Intergalactic Summit

Pardon, in advance, if anything I say causes offense.

To provide a little context: I am rural Saisio raised, in one of the areas overseen by the local government and the Elder Visionaries as opposed to the Sukuuvestaa corporation. As a result, I didn't come into contact with a great deal of wider State/"Caldari" culture until my mid to late teenage years, where we briefly moved off-world.

I would identify as a citizen of the Ishukone Corporation and the State - Not a Caldari. It is not my heritage, neither in blood nor in spirit.

With that said...

I greatly value the boons the State offers the Achura people in our position as corporate subjects. Protection, wealth, technological advancement, and so on.

However.

I find several aspects of how the Caldari regard our people to be disturbing. To begin, the Sukuuvestaa corporations treatment of the homeworld has occasionally been suspect, with a few sites of historical importance having been disrupted for resource extraction and industrial development. Little choice has ever been presented in regard to this, especially during the earliest days of the corporations arrival.

Respect for our culture is also, to my observation, a little variable. While no one is going about demolishing monastery's on the homeworld or something equally asburd, there is a certain expectation to conform to Caldari cultural ideals - And in some extreme cases, to Caldari faith - When offworld, especially in the wake of the ultra-nationalism following the rise of the Caldari Providence Directorate. This is true at both at a national level as well as an individual one; As the topic poster rightfully points out, we have rather been pushed forward with the tides in the drive to reclaim the Caldari Homeworld, despite it having no real ancestral significance to us.

For example, during my Piloting training, it was strongly encouraged to me that I adopt "Raata Culture" in place of my own. I found this treatment somewhat insensitive and crude.

In a more personal regard, both before and since I have become a Capsuleer, I have suffered occasional racism from ethnic Caldari while discussing matters regarding the State. Condecension, dismissive attitudes, and outright rudeness or hostility, all in regard to my race or cultural background. I have been lectured in regard to what the State has "done for my people" on atleast two occasions. I have been expected, in one instance, to speak a historical language... That is not a part of my history.

Amongst many other examples.

As others have said, there is something of a social impetus amongst the Achur against voicing these complaints outwardly - It is considered somewhat improper to kick up a fuss and provoke confrontation. I will admit that I feel perhaps a little uncomfortable even making this post. However, since the majority of individuals contributing seem to either be Achur from offworld of Ethnic Caldari, I felt it for the best to submit my perspective, on this occasion.

Hmm. My elders would likely call it foolishness, not strength, Nikulainen-haani.

Regardless, your words are kind.

Capsuleer Ikiryo's account is the closest I have seen to an authentic description of the struggles we face. You see so few of our people in space not because we are "inscrutable", "reserved", "insular" or whatever other descriptor you are using today. You see so few of us because those who will not conform to the ideals of an alien culture are repressed by our masters.

Gesakaarin-haani,

I assure you, I am quite familar with the saying, for reasons that you can no doubt presume.

Perhaps you misunderstand, or perhaps I misunderstand you. Regardless, I feel the need to clarify. My discontent lies not with what the State expects from it's citizens, or the fundemental manner in which it is run. I hold no objections to the meritocracy. I hold no objections to the need hard work and the struggle in achieving ones own perfection. Nor even the demand for loyalty, sacrifice for the greater good, and so on. These are values we (culturally, not as individuals) both hold.

What I object to, in fact, is the push towards changing how we identify. Expecting us to wholesale adopt Caldari custom and culture, and on occasion, even spirituality, in place of our own, especially in the swell of nationalism under Tibus Heth which quite literally idolizes the ancient past. Your ancient past. ...All while still being on the recieving end of hostility from those who think being Caldari is defined by ones ancestry alone.

Such is not, in my opinion, needed to demonstrate merit.

However, and please pardon me for saying, I must comment that you are somewhat mistaken on your claim that that there has never been a historical attempt to change Achur culture on the Homeworld. In fact, if we are being quite blunt, when Sukuuvestaa arrived on the Achura, they did not do so with an offer and an open hand. Rather, they simply set to work right away in bringing us into the fold, demolishing most of our larger cities to replace with their own, rather forcefully (if not in paper) usurping our leadership, and not showing a great deal of concern for our millenia of cultural development.

It is a story you have likely heard before - In your own history. Fortunately, the ending differs, as when our societies and cultures proved relatively compatible, we were able to come to the present state of affairs, where further expansion on the Homeworld is kept to a relative minimum.

But do not think this erases the past; There is a hypocrisy in the heart of the States approach to our people that will not soon be utterly forgotten, nor fully cured, so long as the State as a whole idolizes one history and, in part, forsakes another.

(Also, for the record, much of the treatment I recieved was often not in response to me showing "weakness", but rather simply expression an opinion on issues that are - And I quote directly from one instance - "Not my business".)


Not at all - You had the right of it completely.

I'll lend my voice to this disussion.

I have not been home for more than 6 years, so my knowledge on how things are on Saisio would only be second hand knowledge. My family seems to be doing well, as does the few other people I still keep in touch with.

I'd like to touch upon the perceived disregard for our culture. When I was a kid, we were raised with 2 cultures. Our private culture, and our social culture.
We were taught to embrace Heiian, and we were taught to walk the winds.
We were taught to hear the cries of the stars and feel the life of the universe.

These tenets do not conflict, and made our people stronger when they merged.

Why are we achura less seen in the state?
There's a few answers for that.
Firstly, we ARE a minority.
Secondly, we keep mostly to ourselves.
Thirdly, we usually don't talk about things, we aren't directly involved in.

An anecdote.

During capsuleer training, I was lauded several times for my methodical and systematic approach to everything, as well as my quiet and somber demeanor.
I was chosen for training amongst my peers on Saisio for being ambitious, efficient and outgoing.

I consider myself Caldari. Ethnicity doesn't matter in the state.

I see no problem in the need for uniformity. The state is an empire, spanning many worlds. How are we to work efficiently if we do not speak the same social language?

We achura have been molded by the winds of Caldari prime, as the civire or deteis have. Not by physical proximity, but by cultural exposure. This have made us equal members of the state, in a way no other minority can claim.

When the old achura heard the stars and saw the new times, they molded us into more efficient selves, so that we may play our new part in the song of the universe.

I do not disagree that we might have lost parts of our heritage, but I fail to see the problem. Those who do not adapt when faced with change is sure to lose their place in the universe.

The CP situation is another can of worms entirely, though I cannot refute your point.

I have to take issue. You are fine example of an Achuran at her best within the State, Scherezad. Do not sell yourself short. You represent our race better than most and any Achuran would be glad to associate themselves with you. If you are treated well, it is because you are respected for your character.

Please don't. Your mail was most illuminating, and made me aware of some facts I had not been privy to. My opinions were, in fact, based on the words of another Achuran, a rather close friend of mine. As you might understand, I tend to be somewhat disinclined to throw their testimony out. However, it appears that you indeed have a point, and so, I withdraw my objection.

Isn't it what the Achura do already ? I mean, bending instead of causing unrest.