Intergalactic Summit

I was under the assumption that this offering was only going to net the culturally curious and potentially converted anyway. There is a rising sub-culture of Amarr faithful in both the Federation (in various forms) and the State; but nothing major at present. Simply put, it was my belief that this 'exchange' was by design aimed at tapping the undercurrents of curiosity and latent belief present in fringe Caldari loyalist capsuleers.

As a long time trader across the Caldari-Amarr border, I feel that this form of cultural exchange; a willing and voluntary submission of self to a different society, while that society seeks to provide an approximation of the culture to which I am accustomed in return, is noble. It is one of the things the Federation does well internally, that the cluster at large could embrace externally to great profit.

As ideological exchange and cultural cross-over was a stated part of this programme, I can't really find it as either insidious, or negatively impacting. Any participants, such as Enderas-haan, will bear the stamp of their time with this corporation even should they leave, any entities seeking detachment from Amarrian theism always have the power to say no - as small minded as I believe that to be.

Times are changing, and we aren't going to dissuade any culture from thinking of us as children, by acting as such.

Last time I was on a battle field and someone came to my aid I didn't care if they had a leaflet to give out afterward of not. I was just grateful.

The Caldari have been close friends to the Khanid Kingdom for quite a while now. I find your remarks rather cutting Stitcher when if the Kingdom hasn't tried to convert you why would the Empire? Are we so different from each other aside from the Empire not sporting slick black ships?

Wishing to convince others of the positives of one's culture and religion is not an evil, mister Stitcher. Nothing is being forced here. PIE would of course be very pleased if a transfer pilot did convert, but the choice to do so is his alone.

You are Caldari, mister Stitcher. Surely, as a Caldari, you would understand that there is nothing wrong with organizations and people each attempting to advertise their merits in comparison to their competitors? If someone is exposed to two drinks, each from competing companies, those companies have a right to promote their drink. It is up to the consumer to choose which drink he most prefers. If you wish the consumer to choose your drink, then you should promote your drink better, not attempt to completely deny your consumer the opportunity to ever test your opponent's drink out of your fear that he may purchase it instead.

Your fear that Caldari might be converted, is no reason for them to avoid seeking to experience our culture, or to share their own. It is no reason for them to avoid us, to avoid strengthening the bonds between our empires. It is their choice to participate in the program, and it is their choice if they wish to convert or hold to their original beliefs in the process.

Such a venue will soon be opened. Mister Tuulinen has already had the opportunity to visit it and voice his thoughts.

That is in fact exactly what I am doing - stepping up the marketing campaign.

Review what I have said - I have not called for you to be forbidden from entering the State, or advocated that this program of yours should be illegal. All I have done is expressed my views on what it is you really want, and where I think it leads. As I said - I have no authority, nor the right, to attempt to control what another person chooses to think and believe. Doing so constitutes slavery, to which I am absolutely opposed. People are free to frak up in my philosophy - and I am free to make it known that, in my view, converting to Amarr constitutes a massive frak-up. I am free to express the opinion that we should be distancing ourselves from the Empire and looking elsewhere for our allies. I'm all in favour of closer ties with the Republic, in fact.

I agree entirely.

No, it does not. You will be a target, of course, the Scriptures say so. But you will be so when the appropriate time comes for it. As things stand, it'll probably take centuries or even millenia for that to happen, and even if we're supposedly inmortal, I wouldn't count on still being here then.

You make a wise point there, the Republic is notoriously politically unstable, plenty of opportunities for real-estate and purely financial mastery of local SCC markets. With closer diplomatic relationships, this might even extend to non-SCC, domestic markets, which would be quite lucrative for those with access to such tools.

Specific to this development, however, the Amarr have recently become the single largest contributor to the Caldari economy, apparently in a non-controlling, non-destructive manner. The least we can do is return the favour, and allow our friends to reap the benefits that come with unrestricted trade and cultural blurring in our border regions.

No one benefits from stagnaton, and even the ponderous but enduring Empire has recognised, in recent times, the need to catalyse their society. On the flipside, with recent events being what they are, we might benefit from learning a little restraint in some aspects of our society. A big ask, and an unlikely outcome from a capsuleer project that will always be of limited scale, but as a trial of methods and means to achieve a greater degree of dynamism on one side and stability on the other, it may just achieve something. I look forwards to seeing the product of this venture.

Call me a Practical, it'd be pretty accurate, but surely the partitioning of 'blurred cultures' into organisations such as this serves both purposes?

Observe to learn the beneficial aspects and foster mutual respect through such 'interface subsidiaries', whilst partitioning and preserving your core corporate interests. There's no need to put State values on the line when individuals will volunteer to provide a neatly partitioned social interface zone of their own accord.

I try to be honest with those I hope to be able to call friends, for honesty is the base of mutual understanding and, thus, of strong and true bonds being forged. And specially when, like now, one doesn't yet understand the cultural specifics of the other as much as I'd like.