Intergalactic Summit

Let the people go! The Matari people do not seek revenge, we just want slavery to end.

Your past decree made it appear you want your people to move beyond slavery, many free people in the New Eden cluster, myself included support you in this endeavor.

In the well over thirty (30) generations since the “Day Of Darkness” when aliens invaded the ancestral home world of the Matari people killing billions of our citizens and dragging off planet hundreds of millions surviving victims to suffer the generational horrors of slavery, your “reclaiming” has never succeeded in converting the majority of those enslaved to your beliefs. I put forward as an indisputable fact proven by history it never will succeed by force or enslavement.

The Matari people are a brave, stubborn, intelligent, faithful, and tenacious people who will cling to our own faith and hope for freedom and justice despite whatever is inflicted upon us by any oppressor for any length of time.

Now a new threat to humanity looms on the horizon, use this opportunity to end old unsuccessful hostilities by an imperial decree of total emancipation. You can instruct the holders to begin paying all freed workers the same fair market wage they would have to offer to any other free citizen to take the job if the freed worker chooses to stay on. Order free medical support for those millions addicted to the scourge of vitoc and ban the use of slave collars in the entirety of your realm. Grant every freed person five (5) years wages as compensation for their enslavement and offer them the opportunity to be citizens and or to leave your realm.

Of course this will have an impact on your economy, but not a lethal or crippling impact. Your realm and it's holders have been enriched by more than thirty (30) generations of slave labor while it grew, that is more than enough profit taking. Let the people go!

Yes I know the administration of this process will take years, and it will be years until the holder based portion of your economy stabilizes under these new conditions, but do not be surprised to discover that once the yoke of slavery and torture is replaced by fair wages, safe working conditions and full citizenship many people will freely choose to stay in the only home they have ever known. So the disruption to the economy might not be as awful as many doomsayers may predict.

Now is the time for humanity to stand together as equals to face down this new grave threat, it is within your power to let the people go!

I would further add that those Matari in the Republic represent a minority of the race. The majority live outside the Republic; the plurality reside in the Empire and are typically well acclimated to their position, enslaved and free, on the path of reclamation.

Weregild, blooder.

Pilot Rodj Blake

"Pull the other one. It's got chains on it." .............. I do not understand this metaphor so I can not accurately respond.

Continuing the war of aggression that began by the sneak attack on the "Day Of Darkness" can not legitimately be blamed on the Matari.

I thought stating that the Matari do not seek revenge might in some quarters be viewed as a peace overture.

I do not think the Ealur, Ni-Kunni, and the Udorians constitute the "majority" of the Matari people.

At the present time my ability to convince the Minmatar Republic that the "Drifters" are a universal threat is undercut by the "Drifters" primary large scale hostile activities being focused on imperial forces for the most part.

If it's primary purpose is theological that has been proven unsuccessful for the majority.

Secondly, the decree can be issued now. I was acknowledging that even an imperial decree is not a magic wand and it would take quite a while to actually implement it in the cluster. I do not see that as a contradiction.

That's why it's in quotes.

Though, some people would say it without the quote marks.

Because, various people lay claim to the Minmatar people living in the Empire.

"They're our people!" say some Minmatar Republic persons, because they have common DNA.
"They're our people", say some Imperial Holders, because they have the paperwork.

Here's a radical thought.

Maybe, maaaaaaaybeeeee, the Minmatar people living in the Empire... wait for it.... maybe they.... belong to themselves ?

Radical suggestion, I know !

They do. Which is why they must be freed.

Let's see,

For one Mr. Ronin, while this was an excellently crafted letter, I don't think the Empress has the time or inclination to even read this, let alone formulate a response. Sad to say, but you are quite a bit beneath her notice. Perhaps if you put something together with the same political or military pull as say, Max Singularity, she might deign you important enough for a mild verbal chastisement.

But since you've made this an open letter, allow me to retort...

I won't go so far as to suggest the Republic give back all the worlds we've given you over the centuries. Nor will I expect you to stop using all the many advances in education, science, the arts, healthcare, sanitation, food, spiritual growth, language nor the concept of regular bathing. Please feel free to keep these as a gift of the Empire (especially the bathing).

But if you're truly interested in establishing a dialogue that will lead to peace and eventual abolition of the vast amount of Matari "controlled personnel" in the Empire, I think we're going to need for you to meet us halfway. Sue for peace. Withdraw all of your forces from the Bleak Lands. End the Republic-backed terrorist organization known as the "Tribal Liberation Force."

Next, and this is an important one, accept the One True God of Amarr as your Lord and Savior. Then, immediately following, accept The Empress as your one true ruler. We've mentioned here the Udorians, the Ni-Kunni and others. Their inclusion into the Empire as free people is based largely on their acceptance of Faith and the Authority of the Throne. Do the same and I'm sure within a generation, the Matari will enjoy the same rights and privileges.

I know these are not easy things that I ask. But you expressed an interest in a path of abolition for all Matari and this is it. Stop fighting the Empire. Return to service. Earn the gifts of God and Empire and strive, not for your own prideful ideas of "freedom" (corrupted by decadent and dead Gallente), but for the greater good for all our many people. God has told us through Scripture that we all have a part to play in His plan. Understand and accept your role in it and the slavery of the body will fast become the slavery of the Spirit that all members of the Faith have. We all toil for His name and the Glory of the Empire. You can be a part of that. You can take your, dare I say, rightful part. These gifts are for you, for your people, for your soul. Do not let Pride be a barrier to your uplifting. Do not let your pride be the cause of your eternal damnation. Do not do this to yourself, do not do this to your people.

First, you do realize we'd achieved spaceflight on our own, right? And that doesn't happen with rocks and sticks, but with education, science, the arts, healthcare, standards of living, language - and, based on my experience of living in close quarters with others, regular bathing.

So kindly take your ignorant racist crap, and shove it up your thrusters.

Next, since you think you gave us language... maybe you should look up what 'dialogue' means, because I'm pretty sure what you just outlined ain't it.

I did learn in history that when the Empire first found the Matari, you had already established a few colonies and were taking your first steps out into the galaxy. While you can't really make a starship with sticks and stones, your people sure gave the impression that it was actually possible. You had made some advances in other areas too, but we were far more advanced at the time and you still benefit from the lessons.

So ok. In the interests of "dialogue," how would this play out from your viewpoint?

How this plays out from my viewpoint? You mean, ideally, how we resolve this?

Emancipation.

The Empress has already said that the time for owning people is coming to an end. She announced that seven years ago, when she decreed that any slaves of 9th generation or above were freed. Which means in theory, in another 9 generations, the only slaves will be what every other civilized nation would call criminals sentenced to community service in the care of the state (small 's', not the Caldari).

Which begs the question: What's the moral difference between one person who was born into bondage and has known nothing else, and another one who's had one more set of ancestors enslaved? Clearly, the 'transition' is to make the change more politically palatable to the Holders, who stand to lose quite a lot of assets and free labor if their slaves are all suddenly freed.

Bite the bullet. Free them all. Then let them choose if they'll stay in the society and culture they know, the one most of them were raised in, as free men and women. Let them be accorded the basic human dignity of being able to choose for themselves how they best can contribute to society, and which society they'll be contributing to. As Lt. Kernher so effortlessly demonstrates, I suspect many - likely most will choose to be Matari Amarr. (As opposed to 'Ammatar', which they may also choose.)

Unless I have strongly misjudged individuals like Mizhara Del'thul, they might not be happy about our kin making that choice... but it's their choice, and if we respect them, we'll respect it, too.

That's the dialogue, in a nutshell: the Empire gets what it wants - the Matari back the heck off and stop shooting you, and the Matari get what they want - their relatives made free members of Amarr society. Because if 'the chains of indenture' will no longer be necessary, then you're going to have a hard time motivating people to shoot someone over populations saying 'I like my planet, and I believe in God' when they're free to choose not to believe, if they want.

If what the Empire wants is peace... then the easiest way to get it is to take all of those slaves and say 'here. Work for your own betterment' - because they will. Free societies outproduce slave societies. Give the slaves a stake in the fruits of their labors, and they'll make you wonder why you ever thought the was an economic danger to emancipation in the first place.

And then the Republic can take everything being funneled into shooting the Amarr, and redirect those funds, those people, to helping the displaced and helping them find their way, instead of being forced to short-change them and leave them adrift. Because being adrift, without Tribe, without Clan... that's not our way.

It's what she's already saying God wants. Why not do it?