Intergalactic Summit

Sometimes, man, you just got a really dirty hog.

New on the Federal Frontier https://thefederalfrontier.com/2017/05/19/intaki-the-case-for-independence/

Hungover and tetchy after the post-Kyonoke Inquest party, I had a chat* with political agitator Bataav of the Intaki Liberation Front who has some convincing arguments and frankly made me look at things in a new light.

*(tried to pick a fight with.)

Nonsense.

Are you suggesting that the rich and varied tapestry of the Matari tribes, is not reflected in their media? That the nuances between the megacorporations have no impact on the news broadcasts of each within the State? That the Empire press is devoid of any theological debate and opinion?

Not necessarily, no. Federalism is primarily a political system, though for the Gallente the term does now have cultural importance. However, both the Republic and State, for example, show us that multi-ethnic societies can succeed under different models.

There are differences, yes. Allow me to explain.

We agree that the Federation is diverse. A Federal citizen who is of Matari Brutor heritage is racially distinct from another who is Jin-Mei, or Mannar. But race is only part of what constitutes ethnicity.

In contrast to groups that organise themselves by voluntary association, for example a Federal citizen or a capsuleer joining the ranks of a null-sec power bloc, ethnicity is defined by charactaristics that are either impossible to change, such as skin colour, or very difficult to change, such as primary language. A group of people sharing a characteristic that is impossible, or very difficult to change, will define themselves as ethnic in contrast to other ethnic groups, or a dominant group that does not identify itself in ethnic terms.

This idea of self identification is fluid, and can change over time and yes, as I acknowledged in the interview, there are many Intaki now identify as "Gallente", a label once claimed by some who self-identified as disctinct from the others they met as they began to spread across the stars.

Now dominant, the Gallente have found themselves content to set aside their ethnic label, which has since become so interchangeable with "Federal" to the point that some debate whether "Gallente" has any meaningful value any more.

If three individuals of Intaki, or Khanid, or Vherokior heritage settle in the Federation, live as neighbours and call themselves "Gallente", then there are no common ethnic characteristics, there is no common language, no common history shared between them.

Federal culture is synonymous with personal freedom of expression and recreational excess, but these are not qualities that are comparible with the depth that exists within Amarr theology, Jin-Mei caste society, or Matari tribalism.

James, I empathise if the argument causes offense, but I find myself in agreement with a lot of the opening points made in the discussion I refer to above.

I cannot help but wonder if the discomfort felt is more a reaction to the cultural cost paid by the ethnic-Gallente in exchange for the Federal vision.

And finally yes, I acknowledge that at first glance it does seem paradoxical to say that we are not championing ethnic nationalism, while at the same time seeking to preserve Intaki culture.

However this is not the case. It is not ethnic nationalism because being Intaki is separate and distinct from the political movement. Those of us within the independence movement with Intaki heritage, such as myself, are proud of that, and yes we would seek to preserve that rather than lose it forever to Federal ambiguity. However, The Intaki Liberation Front is proud to include non-Intaki capsuleers and baseliners alike. Indeed our Isha-Sainika identifies as ethnic-Gallente.

There is no xenophobia here, nor is our position "un-Intaki".

Ida teaches us that life is a path, but we must each walk it ourselves.

We would simply seek to take a different route to that of the Gallente Federation, moving forwards with the understanding that any expectations of cultural assimilation are inappropriate.

Bataav.

At first, I thought to answer your comments individually, but I think doing so would delude the purpose of this thread. You have indeed lived up to the title ‘The secessionists silver tongued devil’.

I know you, and we have been acquainted for some time. You know that I have more than a transitory interest in Intaki. Indeed, the same person who attempted to introduce me to the concepts of Ida was the same person who warned me of your cleverness to dissemble.

What you are purposing would diminish both the Federation and the Intaki. I understand your fear but disagree with your solution, yet I can respect you and your opinion, as I appreciate you respecting mine. So let me say if one day the ‘Intaki’ in whole or in part, choose to leave the Federal Union, within the structures established in treaty law, they will have no better confederate than myself.

You mentioned that the Gallente have subsumed their culture to promote a Federal identity. Of course, they have, one must give to gain, and goodness what 'we' have gained. I am Gallente. My father was Gallentean, my mother Amarrian, my wife Ni Kunni, my son… died being a Gallente. Many bloods, one ideal.

What you see as weakness is a strength, what you see as a denuding of culture is actually its progression. To grow one must change. Mammal taught me enough about Ida, to know that one doesn’t become complete through separations but understanding and accommodation.

While I know you to be one of the most intelligent and insightful persons I have ever had the privilege to oppose. It gives me no pleasure to say your comments betray a profound ignorance of what it means to be ‘Gallente’, and I find many of your comments in this regard stunningly stereotypical.

Be well Bataav.

Speaking as a Jin-Mei myself I can support this statement in saying that our cultural integrity is alive and well. Of course the Lirsautton system of today doesn't compare to the solar system which it once was - it doesn't even retain it's old name which my people have given up to integrate within the Federation. The iconic Quafe company has its headquarters on our homeworld and the influence of Gallente culture is everywhere, but does that make us Jin-Mei Gallente? No, but it does make us Federation Citizens.

We still live and govern our society by traditional ways and we retain much of our lifestyle and values from times long before we encountered the first spacefaring civilisations, and the Federation actually empowers us to do so. In all honesty I don't see why the same couldn't be the case for the Intaki. As others have rightly pointed out, many Intaki live fully integrated into the Gallente Federation yet still retain their identity.

Of course, after all those are our names for those planets and our sun. The Gallente just kept mispronouncing them in confusing ways so the current solution made communication smoother.

We do have to acknowledge though that the Intaki have felt the repression of the ultranationalists in the past harder than we have, and some historical wariness can arise from that.