Intergalactic Summit

I'm not trolling, I swear, I promise. But I think there's actually a lotta good discussion to be had concerning where the Federation and the Empire intersect and where they diverge.

My work's inna system right on the border of Domain, in an area where neither capsuleers nor factions give a rat's arse about. Over here, the people generally have the same kinda opinion towards the Federation as I figure most border areas do for all empires. Amused apathy. The Federation don't stick their neb in my planet's business, my planet pays their taxes and follows regulations, and everyone's happy. We don't got mucha a say in how the Federation does things, but hey, the Federation's bigger 'an just a system or two and they haven't gone outta their way to do anything that'd screw the average citizen here anyway. Doesn't the Empire have areas like that? Areas that are part of the Empire, but aren't too important and aren't all that engaged? Areas that're happy to do their own thing in service to the Empire without getting looked at too closely?

An' another thing I notice- we got a shared appreciation for beauty. From the streets of Crystal Boulevard to the Cathedrals of Dam-Torzad. From our own cathedral to the seventh goddess in Caille to the Empire's almost endless collection of religious artifacts. And the Ni-Kunni wind dancing! We both gotta genuine appreciation for that. My best friend, most beautiful dancer I've ever known, she makes waves Federation-side with her Amarrian motion. And you might say- but these things aren't beauty for the sake a beauty! But do they really need to be? The Federation does it, what, we make beautiful things for the betterment of all people? The Amarr do it in service to their faith? Ehhhhhh? I kinda thinka the Federation as havin' a religion of freedom so I always figured it was at least comparable! Do you think differently? Do any other examples come ta mind?

And... We fail too, sometimes. With our lofty goals and our earthly failings. Never been right comfortable with the combined industrial military complex with Roden, and I can't say I like the idea of his personal special military groups, even if I can't put a finger on where exactly I stand. My buddy Kaile tells me that in the further regions of the Empire, petty holders bicker back and forth for more power at the expense of their people. What do you wish your faction could do better at? What do you begrudge your greater empire? I gotta list a grievances a mile long with the Federation, as much as I love it and give to it.

Jus', Iunno. At the end uv' a day I figure an empire's fulla people who don't really gotta say in the inertia of their faction, and I think it costs nuthin' to be sensitive a' those people and feel out their feelings.

I like working for the Federation! For starters, they don't discriminate me for my Guristas scientist lifestyle.

There is something magical about the Luminaire system that I just can't put my finger on it.

I wish my faction were better at compassion for others. We have our failings and imperfections to. Godlessness need not be seen as evil so much as a lack of good, where we have a chance to shine our light. In addition, we could certainly stand to have less inter-house bickering amongst Holders, where it results in unnecessary death and violence in extreme cases.

I confess to have only seen the Federation on holovid, as I've only been to CONCORD, Amarr, and some Minmatar space.

That's just Admiral Blake.

There are a lot of problems with the Federation. Sit down with a politician, a reformer, a diplomat, an advisor, lubricate the gears with enough alcohol or boosters, and they'll openly speak to you about them. One of - if not the most open - of the Big Four, the Federation's issues are a glaring flaw on an otherwise incredible civilization of people and cultures and society and yada, yada. The border systems are unregulated and run by criminals who inhabit the omega cities and run them to their desires, throwing taxes at Roden by the fistful to stay out of FedNavy's sights. Zero-point-one security Federation space may as well be Null that has sovereignty with respect to the Federation. I won't begin to mention the absurdity in the amount of degeneracy and body modifications and otherwise.

Despite it all, I love it. The whole shebang. The whole Federation. Bel put it better than I ever could (her beauty in dancing is matched by her looks and grandiloquence). The place in and of itself is a stepping stone across so many boundaries that if presented in another nation would be shunned or disputed to the point of irrelevancy. It's a place where you can be raised and realize your true calling lies elsewhere, and where the society welcomes and embraces the ethical divergence that pops up (and is repressed) so often in other cultures across the cluster.

The Federation and Empire have always worked out their issues, no matter how shaky the ground they decided to settle on. Diplomacy and dare I say co-existence is a very real, very palpable possibility at this point. There is something to be learned from each and something that each can teach one another.

It's a very unique position at the moment, and here's hoping it doesn't teeter and collapse.

The Federation is founded on individual liberties.
The Empire is founded on self-control and The Faith.

Whatever similarities exist are superficial. They are unalike in the direction of culture or character of their peoples. Your own post highlights this:The Federal idea that the opinions of individuals matter, the individual deserves some voice in how the greater whole is directed. Your list of grievances with the Federation as an opening for Amarrians to do the same. You maintain that the majority who have no say in the Empire have some need or right to be heard.

In the Empire, all serve god. In doing so they serve themselves.

Whatever opinion you have on the direction of the Empire is completely irrelevant to your own personal responsibility to serve god and the Empire. There is no entitled attitude to your own emotions wants and needs over all else. All serve god and the Empire, Empress and slave alike.

Your efforts to open the discussion for Amarrians to air their grievances by sharing your own is kind but it could not be more misplaced. A man's grievances at his duties before god are a weakness for him to bear, not something to share and expect to be comforted. A slave's burden will not decrease should he complain, a Holder's influence will not increase if she whines, and an Empire will not grow strong if the Emperor laments its weaknesses. This idea that feelings are as valid as action and service either to god or nation is ridiculous. How you feel is a child's complaint.

In this I think you simply cannot understand that for an Amarrian citizen to "begrudge the greater Empire," and "wish," they highlight only their own inability to follow the proper doctrine of god.

"The great Amarr Empire was founded to cultivate the spirit of man.
To do so the enemies of the outside had to be defeated and the enemies of the inside controlled." - The Scriptures, Book I 1:14

"The Wrath of God is Immense. His Justice is Swift and Decisive. His Tolerance is Limited.
Be Careful. Pure Thought is the Instigator of Sin.
Be Watchful. Free Thought is the Begetter of Disorder.
Be Respectful. Uniform Thought is the Way of Life.
The Mercy of our Emperor is Limitless. His Rule is Benign and Righteous. His Love is Perpetual."
- The Scriptures, Book I, The Code of Demeanor

And most directly:

"Chosen, you are first before God.
You are the True and the Faithful.
But in such a state must you hold yourselves high above all.
And constantly prove yourself worthy of Gods Love.
How can such a gift be repaid,
Other than to toil all our days,
In his glorious service,
According to his will,
Serving him always,
Bearing him first in our thoughts,
Always must we strive to show him our worth,
For we are the Chosen, Blessed above all."
- The Scriptures, Anoyia's Exhortation to the Faithful

You know, people always quote those same verses. I'm kind of curious what the verses immediately before and after them are. After all, context matters.

I did not say that man or the Empire was infallible. Not once. I said that feelings were irrelevant. You wish for me to say that the Empire has never faltered and so this is what you read. Because of this, you call me arrogant. Your promise of my downfall is as meaningless as my personal feelings on god and the Empire.

By asking for the thoughts and feelings of those who "begrudge" their Empire what she was exactly acting on that idea of a right or need to be heard. I made no refusal to educate Bel, I in fact shared what I knew. I refused only to whine about "the things the Empire could do better"

Do not lecture me on my service. You wish to read words I did not write and judge my service, perhaps you should examine your own words, your wishes and wants for the Empire to love you for fleeing.

No, it is you who think that your feelings are important who are the arrogant ones.
You who flee your service to the Empire and then bemoan it "does not love you."

Wade out into the ocean, share your feelings with the current. Insist your freedom to the undertow and demand the waves hear your opinions. When the water begins to cover you, your feelings ignored, you will realize you have only the options of sink or swim. Thus is god's truth evident.

The stars above will not weep for us parting.
The air we breathe won't notice our disappearance.
The dirt of the earth will embrace our decadence.
Only in God can we thrive and grow.
Only in God."
- The Scriptures, Prophet Kuria 4:23

It is through the discussion of personal feelings and opinions that a better understanding of falliability can be reached, but then, perhaps I placed too high a value on your reading comprehension. I know causation is not a simple concept to grasp.

I do and have done my service to the Empire and Him. I have made my mistakes. The Empire called upon me, as a child, to dutifully birth hordes for my reputable husband so that his line could be sustained. To my continued fear and shame, I fled that call. I could not bear the thought of baring myself for a man I did not know for a family that despised me for being of such low birth.

Over years I have held myself to that shame and never released myself from its grasp. I was burned. I lost my youth and beauty to my pride and arrogance and I never doubted His Hand in leaving me bereft. My husband did what he believed was right in leaving me, and in so doing, taking all I had to call my own with him. I never healed. I sacrificed my pound of flesh for my mistakes, and I lived in constant pain and self loathing in response. Without the grace of makeup my visage scared small children and my bitter tongue scared all men from my path. And I loathed myself. And I hated myself.

But through your careless words, I realize now that I HAVE PAID IN FULL. I FORGIVE MYSELF.

Your words were meant to hurt and damage, but know truly that I thank you.

And you? What service do you boast to to the Empire? Ah... Pandemic Legion. No service, then.

Don't be childish.

I would go so far as to say that Ayallah has a valid point masked with a lot of perceived anger. The Empires do not care what us Empyreans think. Our opinions are meaningless to them. After all, CONCORD or their navies could shut us down in moments. That being said.

I've lived in all the Empires for varying amounts of time. The Federation and Empire share some traits in a love of beauty, but it is definitely different reasons. The Empire's form of beauty tends to be one of unification under a strong singular vision. Individual artists can add flourishes and nuances, sure, but it is a crushing, suffocating beauty. "Look like this or be pushed out."

The Federation promotes the opposite. A beauty and art form so divergent as to appear as a tree of life, splitting into dozens of unique genus and species. Drones, life forms, tattooes, dancing, sex, all of these can be art forms in the Federation. Of course, whether this is art or not is subjective.

If I had to voice my chief complaint about the Empire, I would refer to my post about institutionalized slavery. The short essay is found in the thread about 'arguments against religion'. If I were to voice my chief complaint about the Federation, it is its cultural imperialism. Assimilate with us or die. We first saw this centuries ago with the Caldari-Gallente wars, and it pervades so many parts of their culture as to almost physically disturb me. There are other complaints, of course. The Amarr Empire actively participates in pruning of branches, for example. This does give it a stronger, unified front to appear to enemies, but also encourages fanaticism and discourages free thought and expression. Of course, one could argue that those are trademarks of the Deceiver.

My argument would be that, if I understood the original post, that the Federation's form of art and growth is healthier, but has a ugly cancerous undertone, like the scent of gum disease on a prospective date's breath. That ugly cancerous undertone is one of obliteration of other cultures if they refuse to be just like the Federation, which is unpleasant in its own right.