considered to be an act of heresy as it was negotiated on behalf of the Emperor.
Nicoletta Mithra
Societas Imperialis Sceptri Coronaeque
Khimi Harar
#27 - 2012-12-07 08:44:19 UTC
"Next the Amarr instituted the Kameiras Units, Minmatar indoctrinated to fight for their Amarr masters. Traditionally no one save for the Khanid, had ever been permitted to bear arms aside from Holy Paladins, and now they fell back upon a slave population which had never even actually been broken, to fight for them."

Tradtionally slaves were employed in the Amarr navy. It harkens back to the first contact of the Empire with the Udorians, which were accomplished sailors while the island-dwelling Amarr had little skill in this regard as well in the art of ship bulding. Thus, after seizing an entire merchant fleet of the Udorians and repurposing it as Amarrian navy, "Knowing that his people were unskilled in sailing, the Emperor had the Udorian sailors impressed into the newly christened Amarr Navy. These sailors were the Empire's first slaves, forced to man their own ships against their fellow Udorians. When the Amarr captured further Udorian ships, those crews were likewise forced into slavery."

So, in fact contrary to your musings the practice of forcing people into military service was not only prior to the contact with the Khanid, it was the very start of the practice of slavery.

"I'm sure that had the Amarr known the destruction the Matari people would bring to their international prestige as well as their own personal views of themselves, they would have simply wiped the race from the face of New Eden the moment that they encountered us."

First, the Amarr had no contact to the 'international arena' the moment they enslaved the Matari, thus they didn't think about the impact on it. Second, regardless of the impact on Amarrian reputation, it is a sacred duty to bring other to the light, therefore the Amarr would have tried to accomplish that anyway - with the method that had sofar proved to be most suited to the task, for sure. Third, if the Amarr regret any loss of reputation, it's that they regret what impact had the successful rebellion of the Matari and thus they would rather have made sure to not let this happen.

"We have been a pause in their faith, look at the protesters of True Amarr ancestry whom constantly occupy some of Amarrs holiest places in peaceful protests, chanting "free what is not ours" and other such slogans."

Show these protesters to me: There are none, especially not on the holiest places. At least there were none the last time I visited Dam-Torsad nor were they the times before. Also, if they were there, the Empire's machinations would squash them regardless - or because - of the world watching. CONCORD and the Sisters could do little about it: CONCORD because it isn't allowed to intervene with interna of the signatory nations, the Sisters because they'd have no legal or other basis to do so whatsoever.

"Remember when I said that the Empire is the artificial rival of the Federation artificially? This is what I was referring to. CONCORD's department of International Inquiry and Stability, an organization devoted to assessing each empires credit practices as well as such things like economic growth, stability and inflation models, recently compiled a report urging the Empire to maintain their economic model of slavery because if they failed to do so, the fiscal strain of having to pay laborers in roles that had traditionally been held by slaves, would in fact cause such a rapid inflation on goods whilst plundering and already national currency that CONCORD would be forced to downgrade the Empires Credit to that of being on par with Mordus Legion or Cartel standing."

I'd like to see that report. I doubt it exists.

I think that gives you pointers as to where you err.

Faithfully,
N. Mithra
Veikitamo Gesakaarin
Doomheim
#28 - 2012-12-08 00:07:12 UTC
How strange to describe the State as proxy of the Empire when history has shown that the Caldari people will defend the independence of our nation, our destiny as bestowed by our ancestors and the sovereignty of the State to the very last drop of our blood. If the Empire ever made the grievous mistake of overstepping the bounds of its non-aggression pact with the State then they will come to know just how willing the State and its people will be to bury Amarrian sons and daughters in the shallow graves of their own arrogance. Far better to die proud and free as a Caldari than to ever live under foreign subjugation.

The Empire I think understand that there are limits to everything, even friendship, and that any attempts to dictate terms to Caldari will be ignored for we are the masters of our own fates and if they ever should wish to advance on the State with violence then yes, blood will be answered by blood; death will be answered by death; and they shall come to know the lengths Caldari will go to honour our debts of vengeance upon those who wish to be our enemies.

Any assertions to the contrary is nothing more than ignorance - willful or otherwise.

The great irony here is that it is in fact the Republic who are the proxies and puppets thrown into the strategic fires like dogs against the Empire so that Gallenteans may know peace and security while Matari languish in Federal ghettoes as itinerant and cheap labour forces in periphery colonies. Perhaps if the Minmatar people ever showed enough spine to wean themselves from the milk of Federal charity and cultural assimilation a new dialogue between the State and Republic might be possible, but as for now, why negotiate with the children when the political authority rests with Federal masters?

Kurilaivonen|Concern

Vikarion
Doomheim
#29 - 2012-12-08 03:09:16 UTC
Pieter Tuulinen wrote:
The Ancestors and the Winds might take exception to a small part of your reply, Vikarion. Veneration of the Ancestors and the Winds might not be something we go on and on about in public, but it is definitely part of the culture that lies at the center of our great State.

On every other point, however, you are unassailable.


There are those who hold to animistic and spiritual traditions, yes. However, very few of those hold to theistic views. It's quite possible to believe in the supernatural without believing in any gods. I personally hold no overtly spiritual beliefs, although I am a...fan...of some Achuran concepts.
Merdaneth
Angel Wing.
Khimi Harar
#30 - 2012-12-08 19:36:27 UTC
As several people have already mentioned, your thesis abounds with false assumptions, thick with false conclusions and even meanders into some contradictory statements.

While the subject is dear to me, and it seems to me you have put honest effort into it, I'm afraid your thesis is too much flawed to enter into a reasoned debate with you.

I suggest broadening your sources of information, get some opinions from other capsuleers and rewrite your thesis.
Lailoken Emrys
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#31 - 2012-12-08 20:14:39 UTC
All I head was that we should wipe the Empire, or at least it's ruling elite, from existence.

New Eden would likely be a better place for it.
Merdaneth
Angel Wing.
Khimi Harar
#32 - 2012-12-08 22:18:55 UTC
Lailoken Emrys wrote:
All I head was that we should wipe the Empire, or at least it's ruling elite, from existence.

New Eden would likely be a better place for it.


A popular barbarian standpoint. The uneducated tend to think of lethal violence as *the* solution for adjusting the behaviour of others. More humane and more efficient methods than outright killing those who disagree have been developed in the past millenia. I suggest you start looking at them. Preferably before you start raising children of your own.
Nick Bete
Highsec Haulers Inc.
#33 - 2012-12-08 23:56:23 UTC
Merdaneth wrote:

... More humane and more efficient methods than outright killing those who disagree have been developed in the past millenia. I suggest you start looking at them...


This is ironic coming from someone whose people prefer invasion, planetary occupation and outright genocide over peaceful evangelism. Maybe you should look in the mirror and heed your own advice before castigating others?
Los Muertas
HDYLTA
#34 - 2012-12-09 00:59:22 UTC
Genocide was not the idea behind this thesis, nor was open hostility. The over all idea of the thesis was that slavery can only be ended by the Minmatar through economic growth. I understand that the thesis was long, and that it was written with a Matar bias and that this has put many of my esteemed Amarrian counter-parts off of reading the entire thesis.

Violence is a tool that can and should be used from time to time and should continue to be used in the struggle, however this alone only likens itself to filling a bucket, riddled with holes. We can fill and fill and fill and fill, but the bucket will always be empty. Until we plug the holes, until we fix the Republic or whatever form of government we as Minmatar choose to live under and give meaningful incentives to the Amarr, why would they ever reason with us or comply?

My point is that we need to fix the Minmatar spirit, economy and way of thinking. To long now have we rightfully be labeled the "Brutes of the Cluster" because we shoot and think never. Why would Amarr, or any nation, make deals and willingly place economic hardships on themselves with savages? I love the Tribes, all Seven of them, I want to see them reunited and I will use violence when the case calls for it, but we are also a thinking peoples and the idea behind this thesis was that we need to start using all of the tools given to us at birth.

Use your weapons, use your mind and use your soul and we will have reunification.
Alizabeth Vea
Doomheim
#35 - 2012-12-09 07:27:35 UTC
The only thing worse than being wrong is taking a lot time and a lot of words to be wrong. Some of your statements make me seriously question the education system in the Republic. A forum post should be like a skirt, long enough to cover the subject matter, short enough to be interesting.

Retainer of Lady Newelle and House Sarum.

"Those who step into the light shall be redeemed, the sins of their past cleansed, so that they may know salvation." -Empress Jamyl Sarum I

Virtue. Valor. Victory.

Nicoletta Mithra
Societas Imperialis Sceptri Coronaeque
Khimi Harar
#36 - 2012-12-09 11:13:22 UTC
Los Muertas wrote:
Genocide was not the idea behind this thesis, nor was open hostility. The over all idea of the thesis was that slavery can only be ended by the Minmatar through economic growth. I understand that the thesis was long, and that it was written with a Matar bias and that this has put many of my esteemed Amarrian counter-parts off of reading the entire thesis.


Written with Matar bias? What put me off is really that your argument hinges on a lot of misconceptions about the history of the Empire in specific and the New Eden cluster in general, as has been not only pointed out by myself, but various other people in this thread.

Los Muertas wrote:
My point is that we need to fix the Minmatar spirit, economy and way of thinking. To long now have we rightfully be labeled the "Brutes of the Cluster" because we shoot and think never.


If that's your point you shouldn't make lengthy posts about the history of Amarr and economics of it, that are on the top of it wrong, but you should rather realize that how the self-governed Matari behave is in their own responsibility.
Luna Mori
AmmuNacionale
#37 - 2012-12-09 13:13:17 UTC
Katran Luftschreck wrote:
...I want to hear about your ability to provide clothes, housing, medical care, education, community, and all the rest of the things that we are currently providing for these slaves...


If I can show you two schemes which do exactly that, will you release your slaves to us?

General Secretary, Ani Tribal Assembly

Lady Katherine Devonshire
Royal Ammatar Engineering Corps
#38 - 2012-12-10 11:33:06 UTC
Nick Bete wrote:
This is ironic coming from someone whose people prefer invasion, planetary occupation and outright genocide over peaceful evangelism.


You should really study more of our history some time, instead of just reading through the Republic's cliff notes.
Ssakaa
Animatar Foundation
#39 - 2012-12-10 11:45:59 UTC
Luna Mori wrote:


If I can show you two schemes which do exactly that, will you release your slaves to us?

"Modern Life is Rubbish"

Nicoletta Mithra
Societas Imperialis Sceptri Coronaeque
Khimi Harar
#40 - 2012-12-10 19:23:31 UTC  |  Edited by: Nicoletta Mithra
One doesn't release slaves 'to' someone. If one is manumitting a slave the ex-slave is free to choose where he wants to live and why. Releasing him to someone specifically would defeat the purpose of manumission, that is liberating the slave.

So, the proper question would be: "If I can show you two schemes which do exactly that, will you release your slaves?"