Intergalactic Summit

There's no such thing as a happy funeral, but there is such a thing as a beautiful one. I had hoped to see the thermal signature of the pyre from orbit, but of course in the event there wasn't one.

Still, it was an opportunity for reflection and, as I tend to do on such occasions, I meditated while in GeoSynchronos orbit above Mikramurka. For the Wayists here, I meditated on Mountain Wind. For non-Wayists, that means cultivating a mindset of silent observation, of keeping your counsel until it is valuable, and of speaking only when you have something worthy of being said.

I find that Mountain Wind is a useful meditation here in the Republic. I am, after all, a guest in the homelands of the Tribes and I prefer to hold my piece unless explicitly asked for my opinion. I would encourage others to think along similar lines. This is especially aimed at my own people: While I'm all for the Caldari exploiting any rift which may form between the Federation and the Republic, I'm not for assisting in forcing open that rift by shouting from the sidelines.

We're not involved, neither should we be. Opportunism is just good sense, but there's no need to break their tea set in order to invite them to drink with us. Let events unfold as they will, kirjuunen. If we are to ask that our own internal strifes be left squarely in our hands, the least we can do is give that courtesy in return.

Come home, Verin-suuolo. You've been away too long and things are changing, big things that your voice ought to be a part of.

As a political body, we are refused.. but as people, individuals, we are welcomed to show our respect.

If that isn't beautiful I don't know what is...

As Gallente, we are individuals first.. a Federation second. Hopefully this funeral reminds us as well as our government bodies of this ideal that is so very close to who we are.

I think you should carefully re-read the preceding article again before stirring the **** further by making wild assumptions out of thin air by conflating two separate events, Kaika.

The Senatorial delegates were not barred from attending the funeral. Nor from attending the procession before it. They were denied a request for a place in the procession itself - a place that was not given to anyone else either.

I would not expect to see members of the Tribal Council in a funeral procession for Roden or Foiritan. I would not expect the Council to ask for such a thing.

Nor, honestly, would I expect such a request to be granted were it made.

The key word in the news piece here is "representatives". Say, for example, it read "several citizens from other nations paying their respects". It would be clear that they were there as individuals to pay their respects. The word "representative" implies a more official capacity - a delegate from a nation is a representative from that nation.

I'm probably being overly pedantic, but words do form a very specific map. Yet, as Chevaign pointed out, the map is not the territory.

That much has been clear for some time.

In any case, as you've said, all that's here is me being overly pedantic. I'm sure you're right about all of this. Out of respect for Midular's memory, I'll leave this particular discussion alone from now on.